A Sociolinguistic History of Scotland

Robert McColl Millar examines how language has been used in Scotland since the earliest times. While primarily focusing on the histories of the speakers of Scots and Gaelic, and their competition with the encroaching use of (Scottish) Standard English, he also traces the decline and eventual 'death' of Pictish, British and Norn. Four case studies illustrate the historical development of North East Scots, Scottish Standard English, Shetland Scots and Glasgow Scots. Immigrant languages are also discussed throughout the book.

“Millar's profound engagement with linguistic detail and socio-cultural developments shines out throughout this important book. Especially impressive is how Millar never forgets the human factor, including drawing on his own family's social and multi-lingual journey through time. The result is a major advance in the study of the nation's languages.”

Millar's book shows what can be achieved by a scholar with a deep knowledge of a central dimension of Scottish life in the past. Its exposition of the dynamics of social change across the entire span of Scotland's history allows it to embrace Scotland's enduring diver-sity and to achieve a comprehensiveness that eludes previous histories. For any student or anyone else wanting a single-volume introduction to Scottish history, this is the book I would recommend they should read, followed by Elliott's Scots and Catalans.--Dauvit Broun, University of Glasgow "Journal of Multilingual and Multicultural Development"

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).

'Millar's profound engagement with linguistic detail and socio-cultural developments shines out throughout this important book. Especially impressive is how Millar never forgets the human factor, including drawing on his own family's social and multi-lingual journey through time. The result is a major advance in the study of the nation's languages.'Jeremy Smith, University of GlasgowThe first sociolinguistic history of all languages spoken in ScotlandRobert McColl Millar examines how language has been used in Scotland since the earliest times. While primarily focusing on the histories of the speakers of Scots and Gaelic, and their competition with the encroaching use of (Scottish) Standard English, he also traces the decline and eventual 'death' of Pictish, British and Norn. Four case studies illustrate the historical development of North East Scots, Scottish Standard English, Shetland Scots and Glasgow Scots. Immigrant languages are also discussed throughout the book. Key Features Includes coverage of Gaelic, Scots, Pictish, British, Norn, immigrant languages and Scottish Standard English Clearly explains all terms associated with sociolinguistics Presents a history that includes analyses from across the country, as opposed to concentrated solely on central Scotland. Includes four case studies dealing with dialect or variety birth: North East Scots, Scottish Standard English, Shetland Scots and Glasgow Scots * No knowledge of any language except Standard English is requiredRobert McColl Millar is Professor in Linguistics and Scottish Language at the University of Aberdeen.Cover image:

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