Publisher Description

A textbook overview of the structure, use and diversity of Modern Scots This textbook overview of Modern Scots provides a description and analysis of the language covering lexical, phonological and structural patterns. It presents evidence for the diversity of the language through illustrations from newly collected fieldwork material. Frequent, detailed analysis of local variation and dialect is combined with a central focus is on the overall patterning of Scots. McColl Millar also examines the present and future of Scots, considering both its use in literature and other media and ongoing language policy and planning.A dedicated chapter introduces the reader to the various research methods and available resources including corpora, atlases and dictionaries and provides guidance on how to use them effectively. Each chapter concludes with a series of exercises to complete and issues to discuss, encouraging active engagement and development of skill and knowledge in relation to the subject matter. This textbook offers a practical and engaging survey of Modern Scots making this an essential resource, aptly structured for course use . Key FeaturesProvides analysis of the structure and use of Modern Scots Presents complex material for student use Maps out similarities and large-scale patterns in a clear and accessible way Includes chapters on lexis, phonology, grammar and sociolinguisticsIncludes exercises, issues for discussion and guided suggestions for further reading

Back Cover

PPC 17mm 256 x 333Cover 13mm 216 x 289mm'This book offers a fascinating, carefully-developed and thought-provoking account of Scots and its uses by a leading authority on the subject. It draws upon a lifetime of work in the field, and in a number of places - a rather special and in my view valuable feature - on the author's own personal experience. I recommend it without hesitation.'Jeremy Smith, University of GlasgowAn overview of the structure, use and diversity of Modern Scots This textbook offers a practical survey of Modern Scots making this an essential resource, aptly structured for use on Modern Scots and modern varieties of English modules. Robert McColl Millar guides students through an engaging description and analysis of Modern Scots, covering its present lexical, phonological and structural patterns while also presenting evidence for its diversity through illustrations from his broad experience. Although detailed analysis of localised variation is regularly presented, the central focus of the book is on the overall patterning of Scots. The book also considers the present state of, and future prospects for, the language, considering both its use in literature and other media and ongoing language policy and planning. Each chapter concludes with a series of exercises to complete and issues to discuss, encouraging active engagement and development of skill and knowledge in relation to the subject matter. Key Features* A new description and analysis of the structure and use of Modern Scots * Leads students through often complex material while also mapping out the similarities and large-scale patterns in a clear and accessible way * A chapter devoted to resources and methods introduces students to the various resources available online and in print form - corpora, atlases, dictionaries - and how to use them effectively in the study of Modern Scots* Exercises and guided suggestions for further reading * Coherent content and structure aligned to structure of taught courses Robert McColl Millar is Professor in Linguistics and Scottish Language at the University of Aberdeen.Cover design:[EUP logo] edinburghuniversitypress.comISBN 978-1-4744-1686-3 [PPC]ISBN 978-1-4744-1687-0 [PPC]Barcode

Flap

PPC 17mm 256 x 333Cover 13mm 216 x 289mm'This book offers a fascinating, carefully-developed and thought-provoking account of Scots and its uses by a leading authority on the subject. It draws upon a lifetime of work in the field, and in a number of places - a rather special and in my view valuable feature - on the author's own personal experience. I recommend it without hesitation.'Jeremy Smith, University of GlasgowAn overview of the structure, use and diversity of Modern ScotsThis textbook offers a practical survey of Modern Scots making this an essential resource, aptly structured for use on Modern Scots and modern varieties of English modules. Robert McColl Millar guides students through an engaging description and analysis of Modern Scots, covering its present lexical, phonological and structural patterns while also presenting evidence for its diversity through illustrations from his broad experience. Although detailed analysis of localised variation is regularly presented, the central focus of the book is on the overall patterning of Scots. The book also considers the present state of, and future prospects for, the language, considering both its use in literature and other media and ongoing language policy and planning. Each chapter concludes with a series of exercises to complete and issues to discuss, encouraging active engagement and development of skill and knowledge in relation to the subject matter.Key Features* A new description and analysis of the structure and use of Modern Scots* Leads students through often complex material while also mapping out the similarities and large-scale patterns in a clear and accessible way* A chapter devoted to resources and methods introduces students to the various resources available online and in print form - corpora, atlases, dictionaries - and how to use them effectively in the study of Modern Scots* Exercises and guided suggestions for further reading* Coherent content and structure aligned to structure of taught coursesRobert McColl Millar is Professor in Linguistics and Scottish Language at the University of Aberdeen.Cover design:[EUP logo]edinburghuniversitypress.comISBN 978-1-4744-1686-3 [PPC]ISBN 978-1-4744-1687-0 [PPC]Barcode

Author Biography

Robert McColl Millar is Reader in Linguistics in the School of Language & Literature at the University of Aberdeen. His books include Northern and Insular Scots (2007), Authority and Identity. A Sociolinguistic History of Europe before the Modern Age (2010) and English Historical Sociolinguistics (2012).

