English in Inverness 'not so fit for a Queen'

FOR years, the people of Inverness have revelled in the proud boast that they speak the best English on the planet.

Their clear and melodious pronunciation of the language has been applauded by linguistic experts and dialect experts across the globe.

But not any more, according to one of Scotland's leading language experts. Invernesians, it appears, are now talking Scots and even using words like "fit" (what) and "faar" (where) - the trademark phrases of the native Doric speakers from the neighbouring North-east.

The changing landscape of the Scots dialect in the north, North-east and Northern Isles has been charted by Robert Millar, a lecturer in linguistics at Aberdeen University, during his research for a new book, Northern and Insular Scots, published by Edinburgh University Press.

The book is designed as an introduction to the Scots dialects of northern Scotland, Orkney and Shetland and highlights how factors such as migration and the decline of traditional industries such as fishing and farming, have affected local dialects.

Mr Millar said one of the most significant changes he uncovered was the increasing number of people in Inverness who are now speaking broad Scots rather than the Queen's English.

"Inverness is becoming more Scots," he said.

"They used to always say that folk in Inverness spoke the best English in the world. That's not the case any more. It's not English any more."

It is believed one of the most significant factors behind the Invernesians' reputation as the best speakers of standard English was their historic tradition of having been native Gaelic speakers - a practice which is on the wane.

"As Gaelic went they have to have something new to prove they're Scots and they are starting to speak Scots in a very broad sense," said Mr Millar.

According to his research, local dialects are continuing to flourish in several parts of Scotland such as Shetland and in some parts of the North-east, but are in some cases at risk of extinction.

He added: "The factor that affects traditional dialects the most isn't people moving in or out of an area, but people stopping traditional work, such as farming and fishing. The fishing dialects are almost dead across Scotland.

"They are not yet dead because there are still people in their fifties and sixties who grew up speaking it. But if you are younger there would have been no reason to know a lot of the words."

Fergus Ewing, SNP MSP for Inverness East, Nairn and Lochaber, said Inverness was a "new metropolis" with the best English in the country and also a good mix of Scots and Doric.