DSpeedy Recruitment

Case Study 2

«Trainspotting» (в русском переводе «На игле») – опубликованный в 1993 г. роман британского писателя Ирвина Уэлша. Роман состоит из нескольких новелл, описывающих события из жизни группы молодых людей, большинство из которых страдают от наркотической зависимости. В главе “Speedy Recruitment” рассказывается о том, как Марк Рентон – главный герой (/антигерой) романа – и его друг Дэниел Мерфи проходят собеседование о приеме на работу. В действительности, ни один из них не хочет получить эту или какую-либо другую работу – они предпочли бы и дальше получать пособие от государства, ничем при этом не занимаясь.

Прочтите отрывок из романа и письменно ответьте на вопросы.

1) На каком диалекте/варианте английского языка говорят Рентон и Мерфи (Spud)? Объясните свой вывод.

2) Как меняется (и меняется ли) речь каждого из них в зависимости от ситуации: разговор в пабе, собеседование? Всегда ли потенциальные работодатели понимают их речь? Есть ли различия между речью Рентона, обращенной к работодателям, и его внутренней речью в той же ситуации (вторая часть отрывка)? Приведите примеры.

3) Как произносительные особенности речи героев отражаются в орфографии? Присутствуют ли в их речи регионально маркированные черты на уровне лексики/грамматики? Приведите примеры.

to blow (the interview) = to spoil, fail

dinnae [‘dıne] = don’t

dole = unemployment benefit

a gadge = a bloke

nae [ne] = no/not

nowt = nothing

oan [on] = on

to pit [pıt] = to put

a schemie = somebody living in a housing scheme (for poorer residents)

sortay = sort of

speed = a type of drug

thegither = together

thill = they’ll

DSpeedy Recruitment

1 ¾ Preparation

Spud and Renton were sitting in a pub in the Royal Mile. The pub aimed at an American theme-bar effect, but not too accurately; it was a madhouse of assorted bric-à-brac.

¾ Fuckin weird man though, likesay, you n me gittin sent fir the same joab, ken? Spud said, slurping at his Guiness.

¾ Fuckin disaster fir me mate. Ah’m no wantin the fuckin joab. (…)

Renton shook his head.

¾ Yeah, ah’m likesay happy steyin oan the rock n roll the now man, ken?

¾ Trouble is though Spud, if ye dinnae try, if ye blow the interview oan purpose; the cunts tell the dole n these bastards stoap yir giro. (…) If we jist be ourselves, n be honest, thill nivir gie either ay us the fuckin joab. Problem is, if ye just sit thair n say nowt tae the cunts, thir straight oantae the dole. Thill say: That cunt jist cannae be bothered.

¾ It’s hard for me man... ken? (…) Ah git sortay likes, pure shy, ken?

¾ Tommy gied us some speed. What time’s yir interview again?

¾ No till half-two, likesay.

¾ Well, ah’m at one. (…) Ah’ll gie ye ma tie tae pit oan, n some speed. Buck ye up a bit, let ye sell yirsel, ken? So let’s get tae work oan they appos.

They placed the application forms on the table in front of them. Renton’s was already half-completed. A few entries caught Spud’s eye.

¾ Hey... what’s this man, likesay? George Heriots... you went tae Leithy man...

¾ It’s a well-known fact thit ye nivir stand a fuckin chance ay gittin anything decent in this city if ye didnae go tae a posh school. Nae wey though, will they offer a George Heriots FP a porterin joab in a hotel. That’s only fir us plebs; so pit doon something like that. (…)

2 ¾ Process: Mr Renton (1.00 p.m.)

The trainee manager whae welcomed us wis a mucho spotty punter in a sharp suit. (…) The main man is the fat, stroppy-lookin gadge in the middle; tae his right thirs a coldly smiling dyke in a woman’s business suit wi a thick foundation mask, who looks catalogue hideous. (…)

The opening gambit wis predictable. The fat cunt gies us a warm look and sais: ¾ I see from your application form that you attended George Heriots.

¾ Right... ah, those halcyon school days. It seems like a long time ago now.

Ah might huv lied on the appo, but ah huvnae at the interview. Ah did once attend George Heriots: whin ah wis an apprentice joiner at Gillsland’s we did some contract work there.

¾ Old Fotheringham still doing his rounds? (…)

¾ God, you’re taking me back now... ah laugh. The fat gadge seems tae be happy wi that. It’s worrying. Ah feel that the interview is over, and that these cunts are actually going tae offer us the joab. The subsequent questions are all pleasantly asked and unchallenging. (…) They’d rather gie a merchant school old boy with severe brain damage a job in nuclear engineering than gie a schemie wi a Ph.D. a post as a cleaner in an abattoir. Ah’ve goat tae dae something here. This is terrifying. Fatso sees us as a George Heriots old boy fallen on hard times, and he wants tae help us oot. A gross miscalculation Renton, you radge.

