On the Scottish Variety of the English Language

Authors:

Pages: 245-256
DOI: https://doi.org/10.54664/MJEN2127

Abstract:

The present article puts an emphasis on the linguistic situation in Scotland with regard to bilingualism and diglossia. The Scottish linguistic heritage is complex and varied. For three centuries, Scottish standard English has been the language of public life and recently of the mass media. In informal situations, practically all educated native speakers use the Scots language. Some communicate using different varieties of Scots, English and Scottish English apart from the bilingual speakers of Gaelic Scottish and English. Modern Scotland does not fit into the classical discussion scheme, but a form of diglossic situation can be found, in which language speakers switch between codes, depending on the sociolinguistic domain. The report focuses on the most common features of the Scottish variety of the English language.

Keywords:

language varieties, Scottish English, bilingualism, diglossia

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