Guide to
Regional Varieties of
Scots Language
EAST CENTRAL SOUTH
In this document the examples of Scots from the East Central South area have
been organised into film clips, songs, poetry and prose. The internet links will
take you to websites where there are more examples such as these, not only for
East Central South but for many regional varieties of Scots.
The name ‘East Central South’ is used to acknowledge the unique variations that appear in
some of the Scots language used in the area, particularly in and around Edinburgh. The
speakers here will generally refer to their language just as “Scots” and that mirrors the
collection of sources gathered in this document. All the entries below have links to East
Central South and to Edinburgh, but can easily stand as examples of “Scots” in general.
Go to the Scots Language Centre website to listen to sound clips, understand characteristics
of East Central South, read a short history and discussion of this regional variety of Scots, as
well as find examples of prominent writers and speakers:
http://www.scotslanguage.com/articles/view/id/4019/type/dialect/archive/0
FILM
Sisyphus (1971) by Robert Garioch. This 3 minute film is said to be Scotland's first cartoon
on film. A version in Scots of the Greek legend of Sisyphus, read by Robert Garioch himself.
https://scotlandonscreen.org.uk/browse-films/007-000-000-317-c Click here to watch the
clip on the National Library of Scotland’s Scottish Screen Archive
The Singing Street (1951) Traditional children's street games. This 3 part documentary
excellently captures children's games filmed in the back streets of Edinburgh and is
accompanied by traditional children's songs. https://scotlandonscreen.org.uk/browsefilms/007-000-000-135-c Click here to watch the clip on the National Library of Scotland’s
Scottish Screen Archive
Talking Heads by Daniel Jurzyna. Documentaries don’t often feature Scots language, but
watch this short clip about skateboarding in Edinburgh to see a documentary maker using a
different approach – and getting different answer!
http://hansel2012.org/films/talking-heads Click here to watch the clip on the Hansel of Film
website
SONG
Winter Sun by Gill Bowman and Karine Polwart. This haunting song is about the life of a
female coal miner in the early 19th century, sung by contemporary Scots singers.
http://www.educationscotland.gov.uk/knowledgeoflanguage/scots/aguidlisten/aguidsang/i
ndex.asp Click here to listen to the song and read the words on the Education Scotland
website
The red bings of West Lothian by Gill Bowman. This song was written in 2010 by Gill
Bowman with West Lothian pupils at Holy Family RC Primary, Winchburgh, as part of the
Shale Villages project.
http://scotssangsfurschools.webs.com/redbingscarmondean.htm Click here to read the
words on the Scots Sangs fur Schools website
In Praise of Balgeddie by J. Logie Robertson. The author of the popular 'Hughies' (versions
in Scots of the odes of Horace, published under the pen-name Hugh Haliburton) was an
Edinburgh schoolmaster and prominent writer on Scottish literature and culture.
http://www.scottishpoetrylibrary.org.uk/poetry/poems/praise-balgeddie Click here to read
the poem on the Scottish Poetry Library
TEXT: Poetry
Street Talk by J K Annand. Let the good Scots voices in this poem tell you what’s ado and
what’s adae in these streets.
http://www.educationscotland.gov.uk/resources/k/kistscotslanguage/texts/streettalk/index
.asp Click here for the text, an audio recording, animated video and learning resources from
the ‘Kist o Riches’
Crocodile by J K Annand. Plenty of Scots poetry is set on boats, but few travel down the nile
and meet a Scots speaking Crocodile.
http://www.educationscotland.gov.uk/resources/k/kistscotslanguage/texts/crocodile/index
.asp Click here for the text, an audio recording, and learning resources from the ‘Kist o
Riches’
Haute, hoat cuisine by Angela Blacklock-Brown. This unique voice in Scottish poetry has
composed many fantastic poems for children, and on this occasion describes a particularly
peculiar Scottish snack.
http://www.scottishpoetrylibrary.org.uk/poetry/poems/haute-hoat-cuisine Click here to
read the poem on the Scottish Poetry Library
Hinniewaff by David Purdie. When it comes to smells and certain scents, what Scots words
do we have to use? This poem by lifelong Edinburgh resident takes a sniff then birls and jigs
onwards in a discussion of Scots language vocabulary.
http://www.scottishpoetrylibrary.org.uk/poetry/poems/hinniewaff Click here to read the
poem on the Scottish Poetry Library
Daith o Saint Andrew by Frances Robson. The inspiration for the poem came from Peter
Howson’s painting “The Crucifixion of St Andrew” (along with the preparatory sketches). The
unconventional portrayal of a familiar topic inspired the author to write the poem.
http://www.scottishpoetrylibrary.org.uk/poetry/poems/daith-o-saint-andrew Click here to
read the poem on the Scottish Poetry Library
TEXT: Prose
Emma Chizzit? Here a Scot tells of his adventures with language and being understood while
living in Australia and upon his return to Edinburgh. The title refers to an interesting
misunderstanding.
http://www.t.scotslanguage.co.uk/articles/blogs/30/2589 Click here to read the story on
the Scots Language Centre website
Fur Coat and Nae Knickers. This National Portrait Gallery trail was designed to take visitors
around seven portraits of famous Scots. You can view thumbnails of the paintings and read
the Scots blurb about each.
https://www.nationalgalleries.org/visit/the-fur-coat-an-nae-knickers-trail