Market Shouts

As more people go to the markets and car boot sales in a bid to save money, they will hear the different and thought provoking sounds connected with them. As with many markets the stall owners want people to buy their product but to do this, people must know what offers the have. To do this easily the staff shout all day, to the passing public, the offers on their products.

However a problem occurs with this, as the day goes on the calls become less and less understandable. With some calls only understandable as “addya Pasadena fifty pence”. Although this may seem contradictory that the employees shout to attract the passing people but they don’t understand them. Nevertheless the thousands of people, who flock to markets around the country, buy their products. This could be for several reasons, firstly at the beginning of the day the shouts and calls make sense and are understandable. For example “ twenty Satsuma’s a pound, twenty for a quid”. Secondly and quite simply the person who is buying the product went to the stall purposely for the item. Thirdly when the person sees the item they remember they wanted/needed that product or something not to dissimilar to that.

Although the ideology behind the shouts and calls seems meaningless, they do serve two purposes. To begin with the calls still attract people to the stall, sometimes. Second they provide the area with atmosphere with different stalls trying to shout louder then their rival. They are also a reflection of the British attitude and a provider of market culture. Firstly, they are a representation of  a British attitude as they represent the “there’s always a chance” attitude especially on a cold and wet day. Also shouting itself is British as shouting is related to moaning and moaning is very British.
Secondly, it provides the market with a piece of culture and character. Although they are just shouts they provide a look at what has always been in the market and what will always be if the market stays.

Although there are shouts and calls in most markets throughout the country; the atmosphere, character and culture they bring is uniquely different from place to place. They shouts are not to different from a real British pub. For example with just talking atmosphere and character are created which are unique from pub to pub. In addition pubs also reflect British attitudes and a British way of life.

Although the shouts and calls are just shouts and calls they have come to embodied something different. They have come to show what was, what is and what will be in the market. They show a nations attitude and create their own atmosphere. Even though the passer by is been shouted at there is not hostility between the shouter and the person. There is friendliness and goodwill something not seen everywhere in society. This shows the power of the word is firmly alive and has the ability to bring people together and show generosity between people who without the market would pass each other by. The market can be compared to the forum in Rome; a place to meet, talk, laugh and buy things. This is the true power of the market to continue a tradition thousands of years old; meet, talk and laugh.