Aberfeldy Tourist Office Prepares Phrasebook for Texan Visitors: ‘Howdy’ Means ‘Aye’, ‘Y’all’ Means ‘Youse’
With twinning confirmed, Highland Perthshire gets ready for Lone Star visitors. Key phrase: 'that's the Tay, sir, not a creek'.
Aberfeldy and the Tay, which Texans will be politely asked not to call a creek. Photo: Vincent van Zeijst, “Loch Derculich near Aberfeldy, Perthshire, Scotland”, via Wikimedia Commons, CC BY-SA 3.0
Aberfeldy’s tourism businesses are preparing for an anticipated influx of visitors from Salado, Texas, following the community council’s decision to press ahead with the twinning link.
A draft phrasebook seen by the Perthetic translates key Texan expressions for local use. “Howdy” is “aye”. “Y’all” is “youse”. “Fixin’ to” is “gonnae”. And “bless your heart” is “away and bile yer heid”, but said more warmly.
Local guides have been briefed on likely questions. Texans are expected to ask where the ranch is (there isn’t one), whether the River Tay is a creek (it is not), and why the Highland cattle “have bangs”. Guides have been told to say the cows “are going through a phase”.
Hoteliers are optimistic. “Texans like big portions,” said one. “We do a full Scottish with two tattie scones. That’ll show them big.”
The tourist board has asked businesses not to promise sunshine, but is happy for them to “imply it”.
The real story: Aberfeldy twin town deal (The Courier)
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