The Journey of Lowland Scots: From Scotland to the American Sunbelt
The Spread of Lowland Scots
Early Settlements and the Emergence of Scots
The Anglo-Saxon tribes who invaded England also settled in Lowland Scotland as early as the seventh century. After the Norman Conquest, many English-speaking people settled there and established English ‘burgs’ like Edinburgh throughout the Lowlands. This marked the beginning of Scots, a northern variety of English that might have become a separate language. However, border wars kept the two kingdoms and their languages apart for generations. In its golden age during the 15th century, the Scottish language was the speech of kings and aristocrats and the inspiration of poets and playwrights like Dunbar. Remnants of the Scottish tongue can still be heard in pockets throughout the Lowlands, particularly in the northeast around Aberdeen.
Union of Crowns and the Decline of Scots
When Queen Elizabeth I of England died, King James VI of Scotland inherited the throne, becoming King James I of England and uniting the kingdoms. The center of power shifted to the English-speaking south, leading to the gradual merging of Scotland into the English mainstream. The Scottish aristocracy and upper class began to be educated in southern English public schools, acquiring standard British English. To strengthen the union, King James mandated the use of his newly translated Bible, the Authorized Version, in Scottish churches, further promoting standard English from the south. Since then, Scots has declined, although the Scots translation of the New Testament is occasionally read in churches.
Lowland Scots in Ulster and the New World
Lowland Scottish English spread beyond Scotland when King James encouraged Lowlanders to establish plantations in northern Ireland, resulting in the Ulster colony. The roots of Ulster English, especially among the older population, lie deep in Lowland Scots. About a century later, the Scots-Irish migrated to the American colonies, with Philadelphia being a major point of entry. They brought their distinctive Lowland Scottish English, influencing the linguistic landscape of the New World.
Transformation and Expansion in America
In Pennsylvania, contact with other accents, including German, shaped the Scots-Irish accent. As they moved southwestward, the Scots-Irish followed trails and rivers into the Appalachian Mountains and beyond. Many Appalachian stories, like the Jack tales, have Scottish origins. The broad Appalachian English gradually modified as the American frontier expanded westward. Their accents leveled up as they traveled down valleys and rivers, spreading down the Ohio and Mississippi rivers.
The Midland Dialect and the American Sunbelt
By the mid-19th century, the Appalachian accent had reached California. Since World War II, its influence has grown stronger in the southwest. The Midland dialect, originating from Appalachian English, has become one of the major dialects of American English. It is spoken in the Sunbelt, a region with a growing population and economic status. The Midland dialect is the language of country music and truck drivers, showcasing the lasting impact of Lowland Scots on American English.
The Gaelic Highlanders
In contrast to the Lowlanders, the Gaelic-speaking Celts of the Scottish Highlands faced marginalization. Since the 18th century, their language, Scottish Gaelic, has been driven to near extinction. It survives in remote islands where English is still considered a foreign language.