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joziboy Thursday 20th of October 2005 09:16:01 PM
Scots English - I've been living in Scotland just over two years now, and it took me quite a while to get used to the way of speaking here. What I find really interesting though is the use of words which seem to me to be germanic. Maybe they survived from Old English?

to know in scotland, is to ken (which, bizarrely, is the same as to know in Afrikaans... and I presume Dutch, and maybe German)
I know = I ken
And Churches are Kirks, again the same as Afrikaans (well, they're kerke, but if you had the same plural rules only the one e is different :) )

And yes, they actually do use the words wee (small), bonnie (happy) and a whole bunch of others, some of which I still can't figure out what they mean!

General English contractions also seem to be more effort here than saying them in full:
Don't = dunnae
Didn't = didnae (pronounced did-e-nee)
Can't = cannae (kan nie? Lol. think that's pushing the links to Afrikaans)

I just dunnae ken why they speak this way...

nowingstospeakof Monday 24th of October 2005 03:30:33 AM
- Yeah, the first couple there are blatantly german...

Kennen (infinitive) = to know, to be familiar with (1st person singular conjugation is "kenne" or "kenn'")

Kirche = Church

Buxtonlove Wednesday 16th of November 2005 06:32:10 AM
- We Scots dinna speak like that ken?

We are perfect in every Grammatic sense...although I feel that we have moved on from 'Och Aye the Noo'..haha.. But you raise an interesting question that I've been asking myself as well.

For the size of Britain, it's quite amazing how many differant parts speak totally differant.

And, if you think living in Edinburgh is wild for differance in Language..you should try Aberdeen Doric! Even I haven't mastered it yet, and I've been here for 14 years....

Fit like en manni, braw doors the day ken? = Hi, its quite cold today you know?

Peter_fra_Oz Wednesday 16th of November 2005 11:12:43 AM
-
Spaketh previously:I just dunnae ken why they speak this way...

Aye, dae ye nae ken?, the language was originally known as 'Inglis' and has been influenced by Gaelic, Norse, Latin, Dutch, Norman French, Standard French and English.

I think we all are harbouring a secret desire to run up and down dripping wet hills in tartan skirts, erm kilts...well at least have a good laugh on the odd skit or two in Little Britain. *wink*

I love the langauge.

If you want to go deep into Scots English, have a gander at the Scots-Online organisation.

kirke = Church in Norwegian

EDIT: fixed link

joziboy Thursday 17th of November 2005 12:40:16 AM
- [quote][i]Originally posted by Buxtonlove[/i]

And, if you think living in Edinburgh is wild for differance in Language..you should try Aberdeen Doric! Even I haven't mastered it yet, and I've been here for 14 years....
[/quote]

Hehe, no I know - it's very mild in Edinburgh. But there are lots of Scottish people at uni with me from deepest darkest Scotland :) My flatmate in first year was from Kirkaldy and I couldn't understand a word for about two months!

Thanks for the info Peter :) I'll have a look at that site. Do you get Little Britain in the states??

Ciraric Thursday 17th of November 2005 02:44:50 PM
- Try visiting me Glasgah.

I haven't learned much Scots even though I lived here my whole life. My parents are immigrants and so I can't pick it up from them.

Lassie is sometimes still used for girl. Laddie less used for boy. In the mean streets of Glasgow the question 'how?' actually means 'why?' or 'How's that?'.

Aye, I jus cannae grasp the bonnie scots.

lexicon Friday 18th of November 2005 09:32:55 AM
- A friend of mine from Glasgow recently came to the States and told me about how rough it is where he lives. He mentioned hand grenades and a sport like paintball or airsoft but played with metal ammunition. It sounds like a lot of fun.

Ciraric Saturday 19th of November 2005 01:13:31 AM
- Hand grenades? They sound a tad expensive for Glagow.

lexicon Saturday 19th of November 2005 11:28:34 AM
- He said they were used in organized crimes.

Peter_fra_Oz Sunday 20th of November 2005 11:47:54 AM
- [quote][i]Originally posted by joziboy[/i]
Thanks for the info Peter :) I'll have a look at that site. Do you get Little Britain in the states??[/quote]

Afraid not. Over here you have to either get it on DVD (I have season one including the pilot, but not the radio programmes), ordering online, or have to get Satellite channels for the BBC (they even have a BBC America channel).

It is a shame really, as it truly is a good comedy show.

Ciraric Sunday 20th of November 2005 06:13:32 PM
- I am going to a Little Britain concert today.

Peter_fra_Oz Thursday 24th of November 2005 06:43:38 AM
- [quote][i]Originally posted by Ciraric[/i]

I am going to a Little Britain concert today.[/quote]

you lucky bum!

