2007-05-10 18:45:21 · 9 answers · asked by LadeeBug Buddha 3 in Society & Culture ➔ Languages
Both words are legitimate adjectives for a person - or anything else - from Scotland. I hear the terms Scotch terrier, Scotch Canadian and Scotch Presbytarian all the time.
The only possible caveat is that since "Scotch" is a contraction of Scottish and contractions are usually not used in formal situations it might be better to use "Scottish" in some instances. You just have to play it by ear.
During the Middle Ages, "Scot" and "Scottish" applied to both the people of Ireland and Scotland. After all, the Scotti or Scots originally came from Ulster, in northern Ireland before migrating to northern Britain between the 6th and 9th centuries A.D.
When the 7th century English historian, Venerable Bede said that the Anglo-Saxon church at Lindisfarne was "constructa in more Scottorum," he actually meant that it was "built in the Irish style." Not until around the year 1400, did the words "Scottish" and "Scotch" come to refer just to people from Scotland.
Please see also: http://dictionary.reference.com/browse/scotch
2007-05-10 19:48:53 · answer #1 · answered by Brennus 6 · 1⤊ 1⤋
My grand mother is Scottish and refers to herself as Scotch or Scottish. Her language is English. A few Scots do speak Gaelic though
2007-05-10 18:49:17 · answer #2 · answered by Kble 4 · 1⤊ 0⤋
They are Scots, a person is Scottish, they have a Scottish accent, their dialect is Scottish, the language is now English but it was Gaelic. Older Scottish sometimes still speak Gaelic and in Nova Scotia, it is being taught in schools and universities to help protect that part of their heritage.
2007-05-10 19:44:36 · answer #3 · answered by Noota Oolah 6 · 1⤊ 0⤋
Scottish people speak a language similar to English, my folks are from Scotland, they have been over here long enough for the sap to drain out, most of us speak just plain old southern hill billy as some say, I'd ask aunt Ellie, but she lit out over the hill, this evening, coon hunting, and wont be back until the sun begins to light up the Eastern sky a little. I don't figure she will stay to long, she didn't Carrie but one plug of chew to baccy with her.
2007-05-10 19:06:58 · answer #4 · answered by Auburn 5 · 2⤊ 0⤋
Scotch is a drink. People are either Scotts(noun) or Scottish (adj).
2007-05-10 18:54:20 · answer #5 · answered by Anne D 2 · 1⤊ 0⤋
They are Scots and they can speak English or Scottish Gaelic not to be confused with Irish Gaelic.
2007-05-10 18:53:41 · answer #6 · answered by David M 6 · 2⤊ 0⤋
They are either Scots (singular) Scottish (plural) and their spoken language is English
2007-05-10 18:55:45 · answer #7 · answered by premixedgandhi 2 · 1⤊ 0⤋
They are Scots... Their language is English..
2007-05-10 18:49:10 · answer #8 · answered by James B 5 · 2⤊ 0⤋
thery're scotish. Scotch is the drink. and they speak Scotish.
2007-05-10 18:49:01 · answer #9 · answered by john 6 · 1⤊ 0⤋