As a kid growing up, I'd sometimes catch an episode of Cracker, or the occasional couple of minutes of Taggart. If there was one thing from that period that I learned about the Scots, it was that they refused to use the English method of abbreviating phrases using 't. Instead they had their own way of doing it. Thus, Wasn't became was nae Weren't became were nae Won't became will nae etc But I have recently noticed Scottish people using the English abbreviations, instead of their errrr traditional expressions. I for one liked the Scottish phrases. If ever I was to do an impression of a Scotsman, these nae phrases would form a vital part of it. I don't know if I could bring myself to say "wasn't" in a Scottish accent. Why has this mischief happened ?
I wasnt trying to be an asshole. I do genuinely wonder why that's happened,mand genuinely think it's a bit of a shame.
Actually Rob its pronounced as a single word: "wisnae" ie -That wisane funny "wurny" ie - Naw ye wurny willnae ie - Naw, I willnay
Cultural hegemony mate. We're in danger of swallowing the jocks up and losing their funny little ways for ever. When, for instance, was the last time you saw a scotchman in a skirt?
You can add the occasional "Pure" into the mix too. ie "Naw I puir urny". There's a tale about ex Celtic player Enrico Annoni, who was about to be brought on as a sub and someone in the crowd shouted: "aw naw, No Anonni oan anaw noo". Translated "Oh no, not Anonni on as well now" Its a fascinating language.
Language is fascinating. I once asked a yorkshireman how to use 'thee' and 'thou'. Apparently the rule of thumb is don't thee thou me, thou thee tha'sen and see how tha likes it. Or something. I was distracted by his whippet of course. And the ferrets down his trousers.
