WE WOULD ALL LEARN SCOTCH

Evening Star, Issue 20310, 19 October 1929, Page 28

WE WOULD ALL LEARN SCOTCH

Under tins ' heading an English:-re-viewer in the London ‘Daily Mail 3 writes the following'delightful .review, of a sixpenny Edinburgh booklet entitled ‘Scotch in Six Months Without a Master.’ It will he_ read by Kcw Zealanders of all. British racial descents with enjoyment if not: approval:—

The announcement of this little book should be warmly welcomed. All who, fn this holiday season, have to do with gillies and caddies, to say nothing of eountrv innkeepers, will hasten to avail themselves of a brochure - well adapted to the lower intelligence of the Southrons.

It would be impossible in the space of a brief review to give any really lengthy extracts from, this comprehensive work, which includes not only common phrases ttselnl to ..travellers (especially to golfers in bunkers), but also will bo furnished with an index to pronunciation of great value to the student. .In this place we can hut append a few of the idioms nnl colloquial expressions which should be familiar. Addins meaning “ perhaps.” Chiefly used in remote districts. Wc may remember it in the famous sermon on Jonah and the whale (to bo found in so many books of anecdotes), wherein the minister put several questions to his congregation concerning the nature of the fish which swallowed Jonah.' “ Aiblins it were a sardine? But no, : my brethren, it wore no; a sardine.:! Aiblins it wore a herring? But no, my | brethren, it were no a herring.” Aiming the English.—That is, among a very simple primitive people, whoso, I gold is to bo obtained by the offer of porridge or bibulous salmon. Sir. James Barrio lias it finely when bo speaks of the potency of a “ two hundred poond education used ‘ amaiig the English.’” ' _ . , j Pair Weo Lassie.—•“ Wee ” in this > case is not a diminutive A puir wee lassie in Scotland is sometimes a lady I of ].2st, oft Min in height, and Laving | gloriously red hair. On the other j hand, one. of Scotland’s dainty little j beauties of -Jit Gin is sometimes styled by an ardent lot or “ a grand lassie.’ | Such a man would employ the oxpres- | sion “ pro ma inou ” —winch signifies | “Kiss or ta.slt- my lips.” j Wumntau. —A term of endearment ! from a husband to a wiic. Tims, j “ Wnmman baud yo gab " may moan j “Mv dear, please let mo speak.” I “Ea Fnppit lb’ Looney?”—“'Who! hit the boy ” A question _to be asked | when your drive at the lirst tee has | gone wildly to square leg. j The Auld Kirk.—A dram of whisky. , The passion for visiting ancient build- I ings is still strong in Scotland, j Anitber.—Another. Barely applied ; by an Aberdonian to tho consumption,| of alcoholic liquors, but common in the i month of the Englishman in Scotland j when ho lias learned the language. j jda’e ye steekit the Toil?—Have i vou fastened the gate? It is wise to I do this when you drive any ball from : a recognised golf course into the conservatories of a private bouse. j A roiten-herted pnddock—alter- j natcly a *’ iangnehhit partan.” ’lbe j latter means a “ long-nosed crab ” j —the former implies a contemj)!:- j iblo fellow. Both expressions arc to be heard iron l bunkers of men whose partners have shown a slight error of judgment Mntebkin. —A sup. a pint. Mutclikin o’ yull—a pint of ale. Gillies ]jrefer whisky, it scorns, though the measure is the same Enow lac gar a sow talc ■- dram.— Enough to make a pig lake to drink. A caddie may oiler this observation il. when playing “aim alf twa,” yon miss j the ball altogether. _ I Bang.—This docs not necessarily 1 mean an explosion, nor does it suggest lire and destruction. “Bang went saxponco ” —i e., the saxpence disappeared. .If a Scotsman takes a lady to the Biiz or the Savoy and .spends sixpence upon her the resulting joviality, the joyousness, and the laughter can all bo well expressed in the word “bang.” Jt is wise, however, to employ it with discretion in Scotland. Man, Lie’s a Filer.-—This phrase explains the exodus of the Jews from Fife. But Filers are delightful companions none the less. You may travel i a. whole day with them and listen onchantodly to their eloquent silence. Business, however, is said to be the best done with them through a lawyer resident in the district. Imyhm.—Said to be the most expressive grunt in all tho world. Jt may signify joy, despair, hatred, contempt —any emotion, indeed, according to the speaker Often used by a husband when told that his wife had eloped. Altogether a great work and one long overdue. I rejoice to read, as I close it, that the question. “ Stands Scotland • where she did?” was first asked upon a famous golf links after the visit of some long-liandicappers from tho south. It was a just rebuke.