Luath Scots Language Learner sampler

INTRODUCTION
The Luath Scots Language Learner is a functional course primarily
intended for learners with little or no previous knowledge of Scots.
However, it may also be useful to those who have already had some
exposure to Scots, and who wish to build on the knowledge that they
already have. The course aims to teach the reader not only to
comprehend Scots as it is spoken, but also to speak Scots for practical
purposes. Existing Scots speakers may find the course useful in
appreciating their regional dialect’s relationship to other forms of Scots
spoken elsewhere, or even simply as an assertion of their own tongue’s
social legitimacy.
THE LANGUAGE IN THIS BOOK
In a nutshell, the language presented in this book can be summarised
as follows:
! for active usage, the learner is taught to speak the form of
Scots spoken in North East Scotland, sometimes referred to as
‘the Doric’. This is presented here in written form using a
generic Scots spelling-system, and in spoken form on the
accompanying audio CD recorded by native, everyday Scots
speakers from that area of Scotland.
! for comprehension, the learner is taught the core features
common to all the various regional varieties of Scots of
mainland Scotland, and the regional differences between them
as and when they arise. The focus is on mainland Scotland,
and this course does not aim to cover Orcadian or Shetlandic.
Although these have certainly absorbed much from Scots, their
underlying layer is Norse. Shetlandic, especially, can be
considered as a language distinct from both Scots and English.
Neither does this course aim to cover the Irish-accented
variety known as Ulster Scots, spoken by some in parts of that
province. Linguists generally consider Ulster Scots to be an
offshoot from the language spoken in Scotland; but politically,
it is treated as a different language.
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