Discussion about this post

User's avatar
Caroline Macafee's avatar

Very interesting analysis. I commented on these same phenomena in relation to the 2011 Census results. On speaking but not reading, I pointed out that some of the areas with higher figures, notably Shetland and the NE, have traditions of local literature in very broad dialect, so the bar is high.

On the question of more educated individuals being more likely to read Scots, it was observed in a couple of studies back in the 1970s and 1980s that middle class Scots knew more traditional Scots vocabulary, as a result of an acquaintance with Scottish literature. (References in my article.)

https://www.abdn.ac.uk/media/site/llmvc/documents/Macafee-Scots-in-the-Census.pdf

Expand full comment
ApplegarthHall's avatar

I am a 'read (and write) only'.

I am English, my pronunciation of all languages is awful (always comes out sounding like a faux Pakistani accent!) and I would be concerned about accusations of cultural appropriation or similar if I attempted to speak Scots.

The problem is the association of Scots with 'English with a Scottish accent'. I fear I would be perceived as attempting a poorly executed Scottish accent, rather than attempting speech in a different language (as I would if it were Spanish or Gaelic).

Expand full comment

No posts