Thank fuck for spotted dick. (…) He gets tae nervously ask a question: ¾ Ehm... ehm... Mr Renton... ehm... can you, explain... eh, your employment gaps, ehm...

Can you explain the gaps between your words, you doss wee cunt.

¾ Yes. I’ve had a long-standing problem with heroin addiction. I’ve been trying to combat this, but it has curtailed my employment activities. I feel it’s important to be honest and mention this to you, as a potential future employer.

A stunning coup de maître. They shift nervously in they seats.

¾ Well, eh, thank you for being so frank with us Mr Renton... eh, we do have some other people to see... so thanks again, and we’ll be in touch.

Magic. (…) They cannae say didnae try...

3 ¾ Process: Mr Murphy (2.30 p.m.)

This speed is el magnifico, likesay. Ah feel sortay dynamic, ken, likesay, ah’m really lookin forward tae this interview. Rents sais: Sell yirsell Spud, n tell the truth. Let’s go for it cats, let’s get it on...

¾ I see from your application form that you attended George Heriots. The old Heriots FPs seem to be rather thick on the ground this afternoon. (…)

¾ Actually man, ah’ve goat tae come clean here. Ah went tae Augie’s, St. Augustine’s likesay, then Craigy, eh Craigroyston, ken. Ah jist pit doon Heriots because ah thoat it wid likes, help us git the joab. Too much discrimination in this town, man, ken, likesay? As soon as suit n tie dudes see Heriots or Daniel Stewarts or Edinburgh Academy, they kinday get the hots, ken. Ah mean, would you have said, likesay, ah see you attended Craigroyston?

¾ Well, I was just making conversation, as I did happen to attend Heriots. (…) But I can certainly put your mind at rest with regards to discrimination. That’s all covered in our new equal opportunities statement.

¾ It’s cool man. Ah’m relaxed. It’s jist that ah really want this job, likesay. Couldnae sleep last night though. Worried ah’d sortay blow it likesay, ken? It’s jist when cats see “Craigroyston” oan the form, they likesay think, well everybody thit went tae Craigie’s a waster, right? But eh, ye ken Scott Nisbet, the fitba player likesay? He’s in the Huns... eh Rangers first team, haudin his ain against aw they expensive international signins ay Souness’s, ken? That cat wis the year below us at Craigie, man.

¾ Well, I can assure you Mr Murphy, we’re far more interested in the qualifications you gained rather than the school you (…) went to. It says here that you got five O Grades...

¾ Whoah. Likesay, gaunnae huv tae stoap ye thair, catboy. The O Grades wis bullshit, ken? Thought ah’d use that tae git ma fit in the door. Showin initiative, likesay. Ken? Ah really want this job, man.

¾ Look Mr Murphy, you were referred to us by the Department of Employment’s Jobcentre. There’s no need for you to lie to get you foot in the door, as you put it.

¾ Hey... whatever you say man. You’re the man, the governor, the dude in the chair, so tae speak, likesay.

¾ Yes, well, we’re not making much progress here. Why don’t you just tell us why you want this job so desperately that you’re prepared to lie.

¾ Ah need the hireys man.

¾ Pardon? The what?

¾ The poppy, likesay, eh... bread, the dosh n that. Ken? (…)

¾ Right. Thank you, the doll wi the makeup mask sais. (…) ¾ What would you see as being your main strengths? she asks us.

¾ Er... sense ay humour, likesay. Ye need that man, goatay huv it, jist goatay huv it, ken? Ah’ll huv tae stoap sayin “ken” sae much. These dudes might think ah’m a sortay pleb.

¾ What about weakness? (…)

¾ Ah suppose man, ah’m too much ay a perfectionist, ken? It’s likesay, if things go a bit dodgy, ah jist cannae be bothered, y’know? Ah git good vibes aboot this interview the day though man, ken?

¾ Thank you very much Mr Murphy. We’ll let you know.

¾ Naw man, the pleasure wis mine. Best interview ah’ve been at, ken? ah bounds across n shakes each cat by the paw.

4 ¾ Review

Spud met Renton back in the pub.

¾ How did it go Spud?

¾ Good catboy, good. Possibly too good, likesay. Ah think the dudes might be gaun tae offer us the joab. Bad vibes. One thing though, man, ye wir right aboot this speed. Ah never seem tae like, sell masel properly in interviews. Cool times compadre, cool times.

¾ Let’s huv a drink tae celebrate yir success. Fancy another dab at that speed?

¾ Wouldnae say naw man, would not say no, likes.