Some of the expressions of the Glaswegians are … well, odd. I’ve heard someone called “wee man” and “big man” … in the same conversation. Now, to me, “wee” and “big” are sort of opposites. Either something is “wee” or it’s “big,” but it cannot be both. The really strange thing was that, in the context of the conversation, it made sense. “How’s it going, wee man?” To this, our database administrator poured out his woes, detailing his long nights, lost weekends, and endless conversations with Microsoft. After that, something was said along the lines of, “oh, aye, well, you’ll sort it oot, big man.”
Now, the “wee man” I could understand: our man, here, doesn’t top 100 lbs / 45 kgs. He truly is wee. He’s a man who eyes my teacup with awe: he claims that, if he were to drink a full teacup, he wouldn’t be able to eat lunch. He only ever takes a half-full teacup.
The “big man,” though, I think … is something else entirely. It does beg the question, though, as to why it’s used so ambiguously. I’m never “wee man,” but am called “big man” by all sorts of people, most of whom I have never met before in my life. So. Right. “Big” and “wee” do not necessarily mean “big” and “small.” Or something.
To continue with the linguistic odyssey, there is, apparently, a neighborhood in Glasgow in which everybody calls everybody “pal.” As in, “thanks, pal,” or, “how’s it going, pal?” To our ears, “pal” is … well, something out of a 1930’s gangster movie, probably something spoken by Bogart, out of the corner of his mouth, around a cigarette, and with menace: “watch your back, pal, ’cause I’ll be watchin it too, see?”
To have a coworker ask, “how’s you, pal?” Well, that’s a bit odd. To have a delivery guy say, “thanks, pal?” That’s downright bizarre. It happens, though, and it’s … disconcerting.
We continue to be amazed at this land. One last thing: Glaswegians? They’re otherwise known as “weegies.” Again, with the “wee.”
-D
These wee guys in the photos are mighty cute. 😉
Paz