Scottish Dialect by Charles Knutson

Contents Introduction and Bylaws Interpretive Clothing Scottish Culture History Music and Dance Military Life Language Bibliography, Sources and Library Materials

The definition of “dialect” is that it is a regional variation of a language. Thus a Scottish dialect is merely a variation on the way English is spoken. It should not be confused with Gaelic, which is a separate language, although Gaelic words and pronunciations would be a common part of a Scottish dialect. Suggestions -The standard in the theater is do it well, or don't do it. The dialect can add much to the atmosphere of our camp, but it should not be a distraction that takes away from our visitors' overall experience -There are no alternatives to listening and practice. Don't be afraid to talk to yourself when you are alone so you can hear yourself. Try listening to TV, or radio, and use a Scottish dialect to repeat phrases you hear. -If you can study a regional dialect, do it. Dialects vary even within themselves. Otherwise strive for a standard stage Scottish. -Don't simply pronounce words differently, be aware of word order, vocabulary, and take care against modern slang. Look at period documents for period words, word order, or phrases -Watch films with Scottish characters to listen and imitate. The Actor's Encyclopedia of Dialects recommends the movie "The Man Who would be King" as one of the few in which Sean Connory speaks the true Scottish dialect he heard while growing up. Word substitutions/ Pronunciations: ENGLISH SCOTTISH ENGLISH SCOTTISH above aboon agree gree big muckle bit bet both baith boys lads/ laddies brave braw bridge brig brook burn can not canna child bairn church kirk clothes claithes cold cauld come coom could not couna dagger dirk did not dinna dirty clairty doubt doot either aither father faither fret fash from frae girls lassies give gee/ gae go gang good gude hands hons hat bonnet have hae have not havna highland hieland hill brae home hame hot ho' it's ets lake loch look lok lord laird man mon many mony mister maister money siller more mair most maist mother maither/mither mountain ben much muckle no nae of o' oh yes och aye old ault one aine/yin out oot over ower plaid tartan poor puir pretty bonnie put poot run rin shall not shanna should not shouna small wee/sma' so sae sore sair sour dour/dure stone stain take tak talk crack think ken three dree to tae told tauld/telt two twa up oop very verra well weel what whit/hwit where whoore/hwhere will not winna would not wouna yes aye you ye/ya you are yer Books and tapes on dialects: Actor's Encyclopedia of Dialects, by Donald H. Molin. Dialects for the Stage, by Evangeline Machin. This includes audio cassettes to go with the text. Foreign Dialects, by Lewis H. Herman. Stage Dialects, by Jerry Blunt. This is the book that goes with the dialect tape that some members own.