James an dem

Athin Shaetlan da expression "X an dem" means "X an da fokk at's associated wi X". Jüst wha an dem is referrin tae depends apø da context, but der seldom ony doot aboot wha's bein spokken aboot. Laek, if John is athin a baand, da question, Will John an dem be playin at da festival? der nae doot - hit's spaekkin aboot John an da members athin his baand. Dis is a gramatically right wye o spaekkin aboot gadderies o fokk, an der naethin ill-mainered aboot it. Linguistically it is a grammatical feature caaed da "associative plural". Hit can come athin diffren forms, but you're very wint tae fin it - 85% o da wirld's languages hae it. Standirt English belangs tae da minority o languages dat ir lackin da associative plural.

Pictirs by Julie Dennison (@juliedennison).