Phrasebase Archive
	joziboy	Thursday 20th of October 2005 09:16:01 PM
	Scots English - I've been living in Scotland just over two years now, and it took me quite a while to get used to the way of speaking here. What I find really interesting though is the use of words which seem to me to be germanic. Maybe they survived from Old English? to know in scotland, is to ken (which, bizarrely, is the same as to know in Afrikaans... and I presume Dutch, and maybe German) I know = I ken And Churches are Kirks, again the same as Afrikaans (well, they're kerke, but if you had the same plural rules only the one e is different :) ) And yes, they actually do use the words wee (small), bonnie (happy) and a whole bunch of others, some of which I still can't figure out what they mean! General English contractions also seem to be more effort here than saying them in full: Don't = dunnae Didn't = didnae (pronounced did-e-nee) Can't = cannae (kan nie? Lol. think that's pushing the links to Afrikaans) I just dunnae ken why they speak this way...
	nowingstospeakof	Monday 24th of October 2005 03:30:33 AM
	- Yeah, the first couple there are blatantly german... Kennen (infinitive) = to know, to be familiar with (1st person singular conjugation is "kenne" or "kenn'") Kirche = Church
	Buxtonlove	Wednesday 16th of November 2005 06:32:10 AM
	- We Scots dinna speak like that ken? We are perfect in every Grammatic sense...although I feel that we have moved on from 'Och Aye the Noo'..haha.. But you raise an interesting question that I've been asking myself as well. For the size of Britain, it's quite amazing how many differant parts speak totally differant. And, if you think living in Edinburgh is wild for differance in Language..you should try Aberdeen Doric! Even I haven't mastered it yet, and I've been here for 14 years.... Fit like en manni, braw doors the day ken? = Hi, its quite cold today you know?
	Peter_fra_Oz	Wednesday 16th of November 2005 11:12:43 AM
	- Spaketh previously:I just dunnae ken why they speak this way... Aye, dae ye nae ken?, the language was originally known as 'Inglis' and has been influenced by Gaelic, Norse, Latin, Dutch, Norman French, Standard French and English. I think we all are harbouring a secret desire to run up and down dripping wet hills in tartan skirts, erm kilts...well at least have a good laugh on the odd skit or two in Little Britain. wink I love the langauge. If you want to go deep into Scots English, have a gander at the Scots-Online organisation. kirke = Church in Norwegian EDIT: fixed link
	joziboy	Thursday 17th of November 2005 12:40:16 AM
	- [quote][i]Originally posted by Buxtonlove[/i] And, if you think living in Edinburgh is wild for differance in Language..you should try Aberdeen Doric! Even I haven't mastered it yet, and I've been here for 14 years.... [/quote] Hehe, no I know - it's very mild in Edinburgh. But there are lots of Scottish people at uni with me from deepest darkest Scotland :) My flatmate in first year was from Kirkaldy and I couldn't understand a word for about two months! Thanks for the info Peter :) I'll have a look at that site. Do you get Little Britain in the states??
	Ciraric	Thursday 17th of November 2005 02:44:50 PM
	- Try visiting me Glasgah. I haven't learned much Scots even though I lived here my whole life. My parents are immigrants and so I can't pick it up from them. Lassie is sometimes still used for girl. Laddie less used for boy. In the mean streets of Glasgow the question 'how?' actually means 'why?' or 'How's that?'. Aye, I jus cannae grasp the bonnie scots.
	lexicon	Friday 18th of November 2005 09:32:55 AM
	- A friend of mine from Glasgow recently came to the States and told me about how rough it is where he lives. He mentioned hand grenades and a sport like paintball or airsoft but played with metal ammunition. It sounds like a lot of fun.
	Ciraric	Saturday 19th of November 2005 01:13:31 AM
	- Hand grenades? They sound a tad expensive for Glagow.
	lexicon	Saturday 19th of November 2005 11:28:34 AM
	- He said they were used in organized crimes.
	Peter_fra_Oz	Sunday 20th of November 2005 11:47:54 AM
	- [quote][i]Originally posted by joziboy[/i] Thanks for the info Peter :) I'll have a look at that site. Do you get Little Britain in the states??[/quote] Afraid not. Over here you have to either get it on DVD (I have season one including the pilot, but not the radio programmes), ordering online, or have to get Satellite channels for the BBC (they even have a BBC America channel). It is a shame really, as it truly is a good comedy show.
	Ciraric	Sunday 20th of November 2005 06:13:32 PM
	- I am going to a Little Britain concert today.
	Peter_fra_Oz	Thursday 24th of November 2005 06:43:38 AM
	- [quote][i]Originally posted by Ciraric[/i] I am going to a Little Britain concert today.[/quote] you lucky bum!