Why do Americans like the Scots so much???

[elman]

Georgia,

I absolutely agree that the common thread should be embraced. It's one of the wonderful and most powerful aspects of the internet that it does allow a mechanism for that to happen. The sooner we all realise we are all the same and only divided by differences of opinion the better. Sadly us Scots are all too often stereotyped as hard drinking, kilt wearing psychopaths or big butch kilt wearing heroic musclemen who eat porridge all day. It's all nonsense.

As for under the kilt well at weddings etc most men won't wear anything. It's traditional not to. I guess it depends on A - How drunk you intend to get and B - How windy it is!

The pronunciation of certain sounds is very similar in Scots to German. The "ch" sound and the way we roll our rs. I don't mean the accent sounds the same but the vocal form is similar. So we find German easy to pronounce. I've heard that most of the spies during WW2 from the UK were Scots because of this. How true that is I don't know.

There are many dialects in Scotland. There is no one definitive "Scottish accent". If you were to hear how some speak in certain areas though you'd know what I mean by gutteral. I won't say where those places are to avoid upsetting anyone! . I think often what people in other countries think of as a Scottish accent is really what we'd maybe call a Scottish bur. Rolling the rs etc. Some say the clearest English is spoken in Edinburgh and I can see why as every letter is sounded in well spoken English by well to do folks there. But in other areas of Edinburgh it's less correct and full of slang.

I like the Southern US drawl. Especially if it's spoken softly. And yes there are very few non Scots who can mimic the Scottish accent without it being a charicature. Mike Myers does not bad but it's still phoney.

[Georgia_Peach]

Elman:

In some ways I agree with your observation that the internet is bringing the world closer together in a global community. On the flip side of that coin, the internet has become an avenue for individuals who wish to spread their piss and vinegar venom to others. Thankfully though, that's more the exception than the rule.

I'd never thought of Scotsmen being portrayed as psychopaths, or drunken, brawling men. I have clearly seen the other stereotype you expressed in the brawny, rugged heroic musclemen. And what you said about the accents differing regionally makes perfect sense just as the accents differ greatly here depending on the region. Much of our regional accent differences have to do with which areas people settled when they immigrated from other countries.

There’s a large Irish population in the Massachusetts area, Italians and Russians in the New York area, many Germans settled in the Midwest, the Scots settled across most of the Appalachia mountains, there are many Cubans and Columbians in Miami, Mexicans dominate New Mexico, Arizona, Texas, and southern California, and there is a splattering of Indians and other Asians in most larger cities. The Native Americans were essentially decimated by European settlers, and there are only tiny bands of them left in the south and out west. It’s horrible, because they have such a beautiful culture. In truth, I love that the US is known as the “melting pot.” Really, every large city here has a diverse population, and I genuinely love learning about other people and cultures.

So, which region of Scotland do you live in? Are you in an area where people annunciate their words or not? I’ll admit I've listened to some Scottish folks that I couldn’t understand a single word that came out of their mouths. So, I suppose what I’m referring to when I say I’m fond of a Scottish accent is the bur. By the way, that was a great factoid about the Scots during WWII. I like history, so thanks for sharing. I know you’re not sure if it’s true, but how cool if it is, right?

Isn’t Mike Myers' mother Scottish? I don’t recall, but the man’s a riot!

[Lady TW]

Originally Posted by Lady TW

I like the firey hair, or crimson colored hair. My hair is dull, brown with three layers.

God, what was I thinking when I stated this? Im sorry everyone if I sounded like a tool... geeze.

[Lady TW]

Originally Posted by Georgia_Peach

Elman:

There’s a 1*large Irish population in the Massachusetts area, Italians and Russians in the New York area, many Germans settled in the Midwest, the Scots settled across most of the Appalachia mountains, there are many Cubans and Columbians in Miami, Mexicans dominate New Mexico, Arizona, Texas, and southern California, and there is a splattering of Indians and other Asians in most larger cities. 2*The Native Americans were essentially decimated by European settlers, and there are only tiny bands of them left in the south and out west. It’s horrible, because they have such a beautiful culture. In truth, I love that the US is known as the “melting pot.” Really, every large city here has a diverse population, and I genuinely love learning about other people and cultures.

