The Edinburgh Companion to Scots is 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.
1. A Brief History of Scots; John Corbett, J Derrick McClure, Jane Stuart-Smith; 2. Scottish Place-names; Margaret Scott; 3. Scottish Surnames; Carole Hough; 4. Studying Scots Vocabulary; Caroline Macafee; 5. Syntax and Discourse in Modern Scots; Jim Miller; 6. The Phonology of Modern Urban Scots; Jane Stuart-Smith; 7. The Phonology of Older Scots; Caroline Macafee, incorporating material from the late A.J. Aitken; 8. Corpus-based Study of Older Scots Grammar and Lexis; Anneli Meurman-Solin; 9. The Language of Older Scots Poetry; Jeremy J Smith; 10. The Language of Modern Scots Poetry; J. Derrick McClure; 11. The Scots Language Abroad; Michael Montgomery; 12. Language Planning and Modern Scots; John Corbett.
