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AIBU?

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Original poster

Would you find this amusing? Or would it irritate you?

69 replies

HelloDenise · 13/05/2024 06:36

On a discussion group I'm in one of the members, who's Scottish, writes in a dialect way. Like Burns, I guess. Every post has this in to some extent.

Would you find it amusing or annoying?

OP posts:
Waitingfordoggo · 13/05/2024 08:17

I’m sure there is/was a MNer who posted like that. I found it very charming, although yes it would take me slightly longer than usual to read and digest what was being said.

NotJohnMajor · 13/05/2024 08:14

I'd find it interesting, I like to hear Scottish language.

I don't think this kind of thing is cringey unless it's written by someone who doesn't naturally speak that language/dialect and gets it wrong. I live in Yorkshire although I wasn't born here, and I have seen some embarrassing efforts at Yorkshire dialects in novels written by authors who have clearly never strayed beyond the M25.

Hoardasurass · 13/05/2024 08:12

JenniferEckles · 13/05/2024 08:01

Are there standard spellings for these dialect words, or is it made up by the individual writer?

It's puzzling to me, you're effectively writing your accent not 'keeping your language alive'. If a Yorkshirewoman, Essex girl or me being an English-speaking Welsh person all wrote our accents, it would be horribly confusing.

Scots is a distinct language with a long history you can even get a Scots to English dictionary, so yes there's standardised spelling.

Original poster
HelloDenise · 13/05/2024 08:11

NeverEnoughPants · 13/05/2024 08:07

It's not an accent.

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No it's individual words used. Though for example writing Cannae instead of cannot, is that an accent or dialect? Like Yorkshire where for example someone might say arr oreight instead of yes ok?

OP posts:
NeverEnoughPants · 13/05/2024 08:07

JenniferEckles · 13/05/2024 08:01

Are there standard spellings for these dialect words, or is it made up by the individual writer?

It's puzzling to me, you're effectively writing your accent not 'keeping your language alive'. If a Yorkshirewoman, Essex girl or me being an English-speaking Welsh person all wrote our accents, it would be horribly confusing.

It's not an accent.

JenniferEckles · 13/05/2024 08:01

Are there standard spellings for these dialect words, or is it made up by the individual writer?

It's puzzling to me, you're effectively writing your accent not 'keeping your language alive'. If a Yorkshirewoman, Essex girl or me being an English-speaking Welsh person all wrote our accents, it would be horribly confusing.

Original poster
HelloDenise · 13/05/2024 08:01

Coconutter24 · 13/05/2024 07:44

In what way would it be amusing?

It's a Facebook hobby group and 90% of the members aren't Scottish, so maybe it's a bit of individuality on her part to be amusing.

OP posts:
TooTiredToDealWithThis · 13/05/2024 07:58

ILikeItWhatIsIt · 13/05/2024 07:17

I'm Scottish and I find it annoying and cringe

Totally agree with this!

I occasionally use a Scots word or dialect when speaking to those who would understand it. I would never write with it. And I'd never force it on those who don't naturally speak it.

LightsOnSparklingTowers · 13/05/2024 07:54

HelloDenise · 13/05/2024 07:43

She just likes it I think, she thinks it's cute perhaps, a bit quirky and memorable.

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I think that’s fine then. People can always just ignore if they don’t like it. Definitely nothing to be annoyed about.

huuskymam · 13/05/2024 07:52

It wouldn't bother me, but I'd probably take a minute or two to dicypher it, using my best Scottish accent if course.

Osllo · 13/05/2024 07:50

I wouldn't care, I like reading it.

It's on her really if she gets less responses if people don't understand what she's saying.

tigger1001 · 13/05/2024 07:49

PotPotPotting · 13/05/2024 07:29

I follow a woman on TikTok who does a Scot's word of the day and how to use it in a sentence and I love it. When we were children my Mum had a Sunday newspaper with The Broons cartoon strip and she would read it to us so we could understand what they were saying. Now I find it really easy.

Scots is a native language to Scotland, I am all for keeping it alive. And it is easy to google a word if it is not known.

I love her! I am Scottish but find her words interesting.

