Suitable as an introductory course or for those interested in re-acquainting themselves with the language of childhood and grandparents.
There are various existing reference books about Scots, such as dictionaries and grammar books, but this is the first-ever language course. The book assumes no prior knowledge on the reader's part. Starting from the most basic vocabulary and constructions, the reader is guided step-by-step through Scots vocabulary and the subtleties of grammar and idiom that distinguish Scots from English. An accompanying audio recording conveys the authentic pronunciation, especially important to readers from outside Scotland.
The course is based on General Scots with a slight emphasis on the North-East and contains an introduction, twenty-five graded lessons, an English-to-Scots vocabulary list, and appendices with verb tables and similar material. Each lesson itself contains dialogues, vocabulary, grammatical explanations, exercises, and – most importantly – a section giving background information about life in Scotland, for the reader to understand the material in its cultural context.
This is a fun and interesting insight into Scottish culture. By the end of the course participants will be able to read books and poems in Scots, take part in conversation, and enjoy interacting with Scots speakers.
