The Scots -- Northern English continuum of marking noun plurality.(Statistical Data Included)

Publication: Studia Anglica Posnaniensia: international review of English Studies

Publication Date: 01-JAN-01

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COPYRIGHT 2001 Adam Mickiewicz University Press

0. Introduction

The aim of this paper is to present an analysis of nominal plural markers within the language continuum on both sides of the Solway-Tweed line in the period between the late 14th -- early 16th centuries.

The Scots -- English border in the Middle English period certainly was an area of political tension and one could infer that in the linguistic domain certain mechanisms must have operated as well. For instance, one of the phenomena which seem to be natural in these socio-political circumstances, would be the strife to mark own identity also in language. However, one should avoid jumping to conclusions in the case of Scots and its southern neighbour. In order to study grammatical features of the area it is necessary to incorporate its history in the analysis.

1. Historical sketch

The Anglian tribes, who had raided the British Isles in the 6th century, established a kingdom of Northumbria north of the river Humber but their settlement is also confirmed for the area north of the Tweed and Cheviot Hills, e.g., in place-names in -ton, -ham or -ing (see, e.g., Munson 1979: 3). After Scandinavian raids on the southem part of Northumbnia (Deira) and the final submission of the Danes to the English king Edward in the 10th century, the Scottish kingdom north of the Solway-Tweed line recognised (at least theoretically) English supremacy. In the later course of the century, in 973 AD, the lands of Northumbnia were passed into Scottish hands by the English king and the new Scottish subjects were promised that they would keep their traditions, laws, and what is most important, language.

What we now call Scots, as opposed to Scottish Gaelic or Scottish English, is actually the language of the descendants of the Anglian people. Its usage was promoted by the Anglophile royal family in Scotland and enhanced by the numerous Saxon, Flemish and Norman-French refugees and settlers. South of the border, the Northumbrian Old English dialect transformed into a northern dialect of Middle English, losing, however its strong position and importance. On the north side of the Solway-Tweed line, the development was into a national variety, and a literary standard. This process of differentiation was prompted in the first place by Scottish contact with French and Latin, whose influence differed in scope from similar processes operating in England. Secondly, Scotland possessed its distinct legal institutions and ecclesiastical system, which also had its impact on language. The last but not least factor would lie in political tensions with England, warfare and a growing notion of own Scottish identity. Therefor e, the former Scottish dialect of Northumbria started to diverge from its southern relative and, as Munson observes: "the years 1460-1560 can be considered the heyday of the S cots tongue as a full national language showing all the signs of a rapidly developing, all purpose speech ..." (1979: 8-9). Nevertheless, as Murray...

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