English in Scotland

SCOTTISH ENGLISH
• Scottish English results from language
contact between Scots and the Standard
English of England after the 17th century.

• Scottish English is recognisable for:

- Vowel lengthening
- Rhotic accent
• The type of English spoken in Scotland is more
difficult to define than elsewhere in the UK.

• From the time of the Union of Parliaments in

1707, the official written language of Scotland
became aligned with that of England.
• Standard English has been used as the
language of religion, education and
government and so it became the socially
prestigious form adopted by the aspiring
middle classes.

• Unlike in England, however, Standard English

continued to be spoken with a variety of local
accents.
• The variety of speech we might recognise as
educated Scottish English contains
— outwith for ‘outside’
— I’ve not heard for ‘I haven’t heard
• Alongside Standard Scottish English, the local
vernacular language, Scots, a dialect
descended from Old English and closely
related to Northumbrian dialects has
maintained a strong presence, especially in
rural communities.

English
Irish
Scots
• Scots has recently been officially classified as a
‘traditional language’ by the Scottish Executive
and recognised by the European Charter for
Regional or Minority Languages, but even in
Scotland experts remain divided over the
issue.