LL-L "Resources" 2004.07.01 (07) [E]

[Lowlands-L]

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L O W L A N D S - L * 01.JUL.2004 (07) * ISSN 189-5582 * LCSN 96-4226
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A=Afrikaans Ap=Appalachian B=Brabantish D=Dutch E=English F=Frisian
L=Limburgish LS=Lowlands Saxon (Low German) N=Northumbrian
S=Scots Sh=Shetlandic V=(West)Flemish Z=Zeelandic (Zeêuws)
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From: R. F. Hahn <sassisch at yahoo.com>
Subject: Resources


Dear Lowlanders,

During the past year or so I have been watching, with much gratification,
Scots reference books appearing on local bookstore shelves (here in
Seattle).  I was all the more "excited" (to use the word in the Americans
sense) to find a book *about* Scots in our University Bookstore this week!
Below please find a brief review, and please bear in mind that it is that of
a semi-informed, interested "outsider" who cannot vouch for the veracity of
all the information presented in the book.

Bibliographical Information:

     _The Edinburgh Companion to Scots_ edited by John Corbett,
     J. Derrick McClure and Jane Stuart-Smith, Edinburgh, Scotland:
     Edinburgh University Press (http://www.eup.ed.ac.uk), 2003,
     Paperback ISBN 0 7486 1596 2, Library of Congress Control
     Number: 2003501132; US $ 25.00, UK £ 16.99, EUR 27.90

Jacket description:

"A comprehensive introduction to the study of older and present-day Scots
language. The aim of the volume is to explain and illustrate methods of
research into Scots and Scottish English. Topics include the grammar,
vocabulary and pronunciation of contemporary speech in Scotland, and the
investigation of Older Scots written texts. There is further coverage of
issues such as modern literary Scots, language planning, placenames and
personal names, and the development of Scots overseas. Each chapter gives a
brief overview of the topic, and provides case studies to illustrate avenues
of exploration for those beginning to develop research techniques. The book
is designed as an accessible introduction to key issues and methods of
investigation for undergraduate students interested in the way language has
developed in Scotland.
     The editors, John Corbett, J. Derrick McClure and Jane Stuart-Smith,
lecture at the Universities of Glasgow and Aberdeen. They have all published
on the history, development and current status of Scots and Scottish
English."

Review:

Even a relatively cursory glance through this volume leads me to the
conclusion that it offers very useful background information to anyone
interested in Scots, from non-Scottish persons with a casual interest to
Scots speakers and academic researchers, including also those who focus on
the English language and need to acquaint themselves with delineations and
mutual influences between Scots, Scottish English and other varieties of
English.

The styles and language in which the information is presented on the whole
make it easily accessible even to the non-academic.

This is a collection of chapters about different aspects of Scots, written
by several authors, each chapter coming with its own list of recommended
reading:

* A brief history of Scots (John Corbett, J. Derrick McClure and Jane
Stuart-Smith)
As the title promises, the editors present the history of the language in a
concise fashion, and it sets the stage and tone for the following chapters.

* Scottish place-names (Margaret Scott)
In this chapter, Scots place-names are etymologized and categorized by
linguistic provenance.

* Scottish surnames (Carole Hough)
Surnames are presented by etymological categories: location, relationship,
occupation and nicknames.  Furthermore, there is a useful table of name
distribution.

* Studying Scots vocabulary (Caroline Macafee)
The Scots lexicon is analyzed, and issues of relations and overlaps with
Scottish English are discussed.  This includes useful sections on lexical
erosion and innovation.  Furthermore, the author presents lexical issues
from a variety of research field angles.

* Syntax and discourse in modern Scots (Jim Miller)
Syntactic features of Scots, their variety, levels and shifts are presented
and in part juxtaposed with English.

* The phonology of modern urban Scots (Jane Stuart-Smith)
Forms of and shifts in urban Scots phonology are explained on the basis of
what appears to be very thorough research, frequently presented in
juxtaposition with Scottish and British Standard English.

* The phonology of older Scots (Caroline Macafee : incorporating material by
the late A. J. Aitken)
This is an extremely useful article not only for the phonology specialist
but also for anyone interested in historical phonology generally, as well as
for anyone interested in pre-contemporary Scots literature.  Sound shifts
are clearly explained and presented.  A few samples of Old and Middle Scots
literature are presented in phonetic reconstruction.

* Corpus-based study of older Scots grammar and lexis (Anneli Meurman-Solin)
This chapter shows us how the method of corpus linguistics can help us to
reconstruct pre-contemporary Scots grammar and lexis.  Included is the issue
of work with electronic text corpora.

* The language of older Scots poetry (Jeremy J. Smith)
This is a fairly thorough introduction to various aspects of
pre-contemporary Scots poetic language modes: patterns of sound and grammar.

* The language of modern Scots poetry (J. Derrick McClure)
This chapter offers an overview of the development of Scots poetry, focusing
on its revival and then goes on to deal with more recent trends, including
experimental use of language.  It also deals with boundary issues between
Scots and English.

* The Scots language abroad (Michael Montgomery)
This chapter deals with Scots language use outside Scotland, dwelling much
on Northern Ireland, and then going on to mention evidence of Scots language
use in the earlier periods of European settlement in the United States.  It
also briefly deals with Scots in Canada and Australasia.  Regrettably,
explanations of the fate of Scots in other former British colonies and in
Scottish settlements in places like Prussia and Patagonia are not given.

* Language planning and modern Scots (John Corbett)
This chapter offers much food for thought, not only to those interested in
Scots.  It is particularly relevant to comparative situations in which
minority languages are closely related to the respective power languages.
It deals with reversing language shift, with the planning of status, corpus
and education/acquisition, and it also introduces avenues for research.

The book comes with a long reference list, not including online works (such
as those of some of our members), however.

I feel that this book ought to be recommended as background reading to
anyone who deals with the Scots language.  Furthermore, to various degrees
it is of relevance to anyone who deals with minority language issues,
especially with cases in which there is or is perceived to be no clear
dividing line between a minority language and the power language that
overshadows it (in our area of interest for instance the case of Lowlands
Saxon ["Low German"] under both Dutch and German dominance in the Eastern
Netherlands and Northern Germany).

Reinhard "Ron" F. Hahn
Founder & Administrator, Lowlands-L
lowlands-l at lowlands-l.net
http://www.lowlands-l.net

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