Scots Language

Everyday speech in lowland Scotland varies from speaker to speaker. This is often referred to as a speech continuum. This continuum ranges from Traditional Scots, often called Braid Scots, the Doric, the Buchan Claik or the Moray Claik and Lallans (Lowlands) - to Scottish Standard English. Thus many people in Scotland have access to the features of two linguistic systems and are able to range from one to the other according to the demands of the situation in which they find themselves. Such decisions are usually based on stylistic and contextual factors, the use of Scots being far more likely among the working-class and older rural people, especially those whose exposure to the anglicizing endeavors of the Scottish education system has not been longer than necessary.
A wonderful website http://www.scots-online.org concentrates wholly on the Traditional Scots end of this speech continuum. This includes archaic, and some obsolete vocabulary which has been replaced by standard English equivalents. Such vocabulary is still used in literary Scots.

Traditional Scots has no equivalent of 'RP'. Scots is spoken in various dialects. The Scots orthography used here can, on the whole, be read and pronounced in any Scots dialect with the possible exception of Insular Scots. The information on pronunciation leaves a lot to be desired. Lack of time, space and technology hindered me providing an adequate guide to pronunciation for each word. Both the Ten Volume Scottish National Dictionary and the Concise Scots Dictionary provide phonetic pronunciations, see The SNDA.

Here is an example of some of the Greetings in various Scots Dialects:

1. 'how do you do?'
Hou's aw wi ye?
How is everything with you? Hou's yer dous?
How are your pigeons?
Hou d'ye fend?(South West)
How are you managing? Whit fettle?(Borders)
What state (are you in)?
Hou're ye lestin?(Borders)
How are you lasting? whit like? (North East)
What (are things) like?

To these may be answered:
Brawlie - Thank ye.
Nicely - Thank you. No bad conseederin.
Not bad considering. A canna compleen.
I can't complain.
Hingin bi a threid.
Just managing. A hae been waur.
I've been worse. Sae faw ye.
Same to you.

2.Guests who are in a hurry and often unwilling to take a seat are often told.
It's as cheap sittin as staundin.
It is as cheap sitting as standing.

3. In Pubs or other places where people gather a common invitation to join in is.
Come intil the bodie o the kirk.
Join the company.

4. When parting.
Haste ye back.
Return soon.

5. Newly-weds are often greeted with.
Happy fit.
Refers to the custom of 'fit washin', washing the feet of the bride or bridegroom the night before the wedding.

6. At the new year or when moving into a new house.
Lang mey yer lum reek.
Live long and happily.
Mey the best ye hae iver seen be the warst ye'll iver see.
May the best you have ever seen be the worst you will ever see.
Mey the moose ne'er lea' yer girnal wi the tear-drap in its ee.
May the mouse never leave your grain store with a tear drop in its eye.
Mey ye aye keep hail an hertie till ye'r auld eneuch tae dee.
May you always stay whole and hearty until you are old enough to die.
Mey ye aye juist be sae happy as A wiss ye aye tae be.
May you still be as happy as I always wish you to be.

7. When writing letters the usual form of address is Ma freend, Ma fere or Guid billie corresponding to the English Dear.

Formal letters begin with Guid Sir, Guid Mr. (Maister) or Mem (Madam) corresponding to the English Dear.
Other terms of address are:
Miss Miss Maister Mister
Dame Lady Chiel Gentleman or fellow
Mistress Misses Guidman Husband or male head of household
Sir Sir Guidwife Female head of household
Letters may be ended with the following:
Formal Informal
Aefauldlie Sincerely Fair faw Best/good wishes
Yours aye faithfully cheerio the nou Goodbye for now
Fare ye weel Farewell See ye efter See you later

The above information and much more can be found at http://www.scots-online.org