When you think “Scottish,” your mind almost immediately conjures up an image of whisky or whisky-loving Scots, or perhaps of a castle or a tree house. No doubt you know the names of Scotland’s natural springs, its mountains and castles, and the tales of the Battle of Falkirk, which led to one Scotsman being executed for mutiny, and another being drowned (though the story differs according to which version you read).
Scots also describe their cultural traditions and the Scottish way of life in very specific words. Take ‘Bail’, for example, an unusual word that translates into ‘thou art’ in Scottish and English. The meaning is a noun meaning ‘thou art’ or ‘you have a reason to be’.
We’re going to be getting very clever and cutting the truth and using our own definitions a little bit. Be sure to check this out.
We found this word last week while watching a news story about the Scottish Parliament’s decision to ban imports of alcoholic drinks from mainland of Scotland. The phrase “ban whisky” was an example of the Scottish Parliament saying whisky does not meet Scottish standards, so it should no longer be allowed on the islands. This is an amazing example of what our society and language is capable of. It is a shame it did not happen sooner.
This word, for example, is used when one Scottish parliament has banned an import from another, as opposed to a law prohibiting an import from Scotland. This word was probably used in the early 1900s, in the days when there were still exports of liquor to Scotland via English ports. Our advice to all yers — the Scots are amazing folks. We know we have got some brilliant ways of expressing our cultural experiences.
For those of you who are planning on traveling overseas you will want to learn about the culture of the people and countries you will be visiting. Learn about the language you will be traveling in, the names of towns and cities, what foods are unique to that culture, and the customs and traditions of that country or one of their neighboring countries. You will want to know how your favorite foods are prepared, how your favorite beverages are served, and the slang that is used with the locals.
Here is a simple overview of a few European languages you will need to understand. While some may be slightly beyond you, take a look at our comprehensive language guide to European languages to help you with any language you may need to know. New blog: Take advantage of our comprehensive language guide to learn your favorite language Old blog: We cover a wide variety of languages in addition to English. But, it is not one that is easy.
When learning a new language you may not realize how difficult it is.
