Duck

Neil (Makes sound of a duck)

Feifei Welcome to The English We Speak…

Neil (Makes sound of a duck)

Feifei Shh… Let me finish! Welcome to The English We Speak, the programme where we…

Neil (Makes sound of a duck)

Feifei Ok, ok - you win, Neil. You start the programme.

Neil OK - welcome to The English We Speak. Today we bring you a way to say hello to people that involves… ducks.

Feifei Finally. English is, of course, a rich and diverse language, and different regions use different expressions. In the English Midlands - the area around the city of Nottingham - you’ll hear this. Imagine I’m in a shop, and Neil is the shopkeeper:

Neil Hello duck, how can I help you?

Feifei Hello duck - ‘duck’ here is a form of address - a word you use when politely speaking to someone.

Neil And ‘duck’ is an affectionate term for another person. So if you hear it - please don’t be offended - it’s a friendly thing to say.

Feifei Some think that it comes from the word ‘duke’! Let’s hear a few examples:

Examples Come over here and tell me what the problem is, duck.

Don’t you worry about that broken glass, duck. I’ll sort it out.

Neil ‘Duck’ is generally used by people talking to those younger than or the same age as themselves. In some ways it functions like the word ‘dear’.

Feifei But it’s not a phrase that all native English speakers use. When Hollywood actress Angelina Jolie used it when presenting an award to an English actor from the East Midlands, Jack O’Connoll, it confused a lot of people around the world!

Neil And what’s more, ‘duck’ is not the only form of address based on animals. For example, where might someone call you… hen?

Feifei ‘Hen’ is used in Glasgow - but only when talking to women.

Neil Alright hen? And then we have ‘pet’…

Feifei ‘Pet’ is used in the North East of England - around Newcastle people call each other ‘pet’.

Neil Thanks, pet. So - listen out for these different regional ways of being friendly - just don’t be surprised if you confuse people when you use them yourself! Thanks for listening.

Feifei (Makes sound of a duck)