Anticipatory Scottish?

[Joel S. Berson]

Near the beginning of a discussion with two friends about the word
"Scottophobia" (English fear of the savage Scots), I said, "I'm
afeard that Scottophobia is not the best word."  I and my friends
burst out laughing uncontrollably.

I would never say "afeard" voluntarily.  Do I have some hard-wired,
Chomskian Scottish neural pathway that led me to an utterance I would
disown if I had free will?

Joel

P.S.  The word was used on an email list in the title of a proposed
panel at a meeting.  Not to be confused with "scotophobia" (aka
"nyctophobia" or "achluophobia" -- who knew fear of the dark was so
prevalent that it requires so many terms?).  The better word probably
is "Caledoniophobia".

JSB

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