Scots Syntax Atlas

Map charts expressions and dialects across Scotland

Tuesday, 17th December 2019, 6:08 pm Researchers travelled to almost 150 communities from Shetland to Stranraer listening to people talk to pinpoint language is used. They charted expressions such as ‘I like they trainers’ and ‘you’re after locking us out’ and how they are built up.

Researchers wanted to move beyond looking at just Scots words and sounds and instead explore sentence construction in various parts of Scotland. This part of a language is called its syntax, and, according to Prof Jennifer Smith, the principal investigator, it’s one of the most creative aspects of how people use language. You can explore the Scots Syntax Atlas and listen to different varieties of Scots. There is even a video tour, example below.

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