Lost in Translation
It has been a long time between post but a lot has been happening. After qualifying for a cup final yonks ago it seemed like my trip to Scotland was never going to come..........but it did, and it was aaa amazing! I even made the front page of The courier........
I have also been getting my head down and really pushing the triathlon training. My running has come on leaps and bounds and my latest 5km time 28,26 made this Raith fan very happy. I have even bought a wetsuit, however I did discover that changing rooms are not designed for neoprene as you need plenty of space to jump around and hop into that suit. I am going to fill the gap that football leaves in the close season with swim, cycle and swims...........just don't want jelly fish.
This week's P n B comes from the last home game of the season. We witnessed a derby defeat to Cowdenbeath. I hope to continue next season and will be using this space to keep you up with my traithlon antics and Barcelona life.
Enjoy!
Carol
Scotland is famous for many things, men in skirts with no underwear, cuisine that leaves your hearts gasping for no more and and a national team that can snatch defeat from the jaws of victory. Put all those with the fantastic scenery, friendly locals and a good dose of whisky and what could possibly be wrong.............oh yeah the accent!
Catalunya likes to keep a wee eye on Scotland and not a day goes past without a mention of Escocia on the radio or tv. The Catalans love a Scot and will bombard it with questions from all sides on all topics, "do you eat full cooked breakfast everyday?", "how often does it rain?", "what is haggis?" However understanding the answer can prove a bit difficult. Introducing yourself as an English teacher and then being told you can't be cause you're Scottish and you speak a different language has been known to happen, "wit dae yi mean yi dinnea undestan' me?" But then if you have ever tried communicating with a voice activated device maybe you can understand the frustration of being lost in translation. Sean Connery's famous "sshhhhhhakin but not ssttirred" is lost on them. In an attempt to spread the love and understand of the twang, lilt, glottle stop that makes the Scottish accent unique, a search for examples commenced.
Occasionally the Catalan commentators are asked to perform an English interview. Their style is simple, accent neutral as can be and their questions basic, "how was the goal?, do you like Barcelona?, what do you think about their goalkeeper?", nothing that will confuse either party. Scottish sports interviewers have in the past taken a somewhat different approach to the art of question making. Students of English are taught simple ways to ask and answer, what is your name, where are you from, do you like Scotland? This however is not what happened a few years ago. In 2007 a video became a web hit, a recently a hit in many a Catalan classroom, featuring BBC interviewer Jim Spence and new to the country Dusan Pernis who was playing for Dundee United at the time, see video here. The questions asked during this interview are far from simple, "could you tell oos a little bit aboot yirself?"Add to that a howling Dundee wind, seagulls and a few more convoluted question the poor guy had no hope. The confusion that develops from the very start makes even the strongest of toes curl.
Maybe Scottish football is not the best poster boy for the Scottish accent after all but any excuse to try and teach the locals to say Rrraith EeRrrovers.
I have also been getting my head down and really pushing the triathlon training. My running has come on leaps and bounds and my latest 5km time 28,26 made this Raith fan very happy. I have even bought a wetsuit, however I did discover that changing rooms are not designed for neoprene as you need plenty of space to jump around and hop into that suit. I am going to fill the gap that football leaves in the close season with swim, cycle and swims...........just don't want jelly fish.
This week's P n B comes from the last home game of the season. We witnessed a derby defeat to Cowdenbeath. I hope to continue next season and will be using this space to keep you up with my traithlon antics and Barcelona life.
Enjoy!
Carol
Scotland is famous for many things, men in skirts with no underwear, cuisine that leaves your hearts gasping for no more and and a national team that can snatch defeat from the jaws of victory. Put all those with the fantastic scenery, friendly locals and a good dose of whisky and what could possibly be wrong.............oh yeah the accent!
Catalunya likes to keep a wee eye on Scotland and not a day goes past without a mention of Escocia on the radio or tv. The Catalans love a Scot and will bombard it with questions from all sides on all topics, "do you eat full cooked breakfast everyday?", "how often does it rain?", "what is haggis?" However understanding the answer can prove a bit difficult. Introducing yourself as an English teacher and then being told you can't be cause you're Scottish and you speak a different language has been known to happen, "wit dae yi mean yi dinnea undestan' me?" But then if you have ever tried communicating with a voice activated device maybe you can understand the frustration of being lost in translation. Sean Connery's famous "sshhhhhhakin but not ssttirred" is lost on them. In an attempt to spread the love and understand of the twang, lilt, glottle stop that makes the Scottish accent unique, a search for examples commenced.
Occasionally the Catalan commentators are asked to perform an English interview. Their style is simple, accent neutral as can be and their questions basic, "how was the goal?, do you like Barcelona?, what do you think about their goalkeeper?", nothing that will confuse either party. Scottish sports interviewers have in the past taken a somewhat different approach to the art of question making. Students of English are taught simple ways to ask and answer, what is your name, where are you from, do you like Scotland? This however is not what happened a few years ago. In 2007 a video became a web hit, a recently a hit in many a Catalan classroom, featuring BBC interviewer Jim Spence and new to the country Dusan Pernis who was playing for Dundee United at the time, see video here. The questions asked during this interview are far from simple, "could you tell oos a little bit aboot yirself?"Add to that a howling Dundee wind, seagulls and a few more convoluted question the poor guy had no hope. The confusion that develops from the very start makes even the strongest of toes curl.
Maybe Scottish football is not the best poster boy for the Scottish accent after all but any excuse to try and teach the locals to say Rrraith EeRrrovers.
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