Jabbering Joseph

For my first post I shall attempt to translate the confusing babbling of Joseph, the old servant of Wuthering Heights. Here are some excerpts from chapter two:

     "'Whet are ye for?' [Joseph] shouted. 'T' maister's dahn i' t'fowld. Goa rahnd by th' end ut' laith, if yah went tuh spake tull him.'" (Bronte 9/10)

Translation: "What do you want? The master's down in the fold. Go around by the end of the barn, if you want to speak to him."

     "'Aw woonder hagh yah can faishion tuh stand thear i' idleness un war, when all on 'em's goan aght! Bud yah're a nowt, and it's noa use talking - yah'll niver mend uh yer ill ways; bud goa raight tuh t' divil, like yer mother afore ye!'" (Bronte 15)

Translation: "I wonder how you can fashion to stand there in idleness and worse, when all of them have gone out! But you're useless, and it's no use talking - you will never mend your ill ways; but go right to the devil, like your mother before you!"

This one is from chapter nine, after Heathcliff has run away:

     "'Yon lad gets war un war!' observed he on re-entering. 'He's left th' yate ut t' full swing, and miss's pony has trodden dahn two rigs uh corn, un plottered through, raight o'er intuh t' meadow! Hahasomdiver, t' maister 'ull play t' divil to-morn, and he'll do weel. He's patience itsseln wi' sich careless, offald craters - patience itsseln he is! Bud he'll nut be soa allus - yah's see, all on ye! Yah munn't drive him aht uf his heead fur nowt!'" (Bronte 84)

This is a tough one but here goes: "That lad gets worse and worse! He's left the [gate wide open?], and Cathy's pony has trodden down two ridges of corn, and blundered through, right over into the meadow! [However?] the master will play the devil tomorrow, and he'll do well. He's patience itself with such careless, worthless critters - patience itself he is! But he'll not be [so on all of us?] - you will see, all of you! You mustn't drive him out of his head for nothing!"

This is a great example of Bronte using diction to give her characters personality. Joseph is certainly a unique character, and his speech is probably his most unique quality. Don't judge him, he's old! I really enjoy the way Cathy replies to his incomprehensible rambling when she's agitated. After that last passage she gets fed up: "'Have you found Heathcliff, you ass?' interrupted Catherine. 'Have you been looking for him as I ordered?'" (Bronte 84)

Okay I'm done. That was a really long post, don't expect them all to be like that.