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{{Infobox language
{{Infobox language
|name=Scots Norse
|name=Scots Norse
|nativename={{lang|snon|Sudhraèscc}}
|nativename={{lang|snon|Sudhraèsc}}
|pronunciation=sˠʌ.ˈreskʰ
|pronunciation=sˠɤðˠ.ˈreʃc
|ethnicity=Norse Scots
|ethnicity=Norse Scots
|states=[[w:Suðreyjar|Suðreyjar]]
|states=[[w:Suðreyjar|Suðreyjar]]
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}}
}}


'''Scots Norse''' (Also ''Sodor Norse''; [[w:endonym|endonym]]: ''{{lang|snon|Sudhraèscc}}''; /sˠʌ.ˈreskʰ/) is a West Nordic language, making it closer to Icelandic and Faroese than Swedish or Danish. It is natively spoken throughout [[w:Suðreyjar|Suðreyjar]], being the dominant language of the isles. It has recieved heavy influence from Scots Gaelic over the last several centuries, contributing heavily to the spelling conventions of the language, and likely being the primary pushing force behind the development of the broad/slender distinction in Scots Norse (see "-sce" /ʃcʰ/ vs "-scc" /skʰ/)
'''Scots Norse''' (Also ''Sodor Norse''; [[w:endonym|endonym]]: ''{{lang|snon|Sudhraèsc}}''; /sˠɤðˠ.ˈreʃc/) is a West Nordic language, making it closer to Icelandic and Faroese than Swedish or Danish. It is natively spoken throughout [[w:Suðreyjar|Suðreyjar]], being the dominant language of the isles. It has recieved heavy influence from Scots Gaelic over the last several centuries, contributing heavily to the spelling conventions of the language, and likely being the primary pushing force behind the development of the broad/slender distinction in Scots Norse.


Scots Norse is typically split into two main dialect groups, Inner and Outer, corresponding to the Inner and Outer Hebrides, these are further divided into North and South for both, with a Central division for Inner. These dialects are almost entirely mutually intelligible within their groups, and mostly so even between the groups. Uniting all of these is the standardized form, ''{{lang|snon|Hàsudhraèscc}}'', literally meaning "High Scots Norse". ("high" as in "exalted")
Scots Norse is typically split into two main dialect groups, Inner and Outer, corresponding to the Inner and Outer Hebrides, these are further divided into North and South for both, with a Central division for Inner. These dialects are almost entirely mutually intelligible within their groups, and mostly so even between the groups. Uniting all of these is the standardized form, ''{{lang|snon|Hàsudraèsc}}'', literally meaning "High Scots Norse". ("high" as in "exalted")


Scots Norse is hard to classify type-wise, as it shows signs of creolization, but not to the extent where it could typically be classed as a creole, this leads to the branching from Insular West Norse into so-called "Gaelo-Nordic", characterized by the partial creolization of Old West Norse with Middle Irish and Scots Gaelic. Regardless how it is classed, Scots Norse is with no doubt some kind of mixed language.
Scots Norse is hard to classify type-wise, as it shows signs of creolization, but not to the extent where it could typically be classed as a creole, this leads to the branching from Insular West Norse into so-called "Gaelo-Nordic", characterized by the partial creolization of Old West Norse with Middle Irish and Scots Gaelic. Regardless how it is classed, Scots Norse is with no doubt some kind of mixed language.
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Scots Norse originates in the mid to late 13th century, around the time Suðreyjar was handed over to Scotland with the Treaty of Perth. Though the language would continue to be largely unchanged from the Old Norse of the 12th century, 1266AD is often used as a dividing date between Old Norse and the earliest forms of Scots Norse. While 1266 is a relatively arbitrary date, it serves its purpose as a convenient divide between two stages, as following the Treaty of Perth, the Hebrides would gain a much larger population of Gaelic and English speakers (At this point still Middle Irish and Middle English), and from roughly 1450AD onward, Scots Norse would be increasingly influenced by Scots Gaelic and, to a lesser extent, Scots.
Scots Norse originates in the mid to late 13th century, around the time Suðreyjar was handed over to Scotland with the Treaty of Perth. Though the language would continue to be largely unchanged from the Old Norse of the 12th century, 1266AD is often used as a dividing date between Old Norse and the earliest forms of Scots Norse. While 1266 is a relatively arbitrary date, it serves its purpose as a convenient divide between two stages, as following the Treaty of Perth, the Hebrides would gain a much larger population of Gaelic and English speakers (At this point still Middle Irish and Middle English), and from roughly 1450AD onward, Scots Norse would be increasingly influenced by Scots Gaelic and, to a lesser extent, Scots.


