I WAS surprised at M Wilson being shocked at the use of the word “gotten” (Letters, April 26).

In the 1930s and 1940s, I lived in a North Yorkshire village where my father was the village blacksmith.

‘Gotten’ was in common use amongst farmers. They would come to the blacksmith’s shop and ask, “Aster gotten it fettled yet?” meaning had some piece of equipment been repaired.

On one occasion I will not forget our next door farmer neighbour came and asked, “Did ta know thi pig as gotten out and is in our pond covered in mud?”

I never heard the American servicemen use this word during the war, but it is defined in the Oxford dictionary.

J Boddy, Upper Poppleton, York.