Wha's Like Us? (Say It in Scots!)

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Hard by, in the fields called the Leith Links, the citizens of Edinburgh divert themselves at a game called golf, in which they use a curious kind of bat, tipt with horn, and small elastic balls of leather, stuffed with feathers, rather less than tennis balls, but of a much harder consistence. This they strike with such force and dexterity from one hole to another, that they will fly to an incredible distance. Of this diversion the Scots are so fond, that when the weather will permit, you may see a multitude of all ranks, from the senator of justice to the lowest tradesman, mingled together in their shirts, and following the balls with the utmost eagerness." In this blog, named for the dictionary-maker Samuel Johnson, correspondents write about the effects that the use (and sometimes abuse) of language have on politics, society and culture around the world

Es taiblie’s gey shoogly. It means ‘This table is very wobbly.’ And so here is our word of the day, gey. Shoogly would be a good one too, but it can wait.

The raising of glasses and ‘cheers’ is a universal language, yet wherever I travel I’m intrigued by the other ‘traditional’ ways of cheers-ing. Turn it into a game and see how many you can think up while going round the table. This year I’ll be in Budapest for Burns'– so Egészségére! Caledonia was sent to James Johnson on 23 January 1789 for inclusion in the Scots Musical Museum, however Johnson did not print the song. Peasant, bard or a bit of both? Reconciling the contradictions surrounding Scotland’s national poet. In Scotland, when people congregate, they tend to argue and discuss and reason; in Orkney, they tell stories."

Here’s a small selection of traditional toasts and graces which are still widely used in Scotland today. Where dialect is used the relevant words have been translated. Macbeth] is historically set in a place depicted by Shakespeare as brutal and violent, incredibly superstitious, and that's something that I do believe is Scottish." Unfortunately, though, these important debates are being spoiled by a vocal minority of trolls who aren’t really interested in the issues, try to derail the conversations, register under fake names, and post vile abuse. Industrialist and philanthropist Andrew Carnegie (1835-1919) had a sound understanding of the Scottish character. Read more

Wherever a Scotsman goes, here goes Burns. His grand whole, catholic soul squares with the good of all; therefore we find him in everything, everywhere." What was the source from which gay and gey came? French gai, which meant and still means ‘happy, cheerful’, and a variety of extended senses. The history before that is surprisingly complicated but apparently involves Old High German. Yes, even the Old High Germans could be happy. And the French of course know quite well how to be happy. The interjection o gai or just gai can be heard in some French folk songs such as “En montant la rivière” and even the Breton “Tri martolod.” My favourite whisky toast is a bit tenuous – and slightly naughty. I like to end with: ‘To our wives and girlfriends – may they never meet.’ It justifies the giving of honours as follows: 'The saying "Here's tae us, wha's like us? Damn few, and they're a' deid" represents the Scottish curse of denying or neglecting the great and gifted living among us. Sc. 2004 Daily Record 12 Mar 21: Whisky, kilts and Robert Burns aside, the Scots are most renowned for their rousing – and often lengthy – toasts around the dinner table.