Having been spoken throughout Suðreyjar, Scots Norse had a dialect within the Isle of Mann (Scots Norse {{lang|snon|{{term|monaèir}}}} /mɒ.ˈnei̯θ͇/). Little is known about Manx Norse ({{lang|snon|{{term|monaèsk}}}}), as it is very poorly recorded, the most extensive description being a short document from around 1500AD that contains a list of about 150 words, with a very poor description of the pronunciations. Though from this description we can gather that Manx Norse still had the dental fricatives that had been lost in other dialects (merging with t/d), we get this from the description "... these [th and dh] are like that of the Saxons' beloved þ or the Scots' [Gaels'] sounds of the same staves [=letters]."
Having been spoken throughout Suðreyjar, Scots Norse had a dialect within the Isle of Mann (Scots Norse {{lang|snon|{{term|Monaèirr}}}} /mˠɒ.ˈneːrʲ/). Little is known about Manx Norse ({{lang|snon|{{term|Monaèsc}}}} /mˠɔ.ˈneʃc/), as it is very poorly recorded, the most extensive description being a short document from around 1500AD that contains a list of about 150 words, with a very poor description of the pronunciations. Though from this description we can gather that Manx Norse still had the dental fricatives that had been lost in other dialects (merging with t/d), we get this from the description "... these [th and dh] are like that of the Saxons' beloved þ or the Scots' [Gaels'] sounds of the same staves [=letters]."


Following the treaty of Perth, the usage of Norse began declining significantly, with evidence it was nearly extinct by 1550. A small revitalization occured in the mid 18th century when several of the last native speakers (at the time, Scots Norse had no more than 150 remaining speakers) gathered together to document the language so it could be taught to children. This effort was mostly effective, leading to the first noticeable rise in speaker count since it began declining. By the 1880's, there would be upwards of 1,500 native speakers, a majority of them young.
Following the treaty of Perth, the usage of Norse began declining significantly, with evidence it was nearly extinct by 1550. A small revitalization occured in the mid 18th century when several of the last native speakers (at the time, Scots Norse had no more than 150 remaining speakers) gathered together to document the language so it could be taught to children. This effort was mostly effective, leading to the first noticeable rise in speaker count since it began declining. By the 1880's, there would be upwards of 1,500 native speakers, a majority of them young.
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! colspan=2 rowspan=2 |  
! colspan=2 rowspan=2 |  
! colspan=3 | labial
! colspan=3 | labial
! colspan=3 | dental
! colspan=3 | alveolar
! colspan=3 | alveolar
! colspan=3 | velar
! colspan=3 | velar
|-
|-
! plain
! broad
! slender
! plain
! plain
! broad
! broad
Line 75: Line 79:
| mˠ
| mˠ
| mʲ
| mʲ
|
|
|
| n
| n
| nˠ
| nˠ
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| pˠ
| pˠ
| pʲ
| pʲ
|
|
|
| t
| t
| tˠ
| tˠ
| t͡ʃ
| tʲ
| colspan=2 | k
| colspan=2 | k
| c
| c
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| bˠ
| bˠ
| bʲ
| bʲ
|
|
|
| d
| d
| dˠ
| dˠ
| d͡ʒ
| dʲ
| colspan=2 | g
| colspan=2 | g
| ɟ
| ɟ
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| fˠ
| fˠ
| fʲ
| fʲ
| s, θ͇¹
| θ
| θˠ
| θʲ
| s
| sˠ
| sˠ
| ʃ
| ʃ
| h²
| h¹
| x
| x
| ç
| ç
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| vˠ
| vˠ
| vʲ
| vʲ
| ð
| ðˠ
| ðʲ
| z
| zˠ
| ʒ
| colspan=2 | ɣ
| ʝ
|-
! colspan=2 | Approximant
|  
|  
|  
|  
|  
|  
|
|-
! colspan=2 | Approximant
|  
|  
|  
|  
|  
|  
| r, l³
| r, l
| rˠ, lˠ
| rˠ, lˠ
| rʲ, ʎ
| rʲ, ʎ
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|}
|}


#Often plain /θ/
#/h/ merges with /x/ outside of Standard Scots Norse.
#/h/ merges with /x/ outside of Standard Scots Norse.
#Final "l" (not "ll") is often realized as /ʃ/.