3*Isn’t Mike Myers mother Scottish? Or is it both of his parents? I don’t recall, but I’m sure he had plenty of practice mimicking his mom or dad while he was a child. The man’s a riot!

*1 - Now that's interesting to hear. Would some of them still have their natural accents? (I sort of have a thing for natural accents, but I tend to pick them up quickly. that's only my fault due to a slight lisp issue, im proud.)

*2 - I used to work at the Grand Canyon for 10 months total and we had a lot of Native Americans that worked their as well. One of my favorites was a line cook I called Chief. He was a great man and cooked like a demon. Every time we hung out he'd litterally show how to make bread like his mother, (tried to get me to move in with him more than once *Nah, yer just a good friend*) And he did a good job at showing me all the old barriel grounds, and told me great stories. I am writing a story right now and I have chosen to use some of those stories, or so at least tell them in the same manner that he told them to me. Great Culture, excellent story tellers!

I also have a friend who used to live in an Indian reservation with her husband, Joe. Joe's pure indian and quite a tool-to his own right. (Goof, Tool, Good for Jennifer) They're really the perfect couple.

3*I just checked this out. He was born in Scarborough, Ontario. Very talented artist, he is. Him along with Jack Black, Jim Carry, and a small minor of others I can't think of right now... oh wait, Blue Collar--I look up to these people. But overall I have to say Mike was good in Shrek.

[Georgia_Peach]

Lady TW:

#1, Yes. You can still find Irishmen "fresh off the boat" in Boston and New York. They have their native accents, and are too darn cute for words.

#2, You worked in the Grand Canyon? That's too cool! And what an honor your "friend" bestowed upon you to take you to their burial grounds. They're considered sacred, you know? Lucky you. I have Native American ancestry too. My great-grandmother was full-blooded Cherokee. I have so much respect for native traditions! Their oral traditions were how they passed down the tribal history. I'm wish I had an opportunity to share some of those experiences.

#3, I know Mike Meyers was born in Canada. Jack Black is THE man! He makes me laugh so darn hard! I love that he doesn't mind making an ass of himself. It's good stuff!!!

[fergie1977]

Just having a wee nosey around.
Anyway - i dinnae want tae sound like a smart-arse but Mike Myers parents were both from Liverpool apparently - as opposed to Scotland.

I realise i didnae contribute much tae yer wee discussion mind you.

Noo wheres ma bevvy - im awa tae get blootered.

[elman]

Georgia:

Yes the "piss and vinegar venom" (I like that ) Are all too evident. I've been on line actively since 1998 all over the place and still am. I'm well aware of the spewed, casual hatred spat out by the ignorant. But that's part of humanity. Censoring such trash necessitates the restriction of free speech. And in doing that we would lose the mechanism to communicate freely. The net isn't a Utopian ideal. It's part anarchy. But there are plenty diamonds in the dirt to make it worth the journey.

The UK is a melting pot too although too many refuse to see or admit it. Yet it has been subject to immigration and cultural influences from other countries for thousands of years and still is.

I live in East Lothian which is in the lowland central belt east of Edinburgh. In my youth the local dialect was quite "broad" as we'd say. But these days it has mellowed as have all local dialects thanks to the media. In my day if you were to say something was brilliant or fantastic you'd say.. "Deek at that! That's barry gadje!" You won't hear that today. So as well as local variations there are variations according to current social culture. I'm sure though that if you were to hear two locals here or in Glasgow or Aberdeen you'd still struggle to understand them though. We speak quickly and have a tendancy to run words together a bit. For example if you were to go into a MacDonalds in Glasgow and asked for a Big Mac you'd get asked...

"Jewantfrieswithatorwedgiespal"? (Do you want fries with that or potato wedgies sir?)

Mike Myers did a very good take on the Scots in "So I Married an Axe Murderer" His protryal of his own father in that film was very funny and the accent very good. "Heid doon!" But Shrek is a more watered down soft accent that just sounds a bit odd.