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
9 Fountain Close
22 High Street
Edinburgh
EH1 1TF
