The influence of Scots on English

It has usually been assumed that linguistic exchange between Scots and English speakers is one way, with English ever increasingly influencing Scots because of the dominant position of English language and culture in the British political union. However, recent publications have shown that the Scots language can, and does, influence English too. In the last few years Scots words such as ‘minging’ and ‘numptie’ have come to enjoy currency among young English speakers and have even been used in the media. Now a book by Christopher Foyle, called ‘Foyle’s Further Philavery’, demonstrates the extent to which words from the Scots language continue to influence the sister language English. The Daily Record this week past has reported that Foyle searched various sources such as newspapers, magazines and watched TV shows to pick up what he thought were unusual words being used in English. Among the words from Scots he includes such current terms as couthie (familiar or informal), clishmaclaver (gossip), hirple (limp), laldie (to do something vigorously) and stramash (a disturbance). The key to their acceptance often seems to be the perception among younger speakers that these are ‘cool’. Foyle’s book is available from Chambers at £9.99.