LINGUIST List 12.2330

Thu Sep 20 2001

Books: Language Description

Editor for this issue: Naomi Ogasawara <naomilinguistlist.org>

Directory

1. LINCOM.EUROPA, Language Description: Modern Scots by A. Bergs

Modern Scots
ALEXANDER BERGS
University of Duesseldorf

This book is intended as a concise and up-to-date introduction to
Modern Scots, much in the vein of the classical, but now somewhat
outdated textbooks by Grant & Main-Dixon (1921) and Wilson
(1926). Scots is often regarded as one end of a dialect continuum that
has English Standard English at the opposite end and Scottish Standard
English somewhere in the middle. There do seem to be (sociolinguistic)
reasons, though, for treating Modern Scots as an independent language
system, rather than as a dialect of English. Nevertheless, Modern
Scots lives in close contact with English and is (linguistically and
ideologically) strongly influenced by it, so that there is (still) an
eminent danger of erosion and loss, despite Scots being increasingly
used in literature and the media (as, for example, in Irvine Welsh's
'Trainspotting'). Outside literature, Modern Scots can be most
frequently heard in Glasgow, parts of the Scottish Borders, and
Aberdeenshire. This study starts off with a brief sketch of the
history of Scots and its present geo- and sociolinguistic
situation. Further chapters deal with the phonology and orthography of
Scots, its morphology, syntax, and lexicon. Furthermore, it offers a
brief introduction into features of stylistic variation and discourse
management in Scots. Throughout the text a large number of examples
from both literature and real life Scots are given. Three short sample
texts, a list of internet resources and a comprehensive bibliography
conclude this volume.

ISBN 3 89586 513 3. 
Languages of the World/ Materials 242. 
Ca. 70 pp. USD 32.50 / EUR 27.50 / � 19.90. 

NEW: LINCOM electronic n.e.w.s.l.e.t.t.e.r. Monthly up-dates. 
Go to http://www.lincom-europa.com

A Students' and course discount of 40% is offered to the above title. 

Free copies of LINCOM'S newsflashes 26 & 27 are now available from 
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LINCOM EUROPA, Freibadstr. 3, D-81543 Muenchen, Germany;
FAX +49 89 62269404;
http://www.lincom-europa.com
LINCOM.EUROPAt-online.de.