Scottish English (also known as Scottish Standard English) is the form of the English language used in Scotland. It is normally used in formal, non-fictional written texts in Scotland. Phonetics are in IPA.

Background

The standard spelling, grammar and punctuation tend to follow the style of the Oxford English Dictionary (OED). However, there are some unique characteristics, many of which originate in the country's two other languages, Gaelic and Scots. The speech of the middle classes in Scotland often conforms to the grammatical norms of the written standard, particularly in situations that are regarded as formal. Highland English is slightly different from the variety spoken in the lowlands in that it is more phonologically, gramatically, and lexically influenced by a Gaelic substratum.

Lexis

General items are outwith, meaning outside of, pinkie for little finger, doubt meaning to think or suspect and, wee, the Scots word for small. Correct is often preferred to right meaning morally right or just, as opposed to just factually accurate.

Culturally specific items like caber, haggis and landward for rural.

There is a wide range of (often anglicised) legal and administrative vocabulary inherited from Scots. depute [ˈdɛpjuːt] for deputy. proven [ˈproːvən] for proved and sheriff substitute for acting sheriff.

Phonology

Pronunciation features vary among speaker and there are regional differences:

The pronunciation of "r" wherever it occurs in a word, usually /r/ an alveolar trill, though sometimes flapped /ɽ/ or constricted /ɹ/.

The differentiation between "w" in witch and "wh" in which, /w/ and /ʍ/ respectively.

The realisation /x/ for "ch" in loch, technical, etc.

L is usually dark though in areas where Gaelic was recently spoken - including Dumfries and Galloway a clear l may be found.

The following may occur in colloquial speech, usually among the young, especially males. They are not usually regarded as part of SSE, their origin being in Scots.

The use of glottal stops for /t/ between vowels or word final after a vowel eg. butter [ˈbʌʔəɹ] and cat [ˈkaʔ].

The realisation of the nasal velar in "-ing" as a nasal alveolar "in'" eg. talking [ˈtɑːkɪn]].

Vowel length is non-phonemic and gives Scots their distinctive "clipped" pronunciation. That is generally the same as in the Scots language.

SSE usually distinguishes between /e/-/ɪ/-/ʌ/ before /r/ in heard-bird-word, in Received Pronunciation these have merged.

SSE contrasts /o/ and /ɔ/, before /r/ as in hoarse and horse.

fool and full have /uː/ or /ʉ/ or /y/ in SSE where RP differentiates.

cot and caught tend to contrast /ɒ/ and /ɔː/ and are not merged as in some regional variants of American English.

cat and cart have /a(ː)/ where RP differentiates.

Syntax

Syntactical differences are few though in colloquial speech shall and ought are wanting, must is marginal for obligation and may is rare.

Can I come too? for "May I come too?"

My hair needs washed. for "My hair needs/wants washing."

Have you got any? for "Do you have any?"

She’s a bonnie lass. for "She’s a pretty girl."

I've got one of those already. for "I have one of those already."

Other influences from Scots may occur depending on the speaker.

External links

• http://www.scots-online.org/grammar/sse.htm Scottish Standard English