The Scottish language is indeed known worldwide for being a thick accent, but what if we told you that there are in fact three different languages spoken in the region? English, but of course with the delightful dialect, is spoken, yet the presence of two native languages tend to sometimes make the common tongue of Scotland a mystery.
The two native languages are known as Scottish Gaelic and ‘Scots’. The latter language is particularly interesting as it is in a sense the collective dialect of over seven regional varieties of the language. Scots is therefore spoken throughout Scotland and is common among the very old and very young. While it differs to a large extent from common English, its main differences centre on vocabulary, pronunciation and phrasing. In fact, some Scots words appear to mystify the English.
Click here for a list of Scots words and phrases.
Nevertheless,it is often a common misconception that Scots is just a form of Scottish ‘Slang’. By any means, Scots should not be confused as Scottish English, which is the common accent you may come across in Scotland. Instead, Scots is widely spoken among close friends and family, however in formal situations or in dealings with strangers, people may be less inclined to speak it. Given its history, Scots was on several accounts discouraged by the administrative and schooling systems, subsequently its practice was often mixed with English. Indeed, this is the major reason foreigners generally think that Scots is a variation of English. Labelling it as slang, however, was purely an attempt at discouraging younger generations from speaking it in the past.
The origins of the types of Scottish languages spoken today derived from the “tongue of the Angels” dating from around 600 A.D. Following William the Conqueror’s and the Norman conquest of England, however, the common tongue on the British Isles split apart. The South spoke at the beginning a type of ‘Old English’, which later progressed into ‘Middle English’, yet French was a common language among the nobility. On the other hand, Scotland developed its own tongue, and at one point Scots became a national language, spoken by Scottish Kings and nobility.
For a complete timeline of the Scots language, check out these links:
– Timeline of the Scots Language AD 550-1700
– Timeline of the Scots Language since 1700
A final remark on the Scottish language is that its relevance as a national language still holds. If you decide to travel to Scotland, listen closely as you will surely hear it in both major cities and country areas.
References
The rich and expanding Scottish Language
By Oscar Larsson
Student at University of Glasgow, School of Social & Political Sciences
Communication Trainee at TermCoord