Place names in Scots. M.P. There are few areas where the process of smothering Scots is more apparent than in its names for people and places. Around the year 1800 – though the process varied from place to place – it was apparent that the Anglicised upper classes in Scotland were attempting to change place (and personal) names into English equivalents. One parish minister in Aberdeen, for example, writing in the 1790s, noted “…We cannot give a better example…of the advances…which we are daily making towards English. We almost never hear now of the Braidgate and the Castle Gate. They are become universally the Broadstreet and the Castle Street…” and also that over the past fifty years all new ways had been named streets and lanes rather than gates or wynds by the council. In another instance, in the burgh of St Andrews, the provost (mayor) of the town embarked on a sustained campaign to change Scots names to English equivalents during the mid-19th century. A good example of this is Baxter Wynd which was changed to Baker Lane, though, more recently, St Andrews has acknowledged these Anglicised changes. It is now generally admitted that if one loses personal and place names the identity of a language becomes impaired. This has now become so acute that many people who otherwise speak and write consistent Scots will habitually use the English forms of personal and place names, without even realising there are Scots equivalents. It is also common practice for writers of personal and place name guides to either ignore the Scots forms (not being aware of them), or, worse, relegate Scots to the status of ‘pet’ forms of English, while at the same time being careful to detail, say, Gaelic forms (as separate from Irish). Even when the existence of Scots forms is pointed out there is often a reluctance to acknowledge them. A proposal to include Scots signs in the new Scottish parliament, alongside English and Gaelic, was rejected in 1999. Under the provisions of the European Charter for Regional or Minority Languages, ratified by the UK government in 2001, Scots is accorded stage III status. The charter specifically cites the use of names in Scots forms as being essential to the maintenance of the identity of the language. But, for the time being, the Scots language remains largely invisible at the heart of Scottish government. A good, modern source for Scottish place names in their Scots forms is ‘The Scots Map and Guide/Cairte in the Scots Leid’ published by MMA Maps, Glasgow, in 1993 (ISBN 0-9522629-4-0) which came complete with a guide and gazetteer in Scots, German, French and English, and provided tourist information on the map itself. The map is currently out of print. Scottish Place Names in Scots The following place names indicate both local pronunciation and/or distinct forms of names which have evolved within Scots-speaking Scotland. By no means is this list exhaustive. These can be found in both the Scottish National Dictionary and MMAs Map in Scots. In each case the form accepted in English comes first and is then followed by the Scots form. Aberchirder - Fogieloan Aberdeen - Aiberdeen Aboyne - Abyne Alford - Aaford Anstruther - Ainster or Enster Auchtermuchty - Muchtie Banff - Bamff Berwick - Berrick Bridge of Allan - Brig Allan Broughty Ferry - Brochty Burghead - Brochheid Caithness - Caitnes Campbeltown - Cammeltoun Coatbridge - Coatbrig Coldstream - Castrim Cowdenbeath - Coudenbaith Cumbernauld - Cummernaud Dingwall - Dingwal Dornoch - Dornach Dumbarton - Dumbartoun or Dumbertan Dunfermline - Dumfaurlin Dunkeld - Dunkell Edinburgh - Embra or Edinburrae Elgin - Ailgin Falkirk - The Fawkirk Falkland - Fauklan Forfar - Farfar Fort William - The Fort Fraserburgh - The Broch Galashiels - Gallae Galloway - Gallowa Glasgow - Glesca Haddington - Haidintoun Hawick - Haaick Helmsdale - Helmsdal Holyrood - Halyruid Inverkeithing - Innerkeithin Inverary - Inverera Inverness - Innerness Inverurie - Innerurie Jedburgh - Jethart Kelso - Kelsae Kilmarnock - Kilmaurnock Kilsyth - Kilseyth Kingussie - Kineussie Kirkcaldy - Kirkcaudy Kirkcudbright - Kirkoubrie Kirkwall – Kirkwal Lanark - Lanrik Lerwick - Lerrick Lesmahagow - Lismahagie Linlithgow - Lithcae Livingston - Leivinstoun Lossiemouth - Lossie Old Deer - Auld Deer Perth - Pairth Peterhead - Peterheid Saint Andrews - Saunt Aundraes Saint Boswells - Bosells South Isles - Sooth Isles Stirling - Stirlin Stonehaven - Steinhyve Stornoway - Stornowa Stranraer - Stranrawer Thurso - Thursa Troon - The Truin Western Isles - Waster Isles Wick - Weik Wigtown - Wigtoun Wishaw - Wishae
Posted on: Thu, 11 Sep 2014 20:26:16 +0000
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