Scots English

  A recent article in the New York Times -
 Americans are Barmy over Britishisms got me thinking.

Sometimes when I visit schools, children will ask me what
language we speak in Scotland.  Of course, it is a bit
complicated, because children will often mistake dialect for a
different language.  Thanks to that wonderful movie, BRAVE,
I can now refer to the Scots words - dialect used there, such as:

Crivvens (dear me) 

Jings (oh my!),

Then of course there are the Scottish words I use in Inventor McGregor
 

Thingamabob - what a great word!  Meaning of course, that thing that I cannot remember the name of!

Thingamajig - Same as above!

Wheeched - as in Scottish dancing - to whirl around so fast everything becomes a big blur! 

  

And then children like to hear these lovely colorful Scots sayings: 

a pig’s breakfast - or a midden -  so if you say your bedroom is a pig's breakfast - it means it is a mess!

lang may yer lum reek - literally means - long may your chimney smoke - sort of blessing given to the newly married - wishing them  wealth and prosperity so they will always have wood to put on the fire and keep the chimney smoking!

Lollipop lady - the crossing lady in Scotland carried a little Stop sign - looked like a lollipop (sucker) and hence the name.

Peely-wally - pale and sickly looking

Flummox - to trick - Just today, I read to the children at Presentation School - The Woman who flummoxed the fairies.  The children didn't know the word before the story, but it didn't take them long to guess it once I had finished.  A lovely Scottish tale, retold by Heather Forest.

Fun to tell the children that when they go trick or treating this Halloween, they are really saying if you don't give me a treat, then I will do something to FLUMMOX you!