Final Accent

We'll do more on accents later I'm sure, but three days on a topic is quite enough for now.

If you want to learn more about Scottish accents here are a few places to go.

Click on the Wallace Monument for one site...






And if you haven't heard the Robin Williams take on Scottish accents, then you must see this:



Check out behind the scenes of BBC Radio Scotland and hear some proper Scottish accents.

Scottish Comedy: Funny Accents and all that!

To continue the discussion on accents and dialects, how about some more Scottish humor to help us better understand Scotland.

Billy Connolly is one of Scotland's favorite sons. He's up there with Sir Sean Connery. Check out his tourist information below:



The Reality TV show, "Big Brother" is a huge success throughout Europe. In the UK, it almost caused an international incident when I was there when an Indian movie star was not treated properly and racist remarks were incited.
Here's Billy on Reality TV.



And there are two things you need to know about Scottish Football...Celtic and Rangers.





Billy's bang on with the football chants.

Accents, Dialects

The Scottish accent is music to the ears of tourists but at times the dialects can be very difficult. For example, watch this clip.



The video will give you an idea what it will be like when you arrive in Glasgow and ask a bus driver for information. Don't be surprised if he gives you some of the same slang.

Glasgow is one place where the accent can be very difficult to understand as the speakers will more than likely add their regional dialect to the discussion. The dialects are what takes time to understand. A dialect is associated with a particular class and with it jargon unlike anything you hear in the United States.

As you move around Scotland, the accent changes. The rolling gutteral speak of Glasgow will disappear as you travel to Edinburgh. The dialect is less stated and you won't be gobsmacked with words you don't coomprehend. As you head north to Inverness the accent becomes even more neutral. In Skye, you may meet one or two with the stereotyped rolling "r"s.

For the most part, Glasgow is the toughest place to carry on a conversation. You may want to get a book that helps with local slang. It won't help much, however, as the speaker will be saying it at hundred miles an hour. You have to live there a while to pick up any part of the conversation. But, don't give up.

Here's one tip...don't say I stained my pants....pants means underwear in Scotland. Say, I stained my trousers. Right, then...ya danna wanna be a bampot...that'll be pish.

HAPPY BIRTHDAY RABBIE!

Today is Robert Burns birthday. If you are a fan of Scotland, then you should be celebrating today. For Robert Burns was a great man, a great Scot, and worthy of a holiday.

Burns was a romancer, a farmer and a patriot. He is Scotland's favorite son.

He was born on January 25, 1759. He came from a poor farming background. Although he recieved a good education despite his family situation. He had a zests for the life of poetry, nature, women, and drink.

Some of his writings were political in nature...

Some were romantic...

And some downright scary....

The death of Robert Burns was very sad. The doctor advised him to go swimming in cold water to cure his rheumatic fever and instead got pneumonia. He died at 37.

Enjoy a good Burns Night and in the spirit of Burns, I write:

'Tis but more we wish and none we get,

A broken vow and promise.

Of which God sees and tells us,

We are frail afterall.

No bonnie reason for such tirade,

To swear to Him that is betrayed.

Of men of arms, and golden tributes,

We break bread as well as arms.

But in the heather is true blood,

Cast due to loyalty and of oath.

We celebrate the patriots who died,

And scorn those who fled.

For patriots are born to die,

And louts to wed.

We make peace by making war,

And taking her to bed.

BURNS CLUBS: A man is a man for a' that

Robert Burns Club in Ayr

Robert Burns is a National Hero in Scotland. His life is celebrated and honored as much as George Washington's in the United States. Some places in the US, will hail the fact the Washington slept there. The same thing happens in Scotland where towns claim to be a place where Burns lived. Click on the pictures in this entry to go to the various clubs. On their sites you can learn more about Burns and get a true impression of how Scots feel about Burns. It is something very unique.

If you would like to join a Burns club, here's a start. The World Federation.

Click on the image of Burns and join.

Click the picture to the left and watch a video to get you in the mood for Burns Night.

TO A HAGGIS by Robert Burns

1.Fair fa' your honest, sonsie face,

Great chieftain o' the puddin-race!

Aboon them a' ye tak your place,

Painch, tripe, or thairm:

Weel are ye wordy of a grace

As lang's my arm.

2.The groaning trencher there ye fill,

Your hudies like a distant hill,

Your pin wad help to mend a mill

In time o' need,

While thro' your pores the dews distil

Like amber bead.

3.His knife see rustic Labour dight,

An' cut ye up wi' ready slight,

Trenching your gushing entrails bright,

Like onie ditch;

And then, O what a glorious sight,

Warm-reeking, rich!

4.Then horn for horn, they stretch an' strive:

Deil tak the hindmost, on they drive,

Till a' their weel-swall'd kytes belyve

Are bent like drums;

Then auld Guidman, maist like to rive,

'Bethankit!' hums.

