BLOGGY BLETHERS AN CHAT
The Outlander's 'Sassenach'
Susan
Wan o' the beauties o' the series 'Outlander' is the way language is used. The Gaelic is bandied aboot hither an' thither bringin' it richt intae wur hearts an' giein' it a' a sense o' ither-wurldliness. Mind, it's the wurd 'sassenach' which is wan o' the wurds which hus gripped a'body's imagination.
The wurd comes frae the gaelic 'sasunnach' which referred tae 'Saxon' - originally used by Gaelic speakers tae refer tae non-Gaelic speakin' Scots Lowlanders. A wee hint o' this still survives the day. The writer o' this wee haiver-y blether-y blog hails frae the Highlands an' if we we're bein' truthful (an' when are we no'?) there's still a wee hint o' a North/South divide hereaboots.
Still, the thing is, the wurd sassenach is used in Outlander wi' affection, wi' a wee bitty lurve. Awwwww. It's no' often the case, tho'.
Hoof it o'er tae a Burns supper wearin' an England top an' speakin' the Queen's English an' listen tae how the wurd Sassenach is used tae ye then. Jings. Ye'd better no' be faint-heartet. The wurd is likely tae be hurled a' ye lik' a spear!
Mebbes we shuid learn sumthin' frae Outlander, eh? Mebbes wur language is jist so jing bang crackin' tha' it can be used tae spread a' sorts o' guid stuff ... lurve ... joy ... gaun-yersel'-ya-muckle-great-stoater positivity.
Ach, ah've come o'er as mushy as a can o' peas. Naw, ah huvnae got sumthin' in ma e'en. Ye must be imaginin' 'hings.
(credit - photo frae outlander-online.com)
