In Hawick, there has been a marked deterioration in the everyday use of 'the tongue'. Children at school are discouraged from using Hawick words and, if these are not used and understood away from school, then there will be another generation who either mispronounce the words or just don't use them at all.

Most parts of Scotland have a local dialect that sets them apart from the rest of the country, although some words are used with different meanings in different areas. For example, "ava" in Hawick means "of all", but in Aberdeen, it means "away". Two opposite ends of the country with a different dialect. Also in Aberdeen, the word "Pharisee" refers not to a biblical character but to the simple questions, "Pharisee been?" and "Pharisee gaun?".

There is a great selection of words that would be understood only in Hawick. "Spreeed a shive o' breed", "steek the yet"and "fooky meat" are no longer part of everyday words in use in the town.

The late Jim Rowan was interested in this very subject, and, some years ago, proposed the compilation of a Hawick dictionary. He felt that the interchange of people living in the town and leaving the town did nothing to preserve the unique local tongue.

A collection of all fragmented words from Teries living in Hawick or abroad, their meanings and pronunciation would be compiled into a publication that would serve the interests of the town and its traditions.

So many Scots words and phrases have provided a wealth of dialect, usually only understood by those living in a certain area.

In former mining areas in the country, words like "graith", meaning tools were common. Then "shiftit" meant changing from working clothes into casuals. If the man was "dressed", he was probably wearing a collar and tie and if he was "aw dressed", he was likely going to a funeral!

So, is there an individual or group among us who would take on Jim Rowan's plan and make it work?