5.Is there that owre his French ragout,

Or olio that wad staw a sow,

Or fricassee wad mak her spew

Wi perfect scunner,

Looks down wi' sneering, scornfu' view

On sic a dinner?

6.Poor devil! see him owre his trash,

As fecl;ess as a wither'd rash,

His spindle shank a guid whip-lash,

His nieve a nit;

Tho' bluidy flood or field to dash,

O how unfit.

7.But mark the Rustic, haggis-fed,

The trembling earth resounds his tread,

Clap in his walie nieve a blade,

He'll make it whistle;

An' legs, an' arms, an' heads will sned

Like taps o' thrissle.

8.Ye pow'rs, wha mak mankind your care,

And dish them out their bill o' fare,

Auld Scotland wants nae skinking ware,

That jaups in luggies;

But if ye wish her gratfu' prayer,

Gie her a Haggis!

Scottish Media: STV

If you have been on the blog or on this site, you will notice that STV video is seen more than the BBC's. Well the reason, is that it is easier to retrieve. The BBC for some reason seems to be more difficult to download. Nevertheless, the STV stories are quite good and comparable to US local news in their coverage. I had a chance to spend a day in the STV newsroom and went out on a story. The police were going to evict a family because they were a nuisance to the neighborhood and suspected drug trafficing was also a reason.

I learned quickly that STV news crews are no different than the news crews I have spent my career with. They complain about the assignment desk, the stories, and just about everything you would hear in a US news van.

Scottish TV is part of the ITV network or Independent Television network. They are not publicly supported, although they do receive some funds. They remain financially fit by commericals and selling air time. Just like in the US. In Scotland, radio is more popular than TV...why? It's free to have a radio but you are taxed to have a television. I had to pay close to $300 to get a TV license for the year. If you look at it as paying for cable, the overall costs are about the same in the US, however...in the UK you need a satellite dish to get Sky channels and they contain all the sporting events. Satellite dishes are more popular than cable in the UK. Bottom line, owning a TV in Scotland can get very pricey. That's why most people watch their sports in a pub. Look out America, someday we will have to pay to watch the NFL. It's coming.

Scottish Religions

Religion is Scotland is no different than anywhere else. There are plenty of different types from Baptists in Stirling to Jews in Glasgow.

Here are some links to learn more about what religions in Scotland and contacts for you if you wish.

The biggest difference between religion in Scotland and the United States is that it is not widely publicized in political debate or in personal communications. In fact, during one of our orientations at school, a few students walked out on a presenter when he casually mentioned Jesus. So be a bit careful discussing God or any religion when you are in Scotland. Tread lightly on the topic.




Here's a link to Jewish Scotland. (click picture)





Here's a link to Young Scottish Muslims. (click picture)











Here's a link to Stirling Baptist Church. (click picture)









Here's a link to the most popular church, the Church of Scotland. (click picture)

MEET REAL SCOTS: Politics

I often tell people that a liberal in the United States would be a conservative in Scotland and most of Europe for that matter. I mean, their conservatives push for universal health care, green living, state funded elderly care, etc. For instance, the Scottish Labour Party states in their Sunrise Agenda, "expand entitlement to free school meals to 100,000 children living in low income working families. And end child poverty in generation and halve child poverty by 2010." Wendy Alexander of the Labour party has "called on the SNP to give an early Christmas present to 50,000 disabled young Scots and their families - by guaranteeing that $68 million investment from the UK government meant to help Scottish children with disabilities will go to provide respite care for their families."

The Scottish government has supported a charity scheme to help the homeless this Christmas. Sales of Christmas trees benefit homeless shelters in Scotland. (check here). The homeless in Scotland are protected by the government (check here) with legislation and the move toward government housing projects. When was the last time in the United States that we discussed homelessness (the Reagan era probably). Now with foreclosures mounting, I'm sure that there are many more homeless to deal with. And the head of the Conservative Party, David Cameron sounds like a conservative about terrorism but speaks of the environment like a democrat in the United States. See video below.

And don't forget about the Green party (click here). We have nothing close to the organization and impact of such a liberal party.


Yeah, there are exceptions but overall, an American Republican will feel like a fascist in Europe and a Democrat will feel like a Republican. Trust me.

MEET REAL SCOTS: Travel tips

Go to Church

If you really want to experience the real Scotland and not just the touristy places...I mean, would you go to Williamsburg and say you understood America? Maybe the past. Or if you just visited New York City, would that tell you all you need to know about the United States? No way.

So go to a local church service on Sunday. They won't throw you out. If you are a gent, wear a tie...but it won't matter if you don't. You will learn more in that hour about the people that live in the country than any other place but the pub. The secret to being a good tourist is listening. It's not about you, it's about learning about them. Unless of course, you want it to be about you and then I'd ask you stay away from me, you give Americans a bad rep. Click on the picture to learn about the Logie Kirk in Stirling. A fine place to go and meet real Scots.