Scots vs. Scottish English: A Linguistic Continuum
Scots and Scottish English are closely related languages (or dialects, depending on the linguistic perspective) spoken in Scotland.

While they share many similarities, there are distinct differences in their vocabulary, grammar, and pronunciation.

Key Differences:
Vocabulary: Scots has a unique vocabulary with many words that are not found in standard English. For example, “ken” (to know), “wee” (small), and “aye” (yes) are common Scots words.

Grammar: Scots has its own grammar rules, which can differ from those of English. For instance, Scots often uses the “plural indefinite article” (e.g., “some folk” instead of “some people”).

Pronunciation: The pronunciation of words in Scots can be quite different from that of English, with distinctive vowel sounds and accents.

A Linguistic Continuum:
It’s important to note that the distinction between Scots and Scottish English is not always clear-cut. Many Scots speakers use a mix of both languages, often switching between them depending on the context. This has led some linguists to describe the relationship between Scots and Scottish English as a linguistic continuum, rather than a strict dichotomy.

Think of it like a spectrum: at one end is “broad Scots,” with a high degree of unique features, while at the other end is “Scottish Standard English,” which is closer to standard British English. Many Scots speakers fall somewhere in between these two extremes.