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The following features have
parallels in Shetland and, evidently, in Scandinavia. They are still heard
in speech, but not often found in written Scots. When people sing Julius
Mickle’s song, The Sailor’s Wife, they often sing, The’r nae luck aboot
the hoose, rather than, There’s nae luck etc., as printed.
The’r is used for English there is
and there are. (cf. Shetland, der, de’r or dir:
De’r no mukkil room i da kirk whan the minister canna win in!
(Norwegian det er).
The’r a poke o pan draps on the drawers’ heid.
The’r
an awfu tramps aboot thir days.
The’r
soor sales on Atholl braes/ Cam ye by Killiecrankie, O?
The interrogative form is, ir the?
Ir the oniebodie hame the day?
Ir the
ti be nae peace in this houss?
The war is used for
English there was
and
there were (cf.
Shetland, dey wir,
Norwegian
det war).
The war an auld bodie at the
houss door, whan ye war oot.
The war aye twa-thrie tykes hingin moutchin, aboot the steidin.
The corresponding question is, war the?
War the no a Kerr bade aince the
ferr syde the glebe?
War the
no yowes hirsilt i this field at yae tyme?
This feature is found in other tenses. The wul or the’l is
used for English, there will. (cf. Shetland dey’ll).
“Ah think the wul (the’l) be fancie breid at the pairtie.”
“Wul the be jeilie anaw?”
“Ay, Ah daursay.
The wad is the conditional form (cf.
Shetland, dey wid)
“ The wad hae been a sicht mair fowk here haed thay kent ye war
cummin”.
“Wad the nou, dae ye think? |
