[Dixielandjazz] Scottish Pronunciation

[R. or V. Thompson]

Since no one (where were you, Mr. Ingle?) has called Mr. Gunter to task on his claim that "In the Scottish dialect the 'ch' sound is pronouced as 'K' (as in Loch Lomond)," I will.  (LOCK Lomond?  Really?)  

The first 21 years of my life were spent in Scotland, and during that time (and for a long time before, I believe) the "ch" was NOT pronounced as a "k" but the same as the German "ch" in, e.g., "nacht."  (In fact,, the German "nacht" and the Scottish "nicht" have identical meanings and pronunciation apart from the vowel variation.)  And as far as I know there has been no change (unless they did it when I wasn't looking).  

Most Americans and most Sassenachs cannot seem to pronounce the "ch" (similar to the sound one makes if something gets into the back of the throat that one wishes to expel) and substitute the "k" sound!  I can imagine what would happen if they attempted the lines from the old Scottish song "Just a Wee Deoch an' Doris": "If ye can say it's a braw, bricht, moonlicht nicht,/ Ye're a' richt, ye ken."  
 
But that's O.K., Bill, you're still "a' richt, ye ken," (although you were "a' wrang" above).
 
Bert

rvthompson at earthlink.net
The buck stopped before it got here. — Bob Phillips