I'm just in from my run on the West Sands beach and despite not feeling quite myself today, the run made me feel better. This is very scarey stuff for those of you who know me.
I was reviewing my journal entries over the past week or so and it seems to me that they read like "Scotland for the Uninitiated." In fact, it sounds as if I don't like Scotland and the Scottish, when in fact just the opposite is true. I showed Amanda the "Sounds Bad, is Bad" entry and she thought I was trying to make the case that all Scottish food is derived from a ritualistic dare system. I'm sure my story of the wreckless ghost driving a car down one of Scotland's main highways has had nary an effect on tourism.
However, there was one thing I did notice. I haven't covered the Scottish turn of phrase. This is sure to get me in the soup again. Let's start with the word "aye." I love "aye." Depending on its usage it can mean either yes or always. A couple of examples for your consideration, "Aye, Ah'm coming oot" (Yes, I'm coming out) or "He's aye gaun oot" (he's always going out). Catchy huh? In Boston, I used to own phrase # 1 and Christine staked her claim on phrase # 2.
Of course there are some Scottish words that do not appear anywhere in "American-English." Take the word "spangy." It means to jump from rooftop to rooftop. I can hardly wait to come home and go spangying in the Back Bay. Terry Mullaney are you game?
Another word I especially like is "eeejit." It means idiot. I like it because I have never seen a word with three consecutive "e's." I am trying to confirm whether eeeembecil is a Scottish word. Nothing on that yet.
A word indigenous to the County of Fife in Scotland is "parton" or "crab." It's not an unusual word but it's usage in a sentence is of particular interest. "Whit are you lookin' at, ya wee parton-face?"
As you can see the Scottish were and still are very colorful in addition to being extremely inventive (the dollar sign was invented at St. Andrews Uni. More on that another time) We have only skimmed the surface of the Scottish vernacular and as more gems turn up, I will get them to you straight away.
Until then, I remain,
Yours aye,
Mike
2 comments:
Mike D- Who is that skinny guy with the golf club? Sounds like you are enjoying the change. It's not bad to turn things upside-down for a while, no? While you are getting more familiar with the local lingo, can you see if the Scots have a word for meathead? Next time you pop by Lanvin's for their daily scotch tasting, chew on this: is it possible to focus on nothing? Maff
Yes Maff, the Scottish do have a word for meathead. It's wanker.
M
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