A Scots Grammar (original) (raw)

A Scots Grammar

Scots Grammar & Usage
By David Purves

A prolific writer in Scots, David Purves is well-known to lovers of the Scots language and this is a revised and extended edition of the version published in 1997 which sold out within three years. The Introduction, Chapter on the Spelling of Scots, and copies of the two published consensus documents providing guidance on Scots spelling (The 1947 Scots Style Sheet and the Scots Language Society�s Recommendations for Writers in Scots published in 1985) are reproduced as follows.

In the Introduction to his unique handbook, David Purves argues that the lack of prestige of Scots is a direct consequence of Scotland�s loss of political and economic independence. He also argues that ��..it seems unlikely that literacy in Scots can be sustained for very long, unless the language is effectively taught both at school and university level.�

The body of this work deals with the grammatical and idiomatic features of Scots, quoting examples from literature, proverbs, songs and colloquial speech to provide an invaluable reasource for teachers and students of our linguistic heritage.

The author applies the principles of the Scots Language Society Recommendations for Writers in Scots.

Published by the Saltire Society
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• Introduction
• Spelling of Scots
• Style Sheet
• SLS Recommendations