To gain an understanding of how the basic vocabulary of Scots differs from that of English it can be useful to explore the most frequently used words. In this activity, you will undertake a comparison of the two hundred most common words in English and their Scots equivalents.

A.

Using Michael’s list of the Most commonly used words in Scots and English

1. find a unique Scots word,

2. find a word with the same meaning same but different pronunciation and/or spelling,

3. find a word with the same meaning and spelling.

B.

What observations can you draw from studying the list and thinking about the three categorisations you worked with in 6.A?

Learning Log

Model Answer

Looking at the Scots words in the table of the two hundred most common words in English you have noticed that some words, when written, are the same as their equivalents in English. It ought to be noted that their pronunciation using the Scots phonological system makes them sound quite different to their pronunciation using an English phonological system. This is of particular note in words containing ‘r’, ‘ch’, or ‘wh’, or where there are different numbers of syllables, such as ‘film’ or ‘medicine’.

With the focus on written language these may be misunderstood as “English words” and Scots words only being those which differ in spelling or which are thought of as being unique to Scots. However, a language is composed of all words and features as they are spoken.

With Scots speakers adopting English for written record and governance, as well as contact with literature and spoken English, it could be argued that all English words have been borrowed into Scots. The important point here in terms of education is that of languages not having borders – certainly not the distinct borders between countries – and that words move as the speakers of languages do. It would be difficult to write an English text where no words are used which have been borrowed from other languages, so when using Scots in the classroom the approach should not be one of trying to create a Scots-only text. Writing in Scots should be about opening doors to new vocabulary and creativity, and that doesn’t require putting the English words out as you go.