6. Introductory handsel
A Scots word and example sentence to learn:
- Spurtle [Tip: hold Ctrl and click a link to open it in a new tab. (Hide tip)]
- Definition: A short, round stick used for stirring porridge, soup, etc.
- Example sentence: “The meall is steired wi a spurtle tae mak parritch.”
- English translation: “The oatmeal is stirred with a spurtle to make porridge.”
Please note: In Scots, meall always refers to oatmeal, as opposed to pease-meal or barley meal.
Activity 2
Click to hear the sentence above read by a Scots speaker.
You can then make your own recording and play it back to check your pronunciation.
Transcript
Listen
The meall is steired wi a spurtle tae mak parritch.
Model
The meall is steired wi a spurtle tae mak parritch.
Go to the Dictionary of the Scots Language for a full definition of the word
Related word:
- Kail
- Definition: Borecole, esp. the curly variety; by extension, a main meal or dinner.
- Example sentence: I hope, Sir Andrew, ye'll no objek to tak your kail wi' us.
- English translation: I hope, Sir Andrew, you won’t object to taking your meal with us.
Please note: With Scotland’s relatively mild winters, kail was the staple vegetable, grown almost everywhere and used in broths as well as cooked in various other ways. As its main use was in soup, the word kail often referred to any kind of soup or even to a meal.
Activity 3
Click to hear the sentence above read by a Scots speaker.
You can then make your own recording and play it back to check your pronunciation.
Transcript
Listen
I hope, Sir Andrew, ye'll no objek to tak your kail wi' us.
Model
I hope, Sir Andrew, ye'll no objek to tak your kail wi' us.
Go to the Dictionary of the Scots Language for a full definition of the word
Introduction