{| class="wikitable" style="text-align: center;"
{| class="wikitable" style="text-align: center;"
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! Mid-High
! Mid-High
| e
| e
| (ə)
| rowspan=2 | (ə)
| o
| o
|-
|-
! Mid-Low
! Mid-Low
| ɛ
| ɛ
| (ʌ)
| ɔ
| ɔ
|-
|-
! Low
! Low
|  
| colspan=2 | a
| ɑ
| (ɒ)
| (ɒ)
|-
|-
|}
|}


#/ə, ʌ, ɒ/ are the unstressed realizations of /ɑ, ʊ, ɔ/.
#/ə, ɒ/ are the unstressed realizations of /a, ɔ/.
#/ʊ/ is most typically realized as [ɤ]
#/ʊ/ is most typically realized as [ɤ]


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Every vowel can appear nasalized, though nasalization only occurs in specific positions, and is always shown with a single N. (though not all single Ns are nasalization)
Every vowel can appear nasalized, though nasalization only occurs in specific positions, and is always shown with a single N. (though not all single Ns are nasalization)
*Word finally
*Word finally
*Before a fricative (S and H)
*Before a fricative (Though "nh" is /n̥/)
*In some irregular positions when loaned from another language.
*In some irregular positions when loaned from another language.


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these can be shown quite well through pronouns + lemma, as a pronoun exists that causes most of them (except soft).
these can be shown quite well through pronouns + lemma, as a pronoun exists that causes most of them (except soft).


Take these following examples:
The following gives an example using each of the nominative pronouns:
:''thù tàlir'' /ˈxu ˈto.ʎɪθ͇/ — "you speak"
:''e thàel'' /ˈɛ θoʎ/ — "I speak"
:''e thàli'' /ˈe ˈho.ʎɪ/— "I speak"
:''tù thàlarr'' /ˈtˠu ˈθo.lər/ — "you speak"
:''ha nhàlir'' /ˈha ˈn̥o.ʎɪθ͇/— "he speaks"
:''ha nhàlarr'' /ˈha n̥o.lər/ — "he speaks"
:''ho nhàlarr'' /ˈxɔ ˈn̥o.lər/ — "she speaks"
:''tat tàlarr'' /ˈtat ˈto.lər/ — "it/they (sg) speak(s)"
:''vit tòlu'' /vʲɪt tˠo.ɫɤ/ — "we speak"
:''it tòlud'' /ɪt tˠo.ɫɤd/ — "you (pl) speak"
:''tèrr tòl'' /ˈtʲer ˈtˠoɫ/ — "they (m/f) speaks"
:''tò thòl'' /ˈtˠo ˈθˠoɫ/ — "they (n) speak"


==Orthography==
==Orthography==
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There are two strong neuter, three masculine, and three feminine declensions. The masculine and feminine each have an A, an I, and an R stem, after the defining difference in the nominative singular of the Proto-Germanic form.
There are two strong neuter, three masculine, and three feminine declensions. The masculine and feminine each have an A, an I, and an R stem, after the defining difference in the nominative singular of the Proto-Germanic form.


Though the masculine a-stems tend for an -s genitive singular, and the i- and r-stems tend for -ar, there are many words that don't follow. The -i of the dative singular is frequently dropped from many words, particularly in the i-declension. Bisyllabic proper names originally in -arr or -urr, such as Einarr (modern "Ènar" /ˈe.nəθ͇/) and Gizurr (modern "Gisur" /ˈɟɪ.sʌθ͇/) do not contract as hamarr ("hamr-") before an inflectional syllable.
Though the masculine a-stems tend for an -s genitive singular, and the i- and r-stems tend for -ar, there are many words that don't follow.


First to be shown will be the masculine patterns, then the feminines, and lastly the neuters, with several examples for each pattern.
First to be shown will be the masculine patterns, then the feminines, and lastly the neuters, with several examples for each pattern. Take notice of how the case system is starting to collapse.


