'OW’s it garn, marra?’ - what may sound like nonsense to most English speakers is a common greeting in Cumbria.

Walk down a street in Workington or Whitehaven and you're likely to hear a host of words and phrases which wouldn’t make much sense to people down south.

'Yam', 'twine', 'lonnin' and 'doss' are all examples of Cumbrian dialect.

Last month, Ethel Fisher, who worked hard to preserve the local dialect, passed away.

The 90-year-old, who lived in Seaton, wrote several books on, and in, Cumbrian dialect and was recognised by the Queen when she received an MBE.

Her husband Eric said: "She loved dialect and language and words, she used to write all the time.

"One of the happiest days was when we went to collect her MBE. It was Princess Anne who gave it to her because the Queen was in India.

"It was for her services to Seaton and the local history and dialect. She was very happy and I felt very proud of her. We had a beautiful day.

"Princess Anne told her: 'Whatever happens, don't let the dialect go.’"

Growing up, Ethel’s work was well-known to me. She was a friend of my gran and her poems and stories were known throughout the family.

Her witty work for the Queen's golden jubilee - She's Nivver Lived - always made us smile.

The poem includes lines such as:

"Hez she ivver used a poop-scoop

When t'corgis couldn't wait

Stannun wid thur legs crosst

Ootside ut Palace Gates?

Hez she ivver peeped through t'curtins

Theer doon Balmoral Way

Than said "Blow me, it's rainun,

Und ah wuz ganna wesh, tuday!”?”

Ethel once visited my primary school to read her book 'Old Fashioned Fairy Tales' and talk to us about the dialect.

The book, which I still have a copy of now, translates traditional stories, such as Cinderella, Jack and the Beanstalk and Hansel and Gretel, into Cumbrian.

Cinderella opens with: "Yaance ower, thur leevt a bonny laal lass, whoa’s muther ‘ed deed, und ‘ur father got marrid ugiaan, till a woman ut ‘ed two strappun dowters till ‘ur fust ‘usband.

"Thur niaams wur Hamelia und Clarrabella, but wur far betta known uz t’ugly sisters, ‘cos thu’d fiancees like t’back-end uf a bus, und red frizzy air."

Ethel’s work may be an extreme example of the accents and words most of us hear on a day-to-day basis.

But most people will be able to tell a tale about bumping into a fellow Cumbrian outside of the county, hearing a familiar accent and knowing instantly where the person is from. Our dialect makes us distinct.

It's important to teach children correct grammar and speech in schools but it would also be a shame if knowledge of the local dialect was to disappear.

In Old Fashioned Fairy Tales' blurb, Ethel said: "I hope that in some small way, this book will encourage the use of out native tongue, which is part of out heritage and ought to be preserved for future generations."

West Lakes Academy, in Egremont, has ran dialect days over the last few years, with teacher Carly Macleod saying: "We organised the day as we wanted to equip students with the skills to switch to standard English in the right context while retaining their pride for their area.

"It is important to teach students this pride so that they feel they have as much right as any other person from anywhere else in the country to be successful in life.

"People will always stereotype you because of your accent so it is important to be aware of this and be confident that your ability and talent will speak louder than the sound of your voice."

Hopefully Ethel's work will inspire future generations, helping to keep the dialect alive.

Author visit

Bestselling author Joanna Trollope OBE will be visiting West Cumbria this month.

She will be attending an event, organised by The New Bookshop, Cockermouth, at the Hundith Hill on Thursday, February 22 at 7.30pm.

Joanna will be talking about her new novel, An Unsuitable Match, which will be published on the same day.