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Introduction: An Overview of Language in Scotland

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Sociolinguistics in Scotland
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Abstract

In recent years, sociolinguistic research has gained considerable ground in Scotland. This is not surprising given that, as Manfred Görlach points out, Scotland is something of a ‘paradise’ for researchers interested in the intersection of language and society (Görlach 1985: 3). With its complex linguistic history, rich literary tradition, and intersecting language varieties, Scotland is an ideal ‘sociolinguistic laboratory’, and despite its small size and concentrated population located mainly in the Central Belt, linguistic diversity remains strong.

* My thanks go to John Corbett for his thought-provoking comments and suggestions on draft versions of this chapter.

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© 2014 Robert Lawson

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Lawson, R. (2014). Introduction: An Overview of Language in Scotland. In: Lawson, R. (eds) Sociolinguistics in Scotland. Palgrave Macmillan, London. https://doi.org/10.1057/9781137034717_1

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