A Sociolinguistic History of Scotland

‘Millar’s profound engagement with linguistic detail and socio-cultural developments shines out throughout this important book. Especially impressive is how Millar never forgets the human factor, including drawing on his own family’s social and multi-lingual journey through time. The result is a major advance in the study of the nation’s languages.'Jeremy Smith, University of GlasgowThe first sociolinguistic history of all languages spoken in ScotlandRobert McColl Millar examines how language has been used in Scotland since the earliest times. While primarily focusing on the histories of the speakers of Scots and Gaelic, and their competition with the encroaching use of (Scottish) Standard English, he also traces the decline and eventual 'death’ of Pictish, British and Norn. Four case studies illustrate the historical development of North East Scots, Scottish Standard English, Shetland Scots and Glasgow Scots. Immigrant languages are also discussed throughout the book.