Studies in Lowland Scots

by James Colville

STUDIES IN LOWLAND SCOTS

printed by
william green and sons
edinburgh

---

August 1909

Facsimile of Gothic Codex Argenteus.

MATT. VI. 13–15.

STUDIES

IN

LOWLAND SCOTS

BY

JAMES COLVILLE
M. A., D. Sc., in Comp. Phil. (Edin.)

AUTHOR OF
"By-ways of History." Edin.: Douglas
"Some Old-fashioned Educationists." Edin.: Green

EDITOR OF
"Cockburn Letters" and "Ochtertyre House Book" (Scott. Hist. Soc., Vols. 45 and 55)

CONTRIBUTOR OF
Art. "Scotland" to "Social England," 6 Vols. Cassells

 

WITH FOUR PLATES

 

EDINBURGH AND LONDON
WILLIAM GREEN AND SONS
1909

INTRODUCTION

These "Studies," as the title indicates, lay no claim to be a final or exhaustive treatment of the Scots vernacular in respect of its origin, character, and contents. They are the outcome of an early and sustained predilection for the subject, and testify to an interest in it not alone on its linguistic side, but also as illuminating the track of racial culture. The bulk of the matter has, from time to time, appeared in contributions to the Royal Philosophical Society of Glasgow and to the "Glasgow Herald," to both of which I shall ever owe a debt of gratitude. Its appearance in its present form is due to the support and countenance of the Carnegie Trust, which is doing so much for original research that would otherwise remain little more than a personal hobby.

It would be a scholarly and patriotic task to trace the historical development and decline of the Scots vernacular, and to base, on an analysis of its literary remains on the one hand and of its living usages on the other, a scientific statement of its morphology and phonology, and of its affinities and characteristics. But I have contented myself with opening up, in independent fashion, suggestive lines of investigation, and with the recording of words and features now fast passing out of recognition. Within the peculiarly debatable sphere of the history of the words referred to, the interpretations offered are tentative and in no sense final. The text was first completed from my own point of view and resources, but I have taken the opportunity in the "Glossary" of checking all such statements, and frankly indicating any divergence these present from the conclusions of recognised authorities. It is hoped that the text will be read in the light of this annotated "Glossary."

Though the work has been presented in a series of "Studies," it is hoped that the reader will not fail to see in the whole a unity of design. Nothing has been introduced which had not naturally a place within the central theme—the antiquity, continuity and persistency of the Scots vernacular. With this principle in view such apparently remotely connected subjects as Aryan Culture and the Gothic Gospels have been treated at length. The former places the Scots vernacular within the great Indo–Germanic unity of speech; the latter shows its unmistakable kinship with a band of brothers, following a serious, rural life so remote in time and space as Bulgaria in the fourth century of our era. The treatment is novel in so far as it is done from this Scots point of view. While we are all Indo–Germanic, it is impossible to affirm, in any precise sense, that the Lowland Scot is a lineal descendant of the Moeso–Goth, but what I have tried to make good is, that the speech of Bishop Wulfila's flock is as intelligible to the Scot now as, say, that of the Cumberland dalesman. Among the Low-German tribes—Dutch, Frisian, Norse—who must have early made themselves free of both shores of the North Sea, I do not venture to affirm which formed the link of connection and blood-brotherhood between Lowlander and Goth. That there was such a vital link is indubitable on the evidence of speech. Within these extremes will be found a mass of illustrative matter drawn from comparison with the kindred dialects of Cumberland and the Scots Border, and from the South African Taal, which has preserved so much of what was once the common stock of shrewd, Bible and home-loving Hollander and Scot.

Finally, and forming the kernel of the whole, the section entitled "Field Philology" gathers up the reminiscences, in phrase, folklore, and social customs, of a mid-Victorian rural Scotland at a time when home industries still lived, when railways were a wonder, and scientific inventions a dream. Here will be found much in idiom and vocable that has never yet been recorded.

To the genuinely patriotic Scot, at home and abroad, I venture to appeal for recognition of the fact that this is, at least, a praiseworthy effort to preserve somewhat of his rare bi-lingual inheritance, and to offer an incentive to kindred workers in the field. Nor should it fail to interest also the student of English, which, on historical lines, owes so much to comparison with Northern speech. Such comparison the philological expert might also fitly welcome as the true method of scientific progress.

James Colville.

