‘Pet’: endearing or patronising? Newcastle University’s ban on common Geordie slang

At the end of the summer holidays, prior to the upcoming start of the University academic year, the Russell Group institution, Newcastle University, made a polarising announcement. Making amendments to the gender section of their inclusivity guide, a common wellbeing document throughout most universities, it was announced that guidance suggests staff should not use the term ‘pet’ towards students in their faculties.

Notably, Newcastle University followed modern standards when editing their inclusivity guide, recommending the avoidance of “patronising and gendered terms” amongst staff, such as outdated phrases like ‘man up’ or ‘don’t be such a girl’. However, the specification of the term ‘pet’, especially within the Geordie community, has caused certain problems, which have been addressed recently in mainstream media.

As a Geordie myself, having lived in the wider Newcastle area my whole life, the term ‘pet’ probably means more to me than most. In a guide on common Geordie slang produced by Northumbria University, the only other university situated in Newcastle city-centre, ‘pet’ is defined as a “term of endearment”, often likened to terms such as ‘dear’ or ‘love’. In the context of my family, ‘pet’ is only really used by my elder family members, such as grandparents, to talk to my younger relatives. It is also important to note that the term ‘pet’ rarely refers to gender and is used for male and female relatives alike. Yes, the term could be taken as patronising, but within the context of Geordie phrases, and the fact that I have been surrounded by such language my whole life, I would not tend to notice it.

In a piece written by the Daily Mail, interviewees went as far to say: “it would be unfortunate to label’ the term ‘pet’ as ‘derogatory’”, with further individuals saying they would refuse to attend Newcastle University if they could not use regional language

However, to understand why Newcastle University may have integrated this rule into its guidance, it is important to consider the current demographic present at the university itself. It is no surprise that southern students have dominated northern universities in the modern-day, in fact, southern students often make up the majority of student bodies in most universities throughout the UK. In statistics collated by UCAS this year, it was shown that in 2023, 18-year-old entry rates into university for London was 50%, whereas only 30% for the North East, with Newcastle being shown as an area of the UK with one of the lowest rates of higher education participation. The North-South disparities within university system participation is easily represented by the presence of a Northern Society in many universities. So, evidently, perhaps the major presence of southern students in northern universities, such as Newcastle, is realistically a consequence of wider university participation in London and broader southern areas.

Southern participation statistics offer an important insight and justification to Newcastle University’s decision as a result. I can imagine, as a student not from the local area, hearing unfamiliar language used by lecturers or seminar tutors may be intimidating, especially a term such as ‘pet’ which is likened to historically patronising terms. Considering the professional dynamic between a professor and a student, phrasing such as ‘pet’ could easily create an uncomfortable atmosphere. This sentiment was argued by broadcaster Eleanor Mills on the ITV debate program, Good Morning Britain, where Mills stated that regardless of the regionality, women may feel the language is “demeaning, infantilising and patronising”. Mills’s statement provides important justification, arguing that you would never call your boss ‘pet’, therefore why should individuals in a position of power use such phrases towards their students.

Considering the flip-side of this discussion, it is important to consider the regional and cultural aspect of erasing certain local terminology, especially words synonymous with the area in which Newcastle University is situated. Many Geordies have found immediate fault with the guidance to not use the word ‘pet’, stating how it is a long-standing term in the Newcastle dialect, passed down through generations in conversation. In a piece written by the Daily Mail, interviewees went as far to say: “it would be unfortunate to label’ the term ‘pet’ as ‘derogatory’”, with further individuals saying they would refuse to attend Newcastle University if they could not use regional language. Carole Malone, a commentator featured on GB News, even argued to “leave our language alone”, addressing her fury at Newcastle University’s decision. At first glance, perhaps with a less angry viewpoint, this was my initial thought, with the protection of the Geordie dialect and accent being an issue I am rather passionate about.

The presence of the coal mining and ship building industries in the North East in the 19th and 20th century has shaped the lives of those who reside there

In the early 2000s, studies by dialect experts suggested that the Geordie dialect and accent could be “doomed to disappear”, suggesting only clichéd Geordie phrasing would stand the test of time. Within Geordie culture, especially in my hometown of North Shields, there is an ongoing sentiment that people never leave, and thus their accent never leaves. However, considering how easy it is to travel, this feeling is beginning to die out, with fears that the United Kingdom’s ‘linguistic map’ will eventually merge into one. Without becoming too technical, the Geordie accent has a specific way of pronouncing vowels, which, with economic and technical modernisations and the rise of computer generated speech, struggles to be represented in everyday media.

The certain pronunciation and language in the Geordie way of life also holds historic resonance and a sense of cultural pride, in the same way many regional accents are appreciated throughout the UK as a whole. The digital age has seen the death of popular terminology, and hence the death of the history behind it. The more politely known ‘Tyneside English’ is said to be an archaic form of the language, often with linguistic likeness to the Vikings and Anglo-Saxons. The term ‘Geordie’ itself even has debatable historical origins, perhaps being a term to describe supporters of the Hanovarian King George, or workers of the ‘Father of the Railways’, George Stephenson.

With this backbone of history, the Geordie accent and dialect also holds resonance with the North East’s working-class heritage. The presence of the coal mining and ship building industries in the North East in the 19th and 20th century has shaped the lives of those who reside there. While a well-known dangerous profession, there were times where the North East provided a quarter of Britain’s coal supply, and took pride in this fact. Even the internationally renowned British film and play, Billy Elliott, emphasises the cultural significance of coal and the miners’ strikes in the foundations of Geordie culture. In the words of Richard Smyth, the working-class roots of the North East are “entwined with culture and communities”, and thus hold important historic resonance in the origins of the Geordie language.

It is important to remember that Newcastle University only advised this change, rather than enforced, and there is arguably no way to prove whether ‘pet’ will be taken out of Newcastle University’s vocabulary for good

Now, with all this context, and the layers of rich history and culture which built up the final product of the Geordie language, it is understandable why North East residents find themselves angered by Newcastle University’s recent decision. As stated by Anoop Nayak, “for many people, class is tattooed on the tongue”, and it is easy to understand why this is the case within the Geordie dialect. The omission of ‘pet’ by the Newcastle University faculty means more to Geordies than the removal of a small word, it feels like the removal of a dialect and culture from Newcastle’s richest source of academic prestige.

However, with this in mind, by modern standards the term ‘pet’ does feel inherently patronising and demeaning, especially within the context of its use by a faculty member. Although it is a widely used Geordie phrase, so many young women attend university, and any methods to make girls feel more comfortable in education is an important change to the system.

It is important to remember that Newcastle University only advised this change, rather than enforced, and there is arguably no way to prove whether ‘pet’ will be taken out of Newcastle University’s vocabulary for good. Nevertheless, this change does provoke thought in the way regional language is treated in university culture, and makes me wonder whether further changes will be made in various universities throughout the United Kingdom.