A Test for Ulster-Scots

by Philip Robinson

ORIGINALLY PUBLISHED IN ULLANS NUMMER 6, SPRING 1998

Ulster-Scots is often confused with Ulster 'dialect' for a very good reason: Ulster-English dialect contains many Scots words and pronunciations when compared to the English spoken in England or the south of Ireland. From outside, all Ulster speech can sound very Scottish, particularly the 'accent' in Antrim, Down, Londonderry and Donegal. Ulster-Scots, however, is more than Ulster dialect. It is a living version of the Lowland Scots language which has recognition as a traditional, regional language of Europe.

How then can we tell the difference between somebody who is talking Ulster-Scots and somebody who is using Ulster-English dialect? The easiest way to identify Ulster-Scots is by listening for a number of 'speech markers'. These are the most common words used by Ulster-Scots speakers and not by speakers of Ulster English. For example, the Scots words thon, dander and wee ('that', 'stroll', and 'little') are used every day by the great majority of folk throughout Ulster. Although they are Scots rather than English words, they have simply been borrowed into Ulster-English dialect.

On the other hand, words like nicht, cannae and gye ('night', 'can't' and 'very') are very common markers of Ulster-Scots speech. They are also markers of Ulster-Scots literature, if one wishes to distinguish this from Ulster-English 'dialect' writing.

It is important to remember that almost all Ulster-Scots speakers will use the markers only in each other's company. When speaking to an outsider, in public, or to a professional person such as a teacher, minister or doctor, Ulster-Scots speakers will switch to Standard English, or - more often - to Ulster-English dialect, which is regarded as more acceptable.

The following list of 67 everyday words shows how English, Ulster-English dialect and Ulster-Scots are different from each other. In particular, note how the first 22 are Scots words used in everyday speech throughout Ulster. The rest identify words used only in Ulster-Scots. These last 45 words can be used as markers of Ulster-Scots speech and literature. If, for example, you often hear (and sometimes use) less than 20 of this entire list, your experience of Ulster-Scots is very limited. If, however, you often hear and sometimes use more than half (33) of the words on this list, you are already part of the Ulster-Scots speaking community.

Test yourself against these scores:

0-11: Ye cud dae wi a bit mair lairnin!

12 - 22: Limited Ulster-Scots, mostly Ulster-English dialect

23 - 33: You can call yourself an Ulster-Scots speaker.

34 - 50: You are very familiar with current, everyday Ulster-Scots.

above 50: Ever thocht o a career in this Ulster-Scots business?