=====Masculines=====
These first few are masculine a-stems.
These first few are masculine a-stems.
{{snon-decl-m-a|eld|n=n-|l=ch-|fc=d}}
{{snon-decl-m-a|eld|1l=h-eld|1n=n-eld}}
{{snon-decl-m-a|àt|òt|n=nh|c=h|l=ch|fc=t}}
{{snon-decl-m-a|hàt|hòt|1e=hàet|1l='àt|2l='òt|1el='àet|1n=nhàt|2n=nhòt|1en=nhàet}}
{{snon-decl-m-a|àmar|omr|amr|amar|n=nh|c=h|l=ch}}
{{snon-decl-m-a|hàmar|hòmar|1l='àmar|2l='òmar|1n=nhàmar|2n=nhòmar}}
Due to many sound changes, "hamare" is quite irregular, this following table is more colloquial spellings that better show pronunciation.
{{snon-decl-m-a|àmar|onr|anr|anar|n=nh|c=h|l=ch}}
And an uncontracted form (which is regular):
{{snon-decl-m-a|àmar|òmar|n=nh|c=h|l=ch|fc=r}}
 






=====Feminines=====
{{snon-decl-f-ōn|aerv|orv|1l=h-aerv|2l=h-orv|1n=n-aerv|2n=n-orv}}






=====Neuters=====
Here we have the neuter a-stem.
Here we have the neuter a-stem.
{{snon-decl-n-a|ost|ost|c=p|n=mh|l=ph|fc=t}}
{{snon-decl-n-a|post|post|1e=poest|1l=phost|1n=most|1en=moest|2n=most}}
In "post", notice the lack of change in the nom/acc plural, this is due to umlaut only occuring on -a- in this pattern, as in this next pattern.
In "post", notice the lack of change in the nom/acc plural, this is due to umlaut only occuring on -a- in this pattern, as in this next pattern.
{{snon-decl-n-a|àl|òl|c=m|n=mm|l=mh|fc=l}}
{{snon-decl-n-a|màl|mòl|1e=màel|1l=mhàel|1n=màel|1en=màel|2n=mòl}}
Now here in "màl", notice how the difference is present.
Now here in "màl", notice how the difference is present.


===Adjectives===
===Adjectives===
As with nouns, the definiteness distinction has been lost in adjectives, though it was lost far earlier than in nouns, this is attributed to the increasing reliance on the noun for definiteness. (Which itself too eventually fell to the use of "hi")
As with nouns, the definiteness distinction has been lost in adjectives, though it was lost far earlier than in nouns, this is attributed to the increasing reliance on the noun for definiteness. (Which itself too eventually fell to the use of "hi")
{{snon-decl-adj|sèl|r=sèl|fc=l|lem=sèl}}
 
The forms of adjectives quickly began falling together, with the nominative/accusative distinction being lost quite early on.
{{snon-decl-adj|sèl|r=l}}


===Prepositions===
===Prepositions===
Scots Norse has developed a system of inflected prepositions from the reduction of pronouns, these were eventually interpreted as part of the preposition rather than a pronoun as they had diverged so far from them.
Scots Norse has a very, very simple system of inflected prepositions, only inflecting for person and number, but never for case or gender, likely because it can usually be told through context.


{{snon-infl-prep|lem=ì|r=in|rm=im|rl=inh|dl=innh|nl=innh}}
A large amount of speakers simply don't use inflected prepositions, though the majority does.


{{snon-infl-prep|lem=ì|in|1l=inh|1ol=ionh|1v=im}}




{{snon-infl-prep|lem=at|r=at|rm=an|rl=ath|dl=atth|rv=ad|rln=anh}}
 
{{snon-infl-prep|til|1l=tilh|1ol=tiolh|1v=tilv}}


===Verbs===
===Verbs===
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The stative doesn't exist for every verb, but the forms are still displayed for convenience's sake.
The stative doesn't exist for every verb, but the forms are still displayed for convenience's sake.
The original mediopassive indicative only remains in a small set of verbs acting as a reciprocal, typically physical actions taken towards others, like {{lang|snon|{{term|}}}} ("to fight"), {{lang|snon|{{term|slà}}}} ("to hit"), {{lang|snon|{{term|}}}} ("to embrace"), as well as a few abstract verbs, such as {{lang|snon|{{term|}}}} ("to love"). Otherwise it's been replaced by {{lang|snon|{{term|hìnu n-onnu}}}}
====Strong verbs====
====Strong verbs====
Strong verbs have survived rather well into Scots Norse, at times weak verbs have been made strong (though the opposite has also happened).
=====Class 1=====
=====Class 1=====
=====Class 2=====
=====Class 2=====
Line 648: Line 679:
=====Class 6=====
=====Class 6=====
=====Class 7=====
=====Class 7=====
====Weak verbs====
====Weak verbs====
=====Class 1=====
=====Class 1=====
The original distinction between "heavy" and "light" stems has long been lost in Scots Norse, the distinction between them having either been leveled out or sound changes led to its loss.
The original distinction between "heavy" and "light" stems has long been lost in Scots Norse, the distinction between them having either been leveled out or sound changes led to its loss.


