Understanding the Scottish Accent
🏴 Important info you need to know 🏴
About 6 years ago, I posted a video about the Scottish accent on YouTube that has had over one million views - and continues to get high daily views even today.
In fact, there’s a good chance you watched that video and found my content because of it.
But when I look back at it, I cringe, for several reasons.
So I’ve decided to remake it, updating for 2023, providing more relevant information for anyone who might be interested in, or coming to Scotland in future. Come on over to my new Dreaming of Scotland channel and watch it:
Something I discussed in the video is really true, and worth re-emphasising.
Throughout my childhood, it was reinforced to me that I would never be taken seriously by decision makers, nor considered for job opportunities in the real world, unless I changed my accent to be more palatable.
This is sad, but true, and it led to an entire generation of Scots from my era, who went on to achieve success in the professional world, who now speak with a weird accent.
For example, I know many Scots who went south for work, or were hired as speakers, TV presenters, executives, educators, journalists and more, who altered their Scottish accents to become ‘softer’.
Some of them (probably myself included) are like chameleons, and change our accent to be softer or stronger depending on who we are speaking to.
Then there are others, like Fraser Nelson (editor of the Spectator in London), who permanently morphed their accent into some bizarro-world toff accent that makes my head want to explode every time I hear it.
Bottom line is the Scottish accent is a popular topic, both for those who have Scottish ancestry and want to understand more, and for those who want to visit here and wonder if they’ll be able to understand everyone.
Head on over to the video and let me know your thoughts in the comments section.
Slainte,
Shaun