TTPD · 13/05/2024 07:44

I think it's a bit rude if people are finding it hard to understand. I'd apply that to any language. If you've got a group of people, I think finding the most commonly understood language is the most reasonable way to communicate.

If everyone understands then I don't think it's an issue - I wouldn't find it amusing or irritating.

Coconutter24 · 13/05/2024 07:44

In what way would it be amusing?

Original poster
HelloDenise · 13/05/2024 07:43

LightsOnSparklingTowers · 13/05/2024 07:40

I don’t think I’d find it annoying or amusing. If I could understand it, I wouldn’t care. If I didn’t, I’d just not bother reading.

Why does she write like that? Does she speak like it? Is it in fitting with the group? She just likes it? Or is she wanting people to comment on it so it’s an attention thing?

She just likes it I think, she thinks it's cute perhaps, a bit quirky and memorable.

OP posts:
Hoardasurass · 13/05/2024 07:42

HelloDenise · 13/05/2024 07:31

I haven't complained about anything if you read the post. I asked for opinions without giving one myself.

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No you just started a thread inviting a pile on against Scottish people who speak and write in Scots. No not racist in the least.
(Last sentence was sarcasm)

Sunnyandsilly · 13/05/2024 07:41

Why would anyone be annoyed someone writes in their own dialect. How very odd.

KeinLiebeslied54321 · 13/05/2024 07:40

ILikeItWhatIsIt · 13/05/2024 07:38

Yes. Speak English and reserve the regional dialect for your own region.

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If someone is Scottish why should their default be English?

LightsOnSparklingTowers · 13/05/2024 07:40

I don’t think I’d find it annoying or amusing. If I could understand it, I wouldn’t care. If I didn’t, I’d just not bother reading.

Why does she write like that? Does she speak like it? Is it in fitting with the group? She just likes it? Or is she wanting people to comment on it so it’s an attention thing?

ILikeItWhatIsIt · 13/05/2024 07:38

KeinLiebeslied54321 · 13/05/2024 07:19

Speaking your own language is 'cringe'?

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Yes. Speak English and reserve the regional dialect for your own region.

BitOutOfPractice · 13/05/2024 07:31

But that was my point. It’s fine if everyone else reading it understands, otherwise a bit pointless. I wouldn’t expect someone from France to write in French on Mumsnet “because that’s how they speak and write“ if nobody else could understand.

FWIW it wouldn’t bother me at all to see anyone write in any dialect they like, as long as I can understand. If it’s incomprehensible to me, no matter how hard I try, I’m going to start skimming over.

I don’t write in my own dialect here - or at work or with my non -local friends - because they wouldn’t understand so it’d be entirely pointless.

Original poster
HelloDenise · 13/05/2024 07:31

This reply has been deleted

Message deleted by MNHQ. Here's a link to our Talk Guidelines.

I haven't complained about anything if you read the post. I asked for opinions without giving one myself.

OP posts:
GreyCarpet · 13/05/2024 07:30

Does your friend speak in Scottish dialect or reserve it for texting?

I'm all for keeping your language alive (my family are Manx) but I'd find it a bit irritating to have to decipher it if she only used it in text messaging when it had to be clarified constantly. I wouldn't find her irritating for doing it though.

If its how she speaks, then it's how she speaks and that wouldn't bother me at all.

My partner is from an area with a strong local dialect. He sometimes uses it in speech and texting but I like it and understand it so 🤷🏻‍♀️

PotPotPotting · 13/05/2024 07:29

I follow a woman on TikTok who does a Scot's word of the day and how to use it in a sentence and I love it. When we were children my Mum had a Sunday newspaper with The Broons cartoon strip and she would read it to us so we could understand what they were saying. Now I find it really easy.

Scots is a native language to Scotland, I am all for keeping it alive. And it is easy to google a word if it is not known.

GreenWheat · 13/05/2024 07:29

I suppose it depends on the nature of the group and what's been agreed in terms of lingua franca. I am on several professional discussion groups and the agreed language is standard English because of the number of non-native speakers in the group. If it can't be understood by all, then I would find it irritating.