Table of Contents

Some preliminaries Chapter 1: Scots: languages and cultures, peoples and lands Chapter 2: Resources Chapter 3: Phonology Chapter 4: Lexis Chapter 5: Structure: the Grammar of Modern Scots Chapter 6: Scots used creatively: literature and beyond Chapter 7: Chapter 7: The Sociolinguistics of Scots Chapter 8: Chapter 8: Scots: a once and future language? References

Review Quote

This book offers a fascinating, carefully-developed and thought-provoking account of Scots and its uses by a leading authority on the subject. It is at points quite demanding, yet clearly the work of an excellent teacher who can make complex ideas comprehensible. It draws upon a lifetime of work in the field, and in a number of places - a rather special and in my view valuable feature - on the author's own personal experience. I recommend it without hesitation.

Promotional "Headline"

A textbook overview of the structure, use and diversity of Modern Scots

Description for Reader

A textbook overview of the structure, use and diversity of Modern Scots This textbook overview of Modern Scots provides a description and analysis of the language covering lexical, phonological and structural patterns. It presents evidence for the diversity of the language through illustrations from newly collected fieldwork material. Frequent, detailed analysis of local variation and dialect is combined with a central focus is on the overall patterning of Scots. McColl Millar also examines the present and future of Scots, considering both its use in literature and other media and ongoing language policy and planning. A dedicated chapter introduces the reader to the various research methods and available resources - including corpora, atlases and dictionaries - and provides guidance on how to use them effectively. Each chapter concludes with a series of exercises to complete and issues to discuss, encouraging active engagement and development of skill and knowledge in relation to the subject matter. This textbook offers a practical and engaging survey of Modern Scots making this an essential resource, aptly structured for course use . Key Features Provides analysis of the structure and use of Modern Scots Presents complex material for student use Maps out similarities and large-scale patterns in a clear and accessible way Includes chapters on lexis, phonology, grammar and sociolinguistics Includes exercises, issues for discussion and guided suggestions for further reading

Feature

Provides analysis of the structure and use of Modern Scots Presents complex material for student use Maps out similarities and large-scale patterns in a clear and accessible way Includes exercises, issues for discussion and guided suggestions for further reading

Description for Sales People

This textbook overview of Modern Scots provides a description and analysis of the language covering lexical, phonological and structural patterns. It presents evidence for the diversity of the language through illustrations from newly collected fieldwork material. Frequent, detailed analysis of local variation and dialect is combined with a central focus is on the overall patterning of Scots. McColl Millar also examines the present and future of Scots, considering both its use in literature and other media and ongoing language policy and planning. A dedicated chapter introduces the reader to the various research methods and available resources - including corpora, atlases and dictionaries - and provides guidance on how to use them effectively. Each chapter concludes with a series of exercises to complete and issues to discuss, encouraging active engagement and development of skill and knowledge in relation to the subject matter. This textbook offers a practical and engaging survey of Modern Scots making this an essential resource, aptly structured for use on Modern Scots and modern varieties of English modules.

Description for Teachers/Educators

Intended as a primary textbook for use on advanced undergraduate and taught postgraduate courses on Modern Scots language and use. Also potential to be recommended reading on courses on Varieties (or dialects) of English. Some course examples are included below: Edinburgh, U/G: Linguistics & English Language 1, Linguistics and English Language 2c Both of these have a small number of lectures on Scots, for which this book would be directly relevant. These courses have large numbers of students on them (the first has over 200, the second about 100) Dr Warren Maguire Edinburgh, U/G Hons: Dialects of English in Britain and Ireland This course provides a detailed account of dialects of English in Britain and Ireland. Beginning with an overview of variation and change in dialects of English, the course proceeds to examine how they differ in terms of their phonetics, phonology, morphology, syntax and lexis, and investigates key linguistic features in detail. Having covered key parameters of variation, the course then focusses on specific dialects, examining their linguistic features, historical origins, relations to other dialects, and the current forces which are shaping their development. This module includes sections on Scots dialects, which would be well served by the proposed book. Dr Warren Maguire Edinburgh, P/G: Scots and Scottish English (MSc) This course provides an account of the structure of Modern Scots dialects and Scottish English by examining variation in phonology, morphology, syntax and lexis from diachronic, synchronic and geographical perspectives. It covers many of the same topics suggested in the proposed book. Dr Rhona Alcorn, Dr Chris Robinson and Wojtek Gardela Glasgow, U/G Hons: History of Scots (ENGLANG4005) This course examines the history and development of the Scots language from its origins to the present, and to reflect on the use of Scots in contemporary Scotland, by looking at examples of Scots from a variety of historical and contemporary sources, both spoken and written. Dr Jennifer Smith

Details