How Green was My Valet
If he came from Wales!
Now Downton, I must say,
On saying it, fails.
What justification
To call them ‘vallit’?
American’sation
Is there, quite a bit!
Though dictionary
Does offer ‘lit’ first,
That’s fiction-ary
From gentry to burst.
Of those who’ve had valets,
I’ve known quite a few;
They rhymed them with ‘chalets’,
As all should still do.
For even though Brits may
Beaulieu ‘Bewlee’ call
They still won’t take ‘valet’
As ‘vallit’ to maul.
Colonialist's Blog 
Oh my Goodness..You do not like Downton….I thought it was fantastic but then I am a romantic and love tales from a time before even if sometimes they are far fetched…My other favourite is Mr Selfridge ..of and dont for get Judge John Deed a very old series.
On Wed, Feb 3, 2016 at 10:10 PM, Colonialists Blog wrote:
> colonialist posted: “How Green was My Valet If he came from Wales! Now > Downton, I must say, On saying it, fails. What justification To call them > ‘vallit’? American’sation Is there, quite a bit! Though dictionary Does > offer ‘lit’ first, Th” >
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I enjoy the show, but question how they pronounce some words and use expressions which are unlikely for the era.
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Maybe it is like curry which is tailored to suit the tastes of the English palate in modern time rather than the true India taste…Downton is the same with language..nobody would understand if they spoke the English as it might have been spoken…I think……
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I baulked too, but subsequently read somewhere that ‘val-it’ was authentic in the UK in the early 20C. I may not like it, but there’s nowt as queer as … custom.
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I read that, too, but dismissed it based on personal experience of the usage of people I knew from that era who were from the class who would employ such staff. In short, I think they ‘got it wrong’.
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It’s vallay to me Col. The one who does it to the car is the vallitor.
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Indeed. Those don’t deserve the ‘Ay’. All they are trained for is parking cars. Such a basic skill!
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Ooh. I don’t kow about that. You only have to gaze in dismay at a French car park to know that it is a skill few possess!
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With not having succeeded in visiting France, that education has been denied me.
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I detest the American pronunciation of herbs as ‘erbs.
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What about ‘Uh-LOO-min-um’ for aluminium?
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Yes! That too.
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