Page 101 - Microsoft Word - Guiding light final version 0716 1206.doc

cover architecture, geology, religion (ever tried quotes from the bible in a foreign language?), agriculture, botany and plant life, zoology, sociology and technical terms.’
Elma McMenemy’s first experience as a foreign language-speaking tourist guide in Aberdeen came years before she qualified.
‘It was a tour in Norwegian for Aberdeen City Council’s department of tourism in 1978, ‘ she said.
‘I blush as I remember how bad I was, standing(!) at the front of a double decker bus, microphone in hand, attempting to guide a group of Norwegian shoppers who had travelled to Aberdeen Harbour by boat.
‘I finally qualified for my Blue Badge in 1986 at a time when I worked for Aberdeen Tourist Board, which had paid for my course as I was required regularly to guide visiting travel trade personnel and journalists from around the world and particularly from Norway. The Tourist Board also funded more Norwegian study and Institute of Linguists exams for me. I paid them back in time, skills and dedication a thousand fold - and more! - over the next ten years, until I set up my own business as both tourist guide and tourism marketing and PR consultant in 1996.
‘When I qualified, I was assessed by STGA as competent to guide in Spanish (the language of my honours degree), Norwegian, by then equivalent to honours degree level, and also in Swedish and Danish. It is not easy for non-Scandinavian speakers to understand just how incredibly close these three languages are. Although spoken Danish is very different from Norwegian with lots of glottal stops and is quite flat-sounding compared to sing-song Norwegian and Swedish, the written language is very close, to the extent it takes a few lines of text before I know which language I’m reading. Written Swedish is very different from Norwegian, however, although the spoken language is much closer. Natives converse with each other in ‘Skandinavisk’ - each varying their own language, using words they know to be different in order to be easily understood without actually speaking the other language. As I had travelled often and extensively during my time with the tourist board, not only in Norway, but also in Denmark, Sweden, Iceland and the Faroe Islands, I was, and am, able to vary my Norwegian to be understood by Danes and Swedes. However, I do not speak the three languages independently of each other, and I am always at pains to point this out when someone books me for Danish or Swedish visitors.
‘The pattern of business here in Aberdeen and the north east is, I believe, very different from the Central Belt and Northern Isles, where other Scandinavian language-speaking guides are based. I have rarely guided people from Scandinavia who are on holiday tours and only twice have guided Swedish passengers from cruise ships. The Scandinavian tours which I guide most often are almost exclusively from Norway and are mostly corporate groups visiting Aberdeen for a long weekend, with the peak in autumn and early winter - the lead-up to Christmas, when Norwegian companies traditionally have their ‘Julebord’ or Christmas meal visits. Other groups are on ‘study tours’ which usually have an element of a professional programme included and often require my services. Aberdeen’s main attractions for these groups are shopping and relatively cheap alcohol, so the volume of groups varies greatly year on year and is at least partly dependent on the exchange rate. However, even with the favourable NOK to GBP exchange in late 2019, Aberdeen appears to be suffering from the uncertainly surrounding Brexit. As a driver guide, I have also had several direct bookings from Norway, mostly from families or a few friends travelling together and wanting a memorable experience without having to drive themselves.’
As tourism has grown in Scotland so have the number of visitors from very distant countries such as Japan. Akiko Elliot is a Japanese guide who qualified in 1990.
‘During the late 80s to mid-90s, the Japanese market in Scotland was growing rapidly,’ she said. ‘This was mainly due to a strong boost from the Japanese economy which at the time, known as the “Bubble Boom”. Though relatively short lived, the Bubble Boom gave the Japanese disposable income and many people chose to go abroad for their holidays. Foreign travels were no longer reserved for the privileged few or for the adventurous backpackers, it had become accessible to everybody. In 1986, the overall number of
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