I've been watching some Harry Enfield and crew a bit and they like to give Scousers a tough time. The Scousers skit always involve the characters referring to each other as "Our Barry" and "Our Terry" (or it sounds like "our"). Why do Scousers use "our" with names (at least stereotypically) and does anyone know the history of this usage? Thanks!
"Our" in Scouse
I have no idea who that is, but it might be the "vocative" case that doesn't really exist today in a grammatical sense. I think it stopped in like Middle English or something.
Just an idea!
Just an idea!
If it were related to a vocative case, it would only be possible to use "our Barry" when directly addressing Barry.
However, it is also heard in the 3rd person: "Our Barry says such and such".
However, it is also heard in the 3rd person: "Our Barry says such and such".