After almost three years in Scotland I still find some difficulties in understanding Scots when they decide to speak too... Scottish! Surely if I was living somewhere where that accent* was more common than in Edinburgh, I would probably have gotten used to it. Besides, being surrounded by other foreigners also doesn't make it easy...
However, Scots, before being angry at us, non-natives who live here, try to imagine what it would be like studying French and then moving to the countryside in Burgundy or learning Italian and moving to Palermo or something like that. Please indulge us and the next time you're speaking to a non-native, please imitate her:
There is nobody in the world who, after studying English for 2 or 3 years, would not understand this wonderful woman! Your Majesty, if you ever come across this humble blog, thank you for speaking like you do! And please, pleaaaaaase, make an effort to inspire your subjects from Scotland (most people in Edinburgh are quite "inspired, though, can't really complain). Oh, and also Manchester. And Liverpool. And some areas of London. And Northern Ireland... Well, Your Majesty, all of your subjects who don't speak like you, if you please.
*A "wee" warning for those reading this and not being British. There is no such thing as a Scottish accent. There is a Glaswegian accent / dialect, a Dundee accent, a Highlands accent, an Aberdeen accent... This country is a wee Tower of Babel!!! Edinburgh, however, has a very plain accent. One which is easy to understand.
*A "wee" warning for those reading this and not being British. There is no such thing as a Scottish accent. There is a Glaswegian accent / dialect, a Dundee accent, a Highlands accent, an Aberdeen accent... This country is a wee Tower of Babel!!! Edinburgh, however, has a very plain accent. One which is easy to understand.
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