14 Newton Place,
Glasgow, August 1909.

CONTENTS, SOURCES, AND AUTHORITIES CONSULTED

I.—THE DAWN, 1–58

1. Codex Argenteus and its Story, 1–2; Bishop Wulfila and his Work, 2–4; The Goths in History, 4–7; Their Place in the Indo–Eur. Family, Grimm's Law, 7–9; Gothic and Runes, 9–11; Gothic Phonology, 11–14; Lacunæ in the Go. MSS., 15; Social Life of the Goths in their Vocables, 15–28—(a) Personal Environment, 16–19, (b) Natural Environment, 19–21, (c) Activities, 22–28; Survivals in Sc., Eng. and Ger., 28–34; Value of Gothic in Compar. Grammar, specially for Scots, 34–42.

2. Specimens of Wulfila's "Gospels"—Grammatical Introduction, 43–46; Transliteration of Mark iv. 1–10, 46–48; Same Passage in Lowland Scots of 1520, 49; Luke ii. 4–20, 49–52; Same Passage in Lowland Scots, 52–3; Luke xv. 11–32, 53–56; Same Passage in Lowland Scots, 56–58.

Sources, &c.:—Stamm's Ulfilas, Text. Wörterbuch u. Grammatik neu herausgegeben von Dr. Moritz Heyne, 1872. Gotische Grammatik mit einigen Lesestücken u. Wortverzeichnis von Wilhelm Braune, 1887. Moeso–Gothic Glossary and Grammar by Professor Skeat, 1868. Moeso–Gothic Gospel of St. Mark by Professor Skeat (Clar. Press). Introduction to the Gothic of Ulfilas, 1886. Bosworth—Gothic, A. Saxon, Wyclif and Tyndale's Gospels. Purvey's Revision of Wycliffe's Version turned into Scots by Murdoch Nisbet, c. 1520, ed. T. G. Law, LL. D. (Scott. Text Soc.). Die Vier Evangelien in Alt Nordhumbrischer Sprache von Bouterwek, 1857. Die Heliand (Saviour) oder das Lied vom Leben Jesu, Köne, 1855.

II.—IN DECADENCE, 59–108

1. Scots Vernacular on its Literary Side, 59–63; Survival in Dialect, 63–66; in Proverbial Sayings, 66–71; in Law and Church Life, 71–76.

2. Scots and English, 76–95; English and Scots contrasted in Phonetics, 78–84; in Vocables, 84–87; in Grammar and Idiom, 87–95.

3. Dialect and Vernacular compared, 95–99; Lowland Dialects and their Study, 99–101; Scots in the English Dialect Diet, 101–104; Misinterpretations of Scots Scholars, 104–108; Contrast with the Intelligent Foreigner, 108.

Sources:—Author's Observation and Reading. Quotations from Sir J. Murray's "Dialects of the South of Scotland," and Stevenson's "Underwoods."

III.—FIELD PHILOLOGY, 109–164

1. Village Life in Fifeshire, 109–141; Influence of Books and Education on a Vernacular, 109–113; A Campbeltown Ballad, 113–116; Dialect of the "Kailyard," 117–8; Village Sketch in Time and Place, 118–121; the Natural, Human Boy's Attitude to Rural Life, 121–125; the Skylark, 126; Pleasures of Garden, Play, and Farmyard, 126–133; Pleasures of Winter Evenings, 133–136; Social Virtues and Manners, 136–139; Results and Lessons, 139–141.

2. Farm Life in Moray, 141–164; Value of Field Philology, 141–143; Scene of Sketch, 143–145; Farm Work, 145–6; Domestic Animals, 147–8; Plant and Animal Names, 148–9; Social Life, 149–153; Folklore, 154–156; Ross Narrative, 157–160; Cissy Wood and Cottar Life, 160–164.

Sources:—Gregor's Glossary of the Buchan Dialect. Edmonston's Orcadian and Shetland Glossary. Jakobsen's Old Shetland Dialect. Shaw's Nithsdale. Author's Observations and Researches. Reminiscences of Old Inhabitants.

The sub-section No. 2 was very kindly and sympathetically annotated by the Rev. James Cooper, Litt. D., Professor of Church History, University of Glasgow. As a native of Morayshire, profoundly interested in all departments of Scots lore, he was peculiarly fitted to supply valuable annotations.

IV.—SIDE-LIGHTS, 165–225

1. Vernacular of the Lake District, 164–189; Cumbria and Strathclyde, 165–6; Affinities in Idiom and Grammar, 167–171; Archaisms in Common, 171–173; Border Parallels, 173–4; Comparison of Cu. and Scots in Vocables, 174–180; Social Customs, 180–2; Affinities in Scott and Burns, 182–3; Folklore, 183–187; Rural Pursuits, 187–9; Weather Lore, 189.

