I had a Scottish colleague who loved to use Scottish words when talking to me. He would say “keks” for pants. Thought it was weird that I would equate trousers to underwear (b/c to brits pants is underwear).
It was fun. But anyway, if an American wants to speak Anglish, does this mean they would then be trying to use strange foreign English words in place of French and Dutch borrowed words? The idea being that many Scottish English words are likely pure English assuming they were not borrowed.
Here is an interesting stat: just as many Chinese people speak English as Americans. This is due to the population difference. So the English-speaking Chinese are inventing their own English words just like any other culture. So they are influencing the language. If they invent a word that is not borrowed, does it become incorporated into Anglish in the effort to look for pure English words that replace French and Dutch influence?
(update) Guess it’s not trivial because the article I linked claims Scottish is not a dialect of English but another language on its own. Not sure if that is widely accepted.
2 Comments
cerement@slrpnk.net · 3 pts · 24d
depends on which “Scottish” you’re referring to:
punksnotdead@slrpnk.net · 2 pts · 21d
It is widely accepted. If it were just a dialect I'm sure you could quite easily tell me what this says?
To more confuse matters, all of those phrases are Doric. Which is a dialect of Scots particular to the North East.
Scots is recognised as a language by the Scottish Government, European Union, and the UN.
More reading:
A ‘Once and Future’ Language
Wit ye sayin aboot Scots?
Doon a rabbit hole: Rediscoverin Scots writin fae dissertation tae preservation
The Scots Glossar
My grandparents and parents all received the belt from teachers for speaking their local tongue. If you didn't speak proper English, even amongst your friends in the playground, you got the belt. That was government policy. If it were just a dialect it wouldn't have been beaten out of children in schools by a colonial oppressor.
::: spoiler spoiler
The phrases meant:
Be careful at the mouth of the river and then keep going forward!
What are you going to do with yourself when you're older?
Close the door when you go through the house
That boy is a right silly creature
Be quiet! (hold your tongue)
When the police came to the door small George got such a fright he shit his trousers
Which foot fits which foot? (Most likely said in a shoe shop) :::