LL-L: "Signage" LOWLANDS-L, 27.AUG.2001 (02) [E]

[Lowlands-L]

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 L O W L A N D S - L * 27.AUG.2001 (02) * ISSN 189-5582 * LCSN 96-4226
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 A=Afrikaans, Ap=Appalachian, D=Dutch, E=English, F=Frisian, L=Limburgish
 LS=Low Saxon (Low German), S=Scots, Sh=Shetlandic, Z=Zeelandic (Zeeuws)
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From: Sandy Fleming [sandy at scotstext.org]
Subject: "Signage"

I've just returned from a few weeks in Scotland and it seems
to me that use of Scots in commercial signage is on the increase.

The welcoming banner in the newly-built Seabird Centre in
North Berwick starts "Welcome, Bienvenue..." and after
several more languages ends with "Come awa' in". Perhaps
language enthusiasts would have preferred "ben" to "in",
but after thinking about it I realised that "ben" might be
too specific in this context. Also, there's a guide to Scots
bird names amongst the ornothology books for sale.

Watsons of Haddington still have their "Nae Smokin" sign.
I've thought of "Nae Luntin" and "Nae Reekin", but again,
these are probably too specific to stand in such a general
context. Masons of Haddington (a shoe shop) have a new
children's department across the road from their main shop,
which they've called "Wee Masons".

McEwan's (the brewery) have changed the spelling of name of
their pub in our village from "The Colgate" to "The Coalgate",
which shows the Scots etymology more clearly. They also have
the words "Free Hoose" below the name, so that, with all the
other words being common to Scots and English, it could be
said that the entire façade is in Scots. It would me nicer
still if the word "brewers" was changed to "brewsters", but
that might be rather old-fashioned, I suppose. Driving past
one of their pubs in Stirling I noticed that this also
described itself as a "Free Hoose". Perhaps they've always
used this and I've only just noticed it, or perhaps this is
an attempt by McEwan's to re-introduce Scots pub culture?
That would sell beer _and_ encourage the use of the language!

Sandy
http://scotstext.org
A dinna dout him, for he says that he
On nae accoont wad ever tell a lee.
                          - C.W.Wade,
                    'The Adventures o McNab'

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