{{snon-conj-weak1|mèl|mèlt|fc=l}}
{{snon-conj-weak1|mèl|mèlt|1o=mèol|2o=mèolt}}


=====Class 2=====
=====Class 2=====
{{snon-conj-weak2|tàl|tòl|fc=l}}
{{snon-conj-weak2|tàl|tàldh|1e=tàel|2e=tàeldh|1u=tòl|2u=tòldh}}


=====Class 3=====
=====Class 3=====
Line 671: Line 703:


'''Scots Norse''':
'''Scots Norse''':
:{{lang|snon|alir me n-èru bornir phriàlsir o chiabhnir, bhèrdi bhirdhingar o rhètti ather. thèr èru alir gaèddir bhìti o shamhiscu, o shculu gèrr bhàr til annarr bhròdhurligg.}}
:{{lang|snon|alirr me n-èor bhornirr friàlsirr o hiavnirr, hàevn vhirding h-o rhèot h-at tèrr. tèrr èor h-alirr vìt ghaèddirr o shanviosc, h-o shcùl ghaèr vhàrr til anarr bhròdhurligh.}}
:(alir me n-èru bornir bhriàlsir o chiabhnir, bhèrdi bhirdhingar o rhètti ather. thèr èru alir gaèddir bhìti o shamhiscu, o shculu gèrr bhàr til annarr bhròdhurligg.)
:(alirr me n-èor bhornirr friàlsirr o hiavnirr, hàevn vhirding h-o rhèot h-at tèrr. tèrr èor h-alirr vìt ghaèddirr o shanviosc, h-o shcùl ghaèr vhàrr til anarr bhròdhurligh.)
:/ˈa.ʎɪθ mʲɛ ɲe.rˠʌ ˈbɔr.ɪθ ˈvrʲu.ʃɪθ ɒ ˈça.ɲɪθ ˈvʲer.d͡ʒɪ ˈvʲɪr.ɪŋ.ɡəθ ɒ r̥ʲe.t͡ʃɪ ə.çɛθ | çeθ ˈe.rˠʌ ˈa.ʎɪθ ˈɡe.d͡ʒɪθ vʲi.t͡ʃɪ ɒ ˈha.ˌm̥ʲɪs.kʌ ɒ ˈhkʰɤ.lʌ ˈɟer ˈvoθ ˈt͡ʃʰɪʃ ˈa.nər ˈvrˠo.ər.ʎɪɡ/
:/ˈa.ʎɪr ˈmʲɛ ˈɲeɾˠ ˈvˠɔrˠ.ɲɪrˠ ˈfʲrʲol.ʃɪrʲ ɔ ˈçav.ɲɪrʲ ˈhovʲɲ ˈvʲɪrʲ.dʲɪŋ hɔ ˈɾʲetˠ çətʲ tʲerʲ ˈtʲerʲ ˈeɾ ˈha.ʎɪr ˈvʲitʲ ˈɣe.dʲɪrʲ ɔ ˈhã.vɪsˠk hɔ ʰkul ˈɣeɾʲ ˈɣor tʲɪʎ ˈa.ɲərʲ ˈvˠrˠo.ðˠur.ʎɪʝ/


:'''English translation'''
:'''English translation'''

Latest revision as of 19:56, 13 April 2026


Scots Norse
Sudhraèsc
Pronunciation[sˠɤðˠ.ˈreʃc]
Created byMelinoë
DateApril 3rd, 2026
Native toSuðreyjar
EthnicityNorse Scots
Native speakers(L1) 2,000 (2019)
(L2) < 50,000
Early forms
Dialects
  • Inner South
  • Inner Central
  • Inner North
  • Outer South
  • Outer North
Official status
Official language in
Scotland
Scots Norse is classified as critically endangered by the UNESCO Atlas of the World's Languages in Danger
This article contains IPA phonetic symbols. Without proper rendering support, you may see question marks, boxes, or other symbols instead of Unicode characters. For an introductory guide on IPA symbols, see Help:IPA.

