Language differences

[MisterHobgoblin]

We did have a serious discussion in my office (populated, largely, by Scots) about a TV documentary about neds - and whenever they spoke, they were subtitled. Rather than being offended, we thought it was a sad reflection of they way they had been brought up that they spoke so badly they needed subtitles in their own country. We tried to imagine how humiliating it must have been for them and their families.

[David]

Haven't heard that one before - neds?

[MisterHobgoblin]

Neds are adolescents and young men who typically wear shell suits or knock off Burberry, have short, badly cut hair messed up with gel, earrings, etc. They get drunk, steal cars, soup up bangers that they own and generally offend "nice" people. I've no idea where the name came from - perhaps ne'er dae well or something. Scotland being what it is, most of them are actually quite well mannered if you scratch the surface.

[David]

Ta! A Scottish term, then, or have I just missed it down here?

[MisterHobgoblin]

It is a Scottish term - most closely associated with chav - but subtley different

[Minxminnie]

Yes, it's definitely a scottish term. Allegedly it's an acronym for Non Educated Delinquent. It's widely used in my part of the world!

More (jokey!) info here:
http://www.bbc.co.uk/scotland/tv/chewinthefat/neds/index.shtml

You can get your ned name. Mine is Dobber.


Or proper info here - pointing out the fact that the acronym argument is spurious:
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Ned_(Scottish)

(Oops, Flingo also added this while I was editing!)

[Flingo]

I saw a tv programme a couple of years ago - possibly the one that you refer to MrHG, and I seem to remember NED being an abbreviation of "non-educated delinquent".

ETA - wikipedia reckons this isn't necessarily the case. Have a look (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Ned_(Scottish)) and you will learn everything you never wanted to know about them and more...

[Flingo]

Cross posting there.
You can get your ned name. Mine is Dobber.
I like that, although I like less that I am "Malky the Alky" (says she supping her cider...)

[Hazel]

I am "Malky the Alky" Of course, pronounced "Maow'ki thu Aaow'ki".

[David]

Very illuminating! :D

I'm 'Bawheid', apparently. Anyone care to translate? I'm assuming I'm a something-head and I'm trying to be optimistic about what that might be.

[Hazel]

I'm trying to be optimistic about what that might be.Keep trying. It's a crudism on 'dickhead' I guess. Very funny it is too. Phonetically sounds like 'b-awe-heed'.

[Hazel]

Mine is simply 'Heid'. Lovely. For some ned amusement, you should track down the Glaswegian neds doing the Dolmio adverts on Youtube - I can't recall the title or search name but variations on that description should bring it up. They are very funny.

[blithe_spirit]

You can get your ned name. Mine is Dobber
Hmmm! Mine is 'Alky features' - interesting. :(

[David]

For some ned amusement, you should track down the Glaswegian neds doing the Dolmio adverts on Youtube - I can't recall the title or search name but variations on that description should bring it up. They are very funny.
:D

They were indeed very good! I've learnt some new insults at least!

Mark Boyle should watch them then at least he'll have a chance of scrounging some Dolmio when he gets there...

[nonsuch]

Neds. Nothing to do with Neddy Seagoon, then. Pity. How about a Wally? Or has that term now died the death?

[Calliope]

Every now and then it turns out that a word I've never considered to be particularly Australian is completely baffling to people over here. The latest of these is 'dob'. Yes, on reflection, it sounds Australian. I suppose I've never considered it as anything other than a normal English word because I can't think of any synonyms.

(For instance, the very first serious trouble I ever got into was for dobbing. Aged three, I'd been playing in my backyard with a neighbour when my Dad came thundering out demanding to know who'd moved his shovel. He was looking at me, so I pointed at my neighbour and said, 'David did', and boy, did I get into trouble. Much more trouble than David. Because all he had done was move the shovel, but I had dobbed. Now, if you don't have the word 'dob', then what do you call this most heinous of all childhood crimes?)

[megustaleer]

"Telling tales" - and the punishment was worse than anything!

Tell-tale Tit
Your tongue will split
And all the little dicky-birds
Will have a little bit!

[David]

"Grassing" tends to be more in the criminal fraternity but has also served.

'Dobbing' was certainly around in my teenage years but I suppose it had been an immigrant smuggled in under the chassis of Neighbours. Since I didn't watch that I'd never actually considered the term Australian, only hearing that it was in later years.

Intriguing to have that old rhyme brought back to mind. Very early childhood does have some recollection of that. Sadly, I think kids today would not be able to recite it without taints to the terminology.

[Calliope]

We're all getting aclimatised - it's been quite a while since one of my sons called the other a dibber dobber but I'm glad to know that the sentiment is understood ;)

I do remember grassing from ancient episodes of The Bill (did it actually used to be watchable or was I deluded?) and tattle tale, now I think about it. But Meg, can you imagine kids using that rhyme these days? They'd get stabbed, or summat.

[MisterHobgoblin]

On Prisoner Cell Block H it was lagging...

[megustaleer]

But Meg, can you imagine kids using that rhyme these days? They'd get stabbed, or summat.I guess it does belong to the dim and distant past. I remember one of my boys being enraged at being told off for 'telling tales'. He thought that he was being accused of telling lies