Ha'away, no way
Sir: I have lived for most of my 71 years within a mile or two of the River Tyne and consider myself to be a 'Geordie', which is perhaps why I particularly enjoyed Anne McElvoy's article `Howay the lasses!' in your 17 May issue.
I was much less impressed by Valerie Grove's letter (31 May). What is she going on about? There are two 'Geordie' dialect terms in question, `howay' and liadaway'. Howay means 'come on', 'hurry up' etc. whilst hadaway means the exact opposite, `go away', 'get lost' etc.
Howay is shouted by football supporters to urge on their team, hence `Howay the lads'. If hadaway is ever shouted at football matches it would probably be addressed to the opposition, or more likely the referee!
With regard to Valerie Grove's `ha'away', I have never seen or heard of it.
John Hutchinson
20 Cresswell Close, West Monkseaton, Whitley Bay, Tyne & Wear
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