Phase I : Scotland

The Local Vernacular

They've got a really different way of speaking doon in Campbeltoon ("the wee toon"). Even by Scottish standards, they're unintelligible.

In particular, there are more sayings and idioms here than generally in the rest of Scotland.

Pretty much anything that is definitely so, is "right enough". For emphasis, "so it is". So, "nice day" might be greeted with the response, "Aye, it's warrrm, reet enuff, so it is"

When a person has had enough (of anything), that's them!
Leaving the bar? "That'll be me, then".
Fed up with doing something that isn't working e.g. the machine keeps picking up stones or whatever?: "That's me, I'm off hame" (present tense) "That was me, I went hame." (past tense)

What's really a hoot is that what is pronounced hoot.
I kid you not - they say "hoot ye doin'?" or "I'll tell ye hoot" or "dirra I tell ye aboot hoot ol Mac was sayin'?" "och no, ye didna tell me hoot ol Mac was sayin' aboot, reet enuff. Hoot was ol Mac saying then?"

Shelley has learnt some Campbeltoonian from working in the bar, as when drink is at stake, great efforts will be made to communicate effectively. If there's anyone unruly in the bar she can be heard to say: "get oot, gorn, get oot me barrr"
Everybody knows small is wee, but did you know to make it even less large is to make it "wee-er"? Me neither.
And ... according to Campbell (one of the locals) Shelley is a wee wild greetin' wain.*

Right, that'll be me, then, reet enuff.

*Roughtly translated: Small grizzling kid

posted by The Boemelaars @ 11:46 am