Scots Norse (Also Sodor Norse; endonym: Sudhraèsc; /sˠɤðˠ.ˈreʃc/) is a West Nordic language, making it closer to Icelandic and Faroese than Swedish or Danish. It is natively spoken throughout Suðreyjar, being the dominant language of the isles. It has recieved heavy influence from Scots Gaelic over the last several centuries, contributing heavily to the spelling conventions of the language, and likely being the primary pushing force behind the development of the broad/slender distinction in Scots Norse.

Scots Norse is typically split into two main dialect groups, Inner and Outer, corresponding to the Inner and Outer Hebrides, these are further divided into North and South for both, with a Central division for Inner. These dialects are almost entirely mutually intelligible within their groups, and mostly so even between the groups. Uniting all of these is the standardized form, Hàsudraèsc, literally meaning "High Scots Norse". ("high" as in "exalted")

Scots Norse is hard to classify type-wise, as it shows signs of creolization, but not to the extent where it could typically be classed as a creole, this leads to the branching from Insular West Norse into so-called "Gaelo-Nordic", characterized by the partial creolization of Old West Norse with Middle Irish and Scots Gaelic. Regardless how it is classed, Scots Norse is with no doubt some kind of mixed language.

History

Pre-Modern

Scots Norse originates in the mid to late 13th century, around the time Suðreyjar was handed over to Scotland with the Treaty of Perth. Though the language would continue to be largely unchanged from the Old Norse of the 12th century, 1266AD is often used as a dividing date between Old Norse and the earliest forms of Scots Norse. While 1266 is a relatively arbitrary date, it serves its purpose as a convenient divide between two stages, as following the Treaty of Perth, the Hebrides would gain a much larger population of Gaelic and English speakers (At this point still Middle Irish and Middle English), and from roughly 1450AD onward, Scots Norse would be increasingly influenced by Scots Gaelic and, to a lesser extent, Scots.

Having been spoken throughout Suðreyjar, Scots Norse had a dialect within the Isle of Mann (Scots Norse Monaèirr /mˠɒ.ˈneːrʲ/). Little is known about Manx Norse (Monaèsc /mˠɔ.ˈneʃc/), as it is very poorly recorded, the most extensive description being a short document from around 1500AD that contains a list of about 150 words, with a very poor description of the pronunciations. Though from this description we can gather that Manx Norse still had the dental fricatives that had been lost in other dialects (merging with t/d), we get this from the description "... these [th and dh] are like that of the Saxons' beloved þ or the Scots' [Gaels'] sounds of the same staves [=letters]."

Following the treaty of Perth, the usage of Norse began declining significantly, with evidence it was nearly extinct by 1550. A small revitalization occured in the mid 18th century when several of the last native speakers (at the time, Scots Norse had no more than 150 remaining speakers) gathered together to document the language so it could be taught to children. This effort was mostly effective, leading to the first noticeable rise in speaker count since it began declining. By the 1880's, there would be upwards of 1,500 native speakers, a majority of them young.

Modern

Modern Scots Norse is typically classed as critically endangered due to how few speakers it has, having no more than 2,500 native speakers as of 2020, and virtually all of them live in the Hebrides, making it extremely limited.

Since the early 1990's, Scots Norse has gained a small but dedicated community of linguists that are determined to further document it and make resources more readily available. As of 2018, an online course has been published that goes over Standard Scots Norse, and it has been continually updated since then, improving the quality and extent of the contents, having started out as a rather barebones description of the phonology, orthography, and rudimentary grammar.

Phonology

labial dental alveolar velar
plain broad slender plain broad slender plain broad slender plain broad slender
Nasal m mˠ mʲ n nˠ ɲ
Stop Unvoiced p pˠ pʲ t tˠ tʲ k c
Voiced b bˠ bʲ d dˠ dʲ g ɟ
Fricative Unvoiced f fˠ fʲ θ θˠ θʲ s sˠ ʃ h¹ x ç
Voiced v vˠ vʲ ð ðˠ ðʲ z zˠ ʒ ɣ ʝ
Approximant r, l rˠ, lˠ rʲ, ʎ j
  1. /h/ merges with /x/ outside of Standard Scots Norse.
Front Back
Unround Round
High i u
Near-High ɪ ʊ
Mid-High e (ə) o
Mid-Low ɛ ɔ
Low a (ɒ)
  1. /ə, ɒ/ are the unstressed realizations of /a, ɔ/.
  2. /ʊ/ is most typically realized as [ɤ]

Long vowels have long been lost, though their effects remain prominently, influencing the languages stress patterns heavily.

