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Chapter 12: Scots

  • Robert McColl Millar
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Volume 5 Varieties of English
This chapter is in the book Volume 5 Varieties of English

Abstract

Scots is unique in being an “English” dialect other than Standard English which was used as the early modern language of state (in Scotland) and of high literature. It also demonstrates how a language can be dialectalized without losing features associated with languages. This chapter gives the historical background to these developments: the spread of Old English into what is now Scotland; its triumph over Gaelic; the foundation of the burghs with northern English immigrants; the presence of Low German speakers; the French alliance. The language’s decline was caused by changes in religious affiliation, the unions of 1603 and 1707 and the embrace of (spoken) English by the middle classes. High literature continued to be written in Scots, although the concentration on rural dialects when most Scots are urban provoked identity issues for many speakers. Political recognition for Scots at the start of the 21st century appears ineffectual.

Abstract

Scots is unique in being an “English” dialect other than Standard English which was used as the early modern language of state (in Scotland) and of high literature. It also demonstrates how a language can be dialectalized without losing features associated with languages. This chapter gives the historical background to these developments: the spread of Old English into what is now Scotland; its triumph over Gaelic; the foundation of the burghs with northern English immigrants; the presence of Low German speakers; the French alliance. The language’s decline was caused by changes in religious affiliation, the unions of 1603 and 1707 and the embrace of (spoken) English by the middle classes. High literature continued to be written in Scots, although the concentration on rural dialects when most Scots are urban provoked identity issues for many speakers. Political recognition for Scots at the start of the 21st century appears ineffectual.

Chapters in this book

  1. Frontmatter I
  2. Table of Contents V
  3. Abbreviations VII
  4. Chapter 1: Introduction 1
  5. Chapter 2: Standard American English 9
  6. Chapter 3: Regional varieties of American English 31
  7. Chapter 4: Canadian English in real-time perspective 53
  8. Chapter 5: Re-viewing the origins and history of African American Language 80
  9. Chapter 6: Standard British English 96
  10. Chapter 7: Regional varieties of British English 121
  11. Chapter 8: Received Pronunciation 151
  12. Chapter 9: Estuary English 169
  13. Chapter 10: Cockney 187
  14. Chapter 11: Celtic and Celtic Englishes 210
  15. Chapter 12: Scots 231
  16. Chapter 13: English in Ireland 244
  17. Chapter 14: English in Wales 265
  18. Chapter 15: Australian/New Zealand English 289
  19. Chapter 16: English in India 311
  20. Chapter 17: English in Africa – a diachronic typology 330
  21. Chapter 18: Diffusion 349
  22. Chapter 19: Supraregionalization 365
  23. Chapter 20: Pidgins and creoles 385
  24. Index 403
https://doi.org/10.1515/9783110525045-012

Chapters in this book

  1. Frontmatter I
  2. Table of Contents V
  3. Abbreviations VII
  4. Chapter 1: Introduction 1
  5. Chapter 2: Standard American English 9
  6. Chapter 3: Regional varieties of American English 31
  7. Chapter 4: Canadian English in real-time perspective 53
  8. Chapter 5: Re-viewing the origins and history of African American Language 80
  9. Chapter 6: Standard British English 96
  10. Chapter 7: Regional varieties of British English 121
  11. Chapter 8: Received Pronunciation 151
  12. Chapter 9: Estuary English 169
  13. Chapter 10: Cockney 187
  14. Chapter 11: Celtic and Celtic Englishes 210
  15. Chapter 12: Scots 231
  16. Chapter 13: English in Ireland 244
  17. Chapter 14: English in Wales 265
  18. Chapter 15: Australian/New Zealand English 289
  19. Chapter 16: English in India 311
  20. Chapter 17: English in Africa – a diachronic typology 330
  21. Chapter 18: Diffusion 349
  22. Chapter 19: Supraregionalization 365
  23. Chapter 20: Pidgins and creoles 385
  24. Index 403
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