SGScot: Language*

Many street signs in Scottish cities are delightfully Tolkein-esque, with the English name followed by Gaelic – in lovely Celtic font. But if you can’t understand a word your waitress is saying, don’t ask her to speak English. She already is.

Cultural note:

Remember that the Scots – while British, and speaking mostly English - are not English. It’s all very complicated. Look, the United Kingdom (sometimes called “Britain) includes England, Scotland, Wales and Northern Ireland. Great Britain is just the island containing the first three. Wales is sometimes called “the principality” and Northern Ireland “the province”, but I’ve no idea what Scotland might be called.

It’s definitely not part of England though. They have their own parliament and everything. And they haven’t really forgiven the English for beating them up all those centuries, and blowing up all their castles. (I believe there are no intact castles in Scotland dating back more than a couple of hundred years, and that’s why.) So consider yourself in a foreign country, of sorts, and be grateful that they’re talking a language you can understand.

Yes, you really can understand. Try a little harder.

(I would like to state for the record that I had no problem with the Scottish accent. No, really. Beloved, on the other hand…)

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* No, I hadn't forgotten. Honest. Just a little distracted. Back now.