Every vowel can appear nasalized, though nasalization only occurs in specific positions, and is always shown with a single N. (though not all single Ns are nasalization)

  • Word finally
  • Before a fricative (Though "nh" is /n̥/)
  • In some irregular positions when loaned from another language.

Prosody

The rules for stress are very slightly more complex than they were in Old Norse, but not by much.

Stress always goes on the left-most syllable possible. When there are vowels with a grave, stress goes to the first one, skipping over all vowels without one. (so sudhraèir is stressed on "aèi")

Mutation

Since Old Norse, initial consonant mutations have began developing. Scots Norse has several forms:

radical (basic)
lenited
nasal
soft

these can be shown quite well through pronouns + lemma, as a pronoun exists that causes most of them (except soft).

The following gives an example using each of the nominative pronouns:

e thàel /ˈɛ θoʎ/ — "I speak"
tù thàlarr /ˈtˠu ˈθo.lər/ — "you speak"
ha nhàlarr /ˈha n̥o.lər/ — "he speaks"
ho nhàlarr /ˈxɔ ˈn̥o.lər/ — "she speaks"
tat tàlarr /ˈtat ˈto.lər/ — "it/they (sg) speak(s)"
vit tòlu /vʲɪt tˠo.ɫɤ/ — "we speak"
it tòlud /ɪt tˠo.ɫɤd/ — "you (pl) speak"
tèrr tòl /ˈtʲer ˈtˠoɫ/ — "they (m/f) speaks"
tò thòl /ˈtˠo ˈθˠoɫ/ — "they (n) speak"

Orthography

Doubled consonants are essentially identical to singular ones, the exceptions will be placed in the table, and as a general rule, doubled initial consonants are long, composing the only geminates in the language.

Morphology

Nouns

A major development in nouns is the complete loss of the definite forms, being replaced by the independent "hinn", which precedes the noun, triggering nasal mutation in some forms.

Strong nouns

There are two strong neuter, three masculine, and three feminine declensions. The masculine and feminine each have an A, an I, and an R stem, after the defining difference in the nominative singular of the Proto-Germanic form.

Though the masculine a-stems tend for an -s genitive singular, and the i- and r-stems tend for -ar, there are many words that don't follow.

First to be shown will be the masculine patterns, then the feminines, and lastly the neuters, with several examples for each pattern. Take notice of how the case system is starting to collapse.

Masculines

These first few are masculine a-stems.

Inflection of eld (masculine a-stem)
indefinite singular plural
nominative eldᶫ eldar
accusative eld eldᶫ
dative eldᶫ elduᶰ
genitive eldᶫ eldᶫ
definite singular plural
nominative hìn h-eldᶫ hìnirr eldar
accusative hìna n-eld hìnirr eldᶫ
dative hìnu n-eldᶫ hìnu n-elduᶰ
genitive hin h-eldᶫ hinn h-eldᶫ

ᶰ: triggers nasal mutation
ᶫ: triggers lenition

Inflection of hàet (masculine a-stem)
indefinite singular plural
nominative hàetᶫ hàtar
accusative hàt hàetᶫ
dative hàetᶫ hòtuᶰ
genitive hàtᶫ hàetᶫ
definite singular plural
nominative hìn 'àetᶫ hìnirr hàtar
accusative hìna nhàt hìnirr hàetᶫ
dative hìnu nhàetᶫ hìnu nhòtuᶰ
genitive hin 'àtᶫ hinn 'àetᶫ

ᶰ: triggers nasal mutation
ᶫ: triggers lenition

Inflection of hàmar (masculine a-stem)
indefinite singular plural
nominative hàmarᶫ hàmarar
accusative hàmar hàmarᶫ
dative hàmarᶫ hòmaruᶰ
genitive hàmarᶫ hàmarᶫ
definite singular plural
nominative hìn 'àmarᶫ hìnirr hàmarar
accusative hìna nhàmar hìnirr hàmarᶫ
dative hìnu nhàmarᶫ hìnu nhòmaruᶰ
genitive hin 'àmarᶫ hinn 'àmarᶫ

ᶰ: triggers nasal mutation
ᶫ: triggers lenition


Feminines
Inflection of aerv (feminine ōn-stem)
indefinite singular plural
nominative aervᶫ orvur
accusative orvᶫ orvur
dative orvᶫ orvuᶰ
genitive orvᶫ aervᶫ
definite singular plural
nominative hi n-aervᶫ hìnar orvur
accusative hìn h-orvᶫ hìnar orvur
dative hinn h-orvᶫ hìnu n-orvuᶰ
genitive hinnarr orvᶫ hinn h-aervᶫ

ᶰ: triggers nasal mutation
ᶫ: triggers lenition


Neuters

Here we have the neuter a-stem.

