LL-L "Expressions" 2003.01.02 (02) [E]

[Lowlands-L]

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 L O W L A N D S - L * 02.JAN.2003 (02) * ISSN 189-5582 * LCSN 96-4226
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From: John M. Tait <jmtait at wirhoose.co.uk>
Subject: LL-L "Expressions" 2002.12.31 (09) [E]

Colin wrote:
>
>Personally, I'd see it as appropriate to invite someone _ben_ anywhere
>I was the host, in some way or other. The most obvious example is into
>ones own home, but I don't see it as being restricted to that. If I
>had the role of host, greeting people arriving somewhere for some form
>of hospitality, I'd feel that "come awa ben" was a natural thing to
>say to them. Still, I agree that it might not be right for every
>social occasion.

I think there's a degree of decreasing literalism here. When I was young in
Shetland, 'ben' still had the literal meaning of the living end of a house.
When I moved to North East Scotland, I was surprised to hear it used more
generally - even outdoors, as in 'ben thare' meaning simply 'over there.'
When you consider that the phrase 'come awa ben inti the boady o the kirk'
is used when there is no church in sight, I think we can say that such
phrases can be used fairly generally.

John M. Tait.

http://www.wirhoose.co.uk

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