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Travel Guide: Language

The two natural languages to Scotland are the Scots Language and Scottish Gaelic. While few Scots speak a full version of the Scots Language nowadays, the majority intersperse Scots Language words into English language speech. 

Scots Language

It is important to understand that when Scots use words that are not part of the English language in their speech, they are not making up words or speaking slang. Since the union with England, Scotland's natural languages suffered great decline and English became the language most commonly used. The Scots Language has survived through the centuries in literature, and is now experiencing somewhat of a revival in speech, though not nearly enough to bring the respect the language deserves as an official E.U. minority language. While there are some groups and individuals that speak full Scots, most citizens of Scotland speak English with a Scottish accent and with injections of Scots Language words in their English sentences. The non-English words they use, such as fitba', haund, hoose, skelp, are not slang and are not a dialect of English, contrary to what some might claim.

For comprehensive information on the Scots Language, SimplyScottish.com recommends scots-online.org.

Scottish Gaelic
About 1 million Scots speak Scottish Gaelic, primarily in the Highlands and Islands of Scotland. The language receives far more respect and attention than does the Scots Language, and has experienced revival in the 19th and 20th century through literature and a renewed respect and tolerance in Scottish education. Scottish Gaelic is a Celtic language and a rich part of Scotland's culture and history. 

For more information on Scottish Gaelic, including online resources and learning materials, visit the site of Sabhal Mór Ostaig, a Further Education college in the Island of Skye.

If you have additional questions about language in Scotland, please contact us.