Last night was 'Burns Night', so a wee dram of single malt was sampled, and a Scottish blog theme considered.
I remember when Jacob Rees-Mogg went electioneering in Bonnie Scotland, the constituents said they couldn't understand a word he said. I have always found that UK citizens with strong local accents could understand me, but I, occasionally, had great difficulty understanding them.
Even those same Bonnie Scotts have difficulty with their own accent, which seems to prevent them from pronouncing a few basic English words.
I should add that I have no difficulty saying 'purple burglar alarm', even with my Surrey/Sussex accent.
That's a real tongue twister for him. A few drams of single malt might have made it easier.
ReplyDeleteSome accents make for very confused conversations. Like my NZ accent when I speak Greek. Strangers look at K for clarification.
I'm OK in French because I always try to speak clearly and slowly. Of course my French isn't always perfect.
DeleteI have trouble saying the word 'schedule'. My SiL can't say 'aluminium' I could understand everything our Cornish neighbours said - until they spoke between themselves, and then I couldn't understand a word.
ReplyDeleteDo you say shed-ule or sked-ule? I do find that a lot of actors, these days, have very poor diction.
DeleteMost burglar alarms are white so I doubt that the phrase "purple burglar alarm" would ever be required. Here's a Glaswegian phrase: "Ereaperapera" = Here is a pair of pears.
ReplyDeleteI believe the Bishop of Auchtermuchty has a purple one. If he/she doesn't; he/she should!
DeleteThe Church of Scotland doesn't have Bishops, hasn't done for a while, probably about 400 years. Try and keep up.
DeleteWho said anything about the Church of Scotland? Do pay attention!
DeleteAuchtermuchty is Church of Scotland. It doesn't have Bishops and from the couple of times I've attended that is a good thing. Certainly cheaper. The Free Church of Scotland are even more dour, a good job you are down in Brighton. The Wee Frees still don't work on Sundays and do precious little on the days between as far as I've seen. They seem to spend their time kiddyfiddling and dreaming of stoning Englishmen, poofs, trannies. Any spare time seems to be spent attempting to ban alcoholic beverages. They aren't all bad but all are mad.
DeleteI apologise for saying "Keep up." Unjust that was. It would be a full time job keeping track of the Scot's foibles, lack of Bishops and everything else that can upset them. I've stayed here for years and am still none the wiser.
I'm not a whiskey drinker as it doesn't like me but I do love a bit of Haggis. I remember Fyfe Robertson on the Tonight programme in the 1960's talking to a Scottish peron and no one could understand a word he was saying .... not one word ! XXXX
ReplyDeleteI eat Haggis all the time. I always have one, or some, in the fridge.
DeleteTwenty four years later and I still falter with 'Minellium'.
ReplyDeleteDon't you mean Minnelliulliem?
DeleteMy English grandmother helped me to learn proper pronunciation.
ReplyDeleteMy wife was made to attend elocution lessons to rid her of an American accent. It worked.
DeleteAdd a regional accent to the English language and it can be hard to communicate. As I told my son and his friend when travelling in Scotland...."You are a guest here, just do the best you can and be polite."
ReplyDeleteA sort of 'when in Rome'.
DeleteA very interesting debate Cro, but I'm left wondering why anyone would actually want a purple burglar alarm, much less actually talk about it!
ReplyDeleteThat could be said about almost anything, but I can't think of an example.
DeleteThat's funny.
ReplyDeleteIt made me laugh!
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