SIR — For quite some time now, I've thought that there has been a standardisation of language and that there is a risk of losing our local words for things. Words like "soon't", now rarely used in print, meaning "smooth" and describing "comforting and comfortable" more deeply and evocatively. Then there are local and dialect words for animals, birds, flowers, trees, things, personalities and occupations. There must be thousands of them. Such a pity if we lose them. Robert MacFarlane's latest book 'Landmarks' stresses the need for an accessible glossary of such "natural" words before they disappear from our vocabulary. So I got around to thinking it would be good if we could complete such a local glossary here in Watchet Museum. We have many interesting exhibits, so why not a glossary of such words? Hopefully this letter may stir up other local people to celebrate the uniqueness of such words and keep them safe and in use. If you agree that such a glossary may preserve the colour of our language, please write to me c/o Watchet Museum, Market Street, Watchet, with your favourite words of West Country and Exmoor wisdom and wit, with their pronunciation and meanings. If enough people express interest we may start our glossary soon. I'd be even more content if in time we could extend our West Country words to include the whole of the British isles. We shall lose so much colour and depth of meaning if we allow these lovely words to disappear. Pat Wilks, Watchet.