Luath Scots Language Learner sampler

INTRODUCTION
remains to be seen what will be the reaction of today’s Scots-speakers
to hearing their tongue spoken by visitors who have learnt it from a
book.
I think, and you may well agree, that they really ought to be on their
knees thanking you for caring; but not all may see it that way, at least
to begin with. Bear in mind that the social stigma attached to Scots is
considerable, and it is widely regarded as a form of ‘bad English’
spoken only by people who know no better. Sadly, many speakers are
likely to be unable at first to understand why anyone would even want
to learn Scots, and are likely to be doubtful about the motives of
anyone who does so.
If you are from outside Scotland, and intend to visit Scotland at some
stage, my sincere advice to you is not to try immediately to deal in
Scots with people that you meet casually. For one thing, Scots is a
minority language nowadays and not all Scots use it. Even of those who
do, some who hear it spoken with a ‘foreign’ accent, and do not yet
understand the sincerity of your interest, may jump to the conclusion
that you are ‘mimicking’ them in order to make fun of them.
Instead, I suggest that you spend some time getting to know people and
win their confidence, at first using English, which nearly all
Scots-speakers also understand. Then, at the appropriate point, you can
explain your interest in Scots, making a particular point of emphasising
your interest in speaking it. Some may not understand what you mean
by ‘Scots’, and assume that your interest is in Scottish Gaelic, but it
may help if you show this book. It may also help if you say that you
mean ‘broad Scots’ or, in North East Scotland, ‘the Doric’. Even then,
some will still not be interested, but others – most likely those who
themselves are most at home in Scots anyway – may well be delighted.
Apart from this, it is especially important to remember that there is no
generally-accepted standard form of Scots, and that the Scots spoken
by everyday speakers may differ from what is given in this book. You
must not see this as an issue of ‘correctness’ or otherwise on their part.
Some of this may sound like a great deal of bother to learn a language
for which there is no real necessity when it comes to matters of
practicality, such as shopping or arranging accommodation. However,
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