Sources:—Glossary of Cumberland Dialect—Dickinson and Prevost. Phonology and Grammar of Cumberland Dialect—Dickson Brown. Supplement—E. W. Prevost, Ph. D., F. R. S. E. Dialects of the South of Scotland—Murray. Glossary of Nithsdale Words—Shaw.

2. Braid Scottis in the Transvaal, 190–225.

(a) The Taal, 190–212—Dutch, the Taal, and Scots, 190–193; Familiar Affinities in Vocables, Idioms, Sayings, Social Customs, 193–198; Rural Surroundings of Boer and Scot in Comparison and Contrast, 198–204; Social Life, 204–212.

(b) Duncan Gray, in Taal, 212–217—Burns in Boer Land, 212–3; Dantjie Grouws, 214–5; Annotations, 215–6; As a Translation, 216–7.

(c) The Cottar's Saturday Night, 217–220—Scene in Comparison and Contrast as between Boer and Scot, 217–220.

(d) Tam o' Shanter, 220–225; Defects of the Translation, 220–1; Conviviality, 222–3; Superstitious Elements, 223–225.

Sources:—How to Speak Dutch—Logeman and Van Oordt. A Veldt Official—Musgrave. Article, "Blackwood's Magazine," 1880–1. Burns in Other Tongues—Wm. Jacks, LL. D. Reitz's Renderings of "Burns" in Dr. Jacks' volume. Notes by Afrikanders.

V.—FARTHER AFIELD, 226–263

1. Scoto–French in the Lowland Vernacular, 227–243; the "Auld Alliance," 227; Dutch Trading Influences, 227–8; the "Scot Abroad," 228.

Sources:—Ledger of Andrew Halyhurton, 1492, 229–30. Exchequer Accounts, 1538, 230. Tariff of Custom Dues, 1612, 231. James Bell's Pocket-Book, 1621, 231–3. Latin Grammars, 1587–1693, 233–6. Seventeenth Century Diaries, 236–8. Glasgow Burgh Records, 1691–1717, 238–9. General Usage, 239–41. Burns's Poems, 241–243.

2. Primitive Aryan Civilisation, 243–263; Aryan a Linguistic, not a Racial, Unity, 243–4; Discovery of Sanskrit and its Consequences, 244–5; How to Estimate the Primitive Stock of Culture, 246; Common Vocables for (1) Family Ties, 246–248; (2) Man Generally, 248–9; (3) Home, 249–50; (4) Domestic Animals, 250–1; (5) Animal and Plant Life, 251–2; (6) The Homestead, 252–3; (7) Food, 253; (8) Occupations, 253–4; (9) Seasons, 254; (10) Civil Life, 254–5; (11) Mind and Myth, 255–6; Results, Mental and Material, 256–7; the Primitive Dispersal, 257; "Gothic Gospels," the Veda of the Teutons, 258; Traces of the Indo–Germanic Schism, 258–260; Home of the Aryas, 260–262; Views of Professor Sayce, 262–3.

Sources:—Enumerated, 246.

VI.—GENERAL INDEX, 264–271.

VII.—GLOSSARY, 272–331.

CORRIGENDA

Page	19.	12 lines from top, for "wasi," read wasti.
Page„	23.	14 lines from top, for " dringan," read driugan.
Page„	46.	Read Verses 1–9; do. p. 49.
Page„	53.	Middle, for "liftus," read luftus.
Page„	53.„	Middle, for "waljan," read walwjan.
Page„	70.	10 lines from foot, for "ill-sets," read ill-set's (as).
Page„	72.	9 lines from top, for "At the head of," &c., read The head of.
Page„	129.	11 lines from top, for "laidlick, a loath (tadpole and leech)," read laidliok, applied to the tadpole and leech.
Page„	142.	7 lines from top, for "A Mr. Ross," &c., read This typical Scot, John Ross by name, was spending, &c.
Page„	143.	5 lines from top, for "Heldon," read Keldon; and, again, page 145.
Page„	143.„	14 lines from top, "Cistercians," see Index sub voce.
Page„	144.	6 lines from top, for "The nave," &c., read The nave was begun but never was finished.
Page„	148.	7 lines from top, for "Grigor," read Gregor; and, again, pages 151, 153.
Page„	148.	8 lines from top, for "rimin-mink," read rinnin-mink.
Page„	207.	Middle, for "Ger. nephew," read Ger. Nichte.
Page„	220.	4 lines from top, for "die Cristen-vader, the gray-haired sire)," read die Cristen-vader), the gray-haired sire.