Inflection of post (neuter a-stem)
indefinite singular plural
nominative post post
accusative post post
dative poestᶫ postuᶰ
genitive postᶫ postᶫ
definite singular plural
nominative hit post hi most
accusative hit post hi most
dative hinu moestᶫ hinu mostuᶰ
genitive hin phostᶫ hinn phostᶫ

ᶰ: triggers nasal mutation
ᶫ: triggers lenition

In "post", notice the lack of change in the nom/acc plural, this is due to umlaut only occuring on -a- in this pattern, as in this next pattern.

Inflection of màl (neuter a-stem)
indefinite singular plural
nominative màl mòl
accusative màl mòl
dative màelᶫ mòluᶰ
genitive màlᶫ màlᶫ
definite singular plural
nominative hit màl hi mòl
accusative hit màl hi mòl
dative hinu màelᶫ hinu mòluᶰ
genitive hin mhàelᶫ hinn mhàelᶫ

ᶰ: triggers nasal mutation
ᶫ: triggers lenition

Now here in "màl", notice how the difference is present.

Adjectives

As with nouns, the definiteness distinction has been lost in adjectives, though it was lost far earlier than in nouns, this is attributed to the increasing reliance on the noun for definiteness. (Which itself too eventually fell to the use of "hi")

The forms of adjectives quickly began falling together, with the nominative/accusative distinction being lost quite early on.

Declension of sèl
positive singular plural
masculine feminine neuter masculine feminine neuter
nominative sèlᶫ sèl sèlt sèlirr sèlarr sèl
accusative sèlaᶰ sèlᶫ sèlt sèlirr sèlarr sèl
dative sèluᶰ sèllᶫ sèlu sèluᶰ sèluᶰ sèluᶰ
genitive sèlᶫ sèllarr sèlᶫ sèll sèll sèll

ᶰ: Triggers nasal mutation
ᶫ: Triggers lenition


Prepositions

Scots Norse has a very, very simple system of inflected prepositions, only inflecting for person and number, but never for case or gender, likely because it can usually be told through context.

A large amount of speakers simply don't use inflected prepositions, though the majority does.

Inflection of ì
1st 2nd 3rd
singular inᶫ ionhᶫ inhᶰ
plural imet int inhirr


Inflection of til
1st 2nd 3rd
singular tilᶫ tiolhᶫ tilhᶰ
plural tilvet tilt tilhirr

Verbs

Many significant changes have happened to the verb system since Old Norse, notably both the mood and voice distinctions have been lost. The active indicative has descended into the present and past tense, while the active subjunctive was lost entirely. The oppositive happened in the mediopassive, with the subjunctive becoming the future and stative, while the indicative was lost.

The stative doesn't exist for every verb, but the forms are still displayed for convenience's sake.

The original mediopassive indicative only remains in a small set of verbs acting as a reciprocal, typically physical actions taken towards others, like [Term?] ("to fight"), slà ("to hit"), [Term?] ("to embrace"), as well as a few abstract verbs, such as [Term?] ("to love"). Otherwise it's been replaced by hìnu n-onnu

Strong verbs

Strong verbs have survived rather well into Scots Norse, at times weak verbs have been made strong (though the opposite has also happened).

Class 1
Class 2
Class 3
Class 4
Class 5
Class 6
Class 7

Weak verbs

Class 1

The original distinction between "heavy" and "light" stems has long been lost in Scots Norse, the distinction between them having either been leveled out or sound changes led to its loss.

Conjugation of mèl (weak class 1)
present past future stative
infinitive mèlᶫ mèoltᶫ mèlust mèltust
participle mèlnᶫ mèltᶫ mèlnst mèlst
finites present past future stative
1sg. mèlᶫ mèltᶫ mèlunk mèltunk
2/3sg. mèlirr mèltirr mèlist mèltist
1pl. mèluᶰ mèltuᶰ mèlinst mèltinst
2pl. mèlud mèltud mèlist mèltist
3pl. mèolᶫ mèoltᶫ mèlist mèltist


Class 2
Conjugation of tàel (weak class 2)
present past future stative
infinitive tàelᶫ tòldhᶫ tòlust tòldhust
participle tàelnᶫ tàeldhᶫ tàelnst tàlst
finites present past future stative
1sg. