3. Introductory handsel

A Scots word and example sentence to learn:

  • Kye [Tip: hold Ctrl and click a link to open it in a new tab. (Hide tip)]
  • Definition: cows, cattle.

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    • Example sentence: “Climate change means the parks are weeter than ivver, and the kye hiv tae come in earlier and earlier each year. ”
    • English translation: “Climate change means the fields are wetter than ever, and the cattle have to come in earlier and earlier each year.”

Activity 2

Click to hear the sentence above read by a Scots speaker.

You can then make your own recording and play it back to check your pronunciation.

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Transcript

Listen

Climate change means the parks are weeter than ivver, and the kye hiv tae come in earlier and earlier each year.

Model

Climate change means the parks are weeter than ivver, and the kye hiv tae come in earlier and earlier each year.

End transcript
 
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Go to the Dictionary of the Scots Language for a full definition of the word.

Described image
Kye
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This image is a close-up of the heads of four brown cows, two of which have white colouring on their heads.

Kye

Language links

Some writers of Scots, especially in the Northern Isles, prefer the more Nordic ku spelling to the commoner coo for the English ‘cow’. This is another example of Scots not being a language with a common standard and thus multiple spellings for one word.The plural kye, however, is more commonly used throughout Scotland than the alternative coos.

Nordic languages such as Norwegian use this same short ‘oo’ vowel in many words common to Scots: hus/hoose; mus/moose; ute/oot, etc.

Related word:

  • Luif
  • Definition: The palm, the hand outspread and upturned.

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    • Example sentence: “The Scots wird luif is ithin the Orcadian poem twartree pages doon…”
    • English translation: “The Scots word luif is in the Orcadian poem a few pages down...”

Activity 3

Click to hear the sentence above read by a Scots speaker.

You can then make your own recording and play it back to check your pronunciation.

You can record your response here, but this facility requires a free OU account. Sign in or register.
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Transcript

Listen

The Scots wird luif is ithin the Orcadian poem twartree pages doon…

Model

The Scots wird luif is ithin the Orcadian poem twartree pages doon…

End transcript
 
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Go to the Dictionary of the Scots Language for a full definition of the word

Palm, fingers

Introduction

3.1 Early education in Scotland