The cult of Yorkshireness has reached new levels at a hotel in Whitby where guests are going to be urged to "talk Tyke".

Hotelier Bill Ward, proprietor of the Dunsley Hall Country House Hotel, believes more people should use the Yorkshire tongue to ensure the county's dialect does not become extinct.

He plans to give lessons in "Tyke" to visitors to encourage them to return home and convert their friends.

His missionary zeal has resulted in a Talk Tyke in Two Days campaign which will introduce guests to a list of about 40 phrases considered useful for people when discussing business and meetings, travel, the weather, hospitality and greetings or goodbyes.

Bill argues: "The more people who learn to speak the dialect, the better it will be for tourism, doing business and boosting the worldwide image of Yorkshire."

The hotel's Talk Tyke packages will feature innovations like "a proper Yorkshire welcome over a pint", menus written in the regional dialect, one-to-one tutoring, visits to Yorkshire events to hear the dialect "as it is spoke" and translation exercises in written "Tyke".

Successful guests will receive a certificate at the end of their stay.

Quite what they will do with this qualification is unknown.

But they will, presumably, be able to rest assured that all Yorkshire people are exactly the same as each other, wolfing down their Yorkshire puddings and pints of bitter while keeping their cash to themselves and their language no-nonsense.

Yorkshire phrases

(prepared for the hotel by Michael Park of the Yorkshire Dialect Society)

I do hope you've had a pleasant stay - Hoape thoo enjoyed thissen here

Could you give me the bill? - Can Ah hev t'reckonin'?

I'm really very hungry - Mi stummick's feelin' reet holler

The hotel is near the sea - T'spot's alang t'seasahd

It's really raining very hard - It's silin' doon

Updated: 12:03 Monday, April 09, 2001