Guide to
Regional Varieties of
Scots Language
WEST CENTRAL
In this document the examples of Scots from the West Central 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 West
Central but for many regional varieties of Scots.
The name ‘West Central’ is used to acknowledge the unique variations that appear in some
of the Scots language used in the area, although there is a distinct difference between the
language of the city of Glasgow and the language used beyond. The speakers here will
generally refer to their language just as “Scots” although the Glaswegian variety is
sometimes known as “The Patter”. All the entries below have links to West Central or to
Glasgow.
Go to the Scots Language Centre website to listen to sound clips, understand characteristics
of West Central, 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/4016
FILM
Upatra Burd’s: (1963-71) The Stanley Baxter Show This 5 minute clip features one of
Scotland’s classic comedians and his take on Parliamo Glasgow, where the rolling rollicking
language of the households of old are used and defined to comedic effect.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=a0rgETg2Hoo Click here to watch the clip on YouTube
Bogus Gasman (2007) Still Game. This short clip features Jack and Victor having some fun
with the peep hole in a door, with an unintended audience.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=xKXNX6StWQ4 Click here to watch the clip on
YouTube.
Tam Trauchle’s Troubles (1934) Pathe Pictures Ltd.
This clip shows the conditions in a 1930s Glasgow single-end tenement flat.
https://scotlandonscreen.org.uk/browse-films/007-000-000-051-c Click here to watch the
clip on the National Library of Scotland's screen archive
The Fairmer (1975) by Michael Grieve. This short clip is an excerpt from a television
documentary series focussing on the lives of ordinary Scots, here telling the story of Bob
Harris and his family.
http://ssa.nls.uk/film/T2251 Click here to watch the clip on the National Library of
Scotland's screen archive
SONG
The Day We Went To Rothesay O, Performed by Ewan McVicar This comic song is about
traditional Glaswegian holidays.
http://www.educationscotland.gov.uk/scotlandssongs/secondary/genericcontent_tcm4554
531.asp Click here to find the music, a recording and the lyrics on the Education Scotland
website
Oor Hamlet, Performed by Adam McNaughton. This song features a former Glaswegian
teacher singing a very memorable summary of Shakespeare’s famous play, in Scots.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=pTJh-tb_wZ8 Click here to listen to the song on
YouTube (there is an underscore between tb and wZ8)
My Big Kilmarnock Bunnet, Performed by Margaret Holms. This song tells of the singer’s
adventures in Glasgow, wearing his distinctive headgear.
http://www.tobarandualchais.co.uk/en/fullrecord/14353/20 Click here to listen to the song
on the Tobar an Dualchais (Kist o Riches) website which contains over 34,000 oral recordings
TEXT: Poetry
Brekkin Rainbows by Janet Paisley. Let your imagination take flight in this Scots poem.
http://www.educationscotland.gov.uk/resources/k/kistscotslanguage/texts/breakinrainbow
s/index.asp Click here for the text, an audio recording, animated video and learning
resources from the ‘Kist o Riches’ on the Education Scotland site
A Dug, A Dug by Billy Keys. This well-known and well-loved poem explores the familiar
situation of “pester power”.
http://www.educationscotland.gov.uk/resources/k/kistscotslanguage/texts/adugadug/inde
x.asp Click here for the text, an audio recording, animated video and learning resources
from the ‘Kist o Riches’ on the Education Scotland site
The Bogle by WD Cocker. Read this frightening poem, if you dare!
http://www.scottishpoetrylibrary.org.uk/poetry/poems/bogle Click here for the text and
information about the poet on the Scottish Poetry Library site
Good Friday by Edwin Morgan. In this poem, Morgan recreates a scene on a Glasgow bus in
English and Scots.
http://www.scottishpoetrylibrary.org.uk/poetry/poems/good-friday Click here for the text
and information about the poet on the Scottish Poetry Library site
TEXT: Prose
Not Scotland by Anne Donovan. A fine story about Scots abroad and their adventures on a
trip to Italy.
https://www.edbookfest.co.uk/uploads/article/newwriting/anne%20donovan.not%20scotland.pdf Click here to read the text on the Edinburgh
International Festival site
Castle Catastrophe A story about Gallus the Craw and Hooley the Hoolet, told with
illustrations by the pupils of Comely Park primary school in Falkirk.
http://www.scuilwab.org.uk/sections/view/25/330 Click here to view the text on the
Scuilwab page of the Scots Language Dictionary website