The Shetland Dialect

The traditional dialect spoken in the Shetland Isles, the northernmost part of Scotland and Britain, is distinct and has characteristic features on all linguistic levels. This book is a useful resource for those working on historical linguistics and is intended to serve as a comprehensive description and accessible reference source on one of the most distinct lesser-known varieties of English within Britain. It documents and offers a systematic account of the rich regional variation and is a reference source for studying the historical formation and emergence of the Shetland dialect and language variation and change in Shetland.

Format: Paperback / softback
Length: 206 pages
Publication date: 30 May 2022
Publisher: Taylor & Francis Ltd

The traditional dialect spoken in the Shetland Isles, located in the northernmost part of Scotland and Britain, stands out as a highly distinctive language. It exhibits distinct and characteristic features across all linguistic levels, particularly in its sound system, known as phonology. This dialect is one of the lesser-known varieties of English within the Inner Circle, a group of English dialects that are spoken in the United Kingdom and its territories. However, recent years have seen a growing interest in these lesser-known dialects, leading to a realization that there are still gaps in our understanding, even within the core of the Inner Circle.

In order to fill these gaps, Sundkvists has produced a comprehensive treatise that draws upon the results of a three-year research project funded by the Bank of Sweden Tercentenary Foundation. This project involved a thorough phonological survey of the Shetland dialect, conducted between 2010 and 2012. The result is this invaluable book, which serves as a comprehensive description and accessible reference source on one of the most distinct and lesser-known varieties of English within Britain.

The book documents and offers a systematic account of the rich regional variation found in the Shetland dialect. It explores the historical formation and emergence of the language, as well as the various factors that have contributed to its development and change over time. Additionally, it serves as a valuable resource for those studying the historical formation and emergence of the Shetland dialect and language variation and change in Shetland, as well as those within the broader field of Germanic linguistics.

By providing a detailed and comprehensive exploration of the Shetland dialect, this book contributes to our understanding of the diverse linguistic landscape of the United Kingdom and beyond. It showcases the importance of studying lesser-known dialects and their role in shaping the history and evolution of English language. As such, it is a valuable resource for scholars, researchers, and anyone with an interest in language and linguistics.

Dimension: 234 x 156 (mm)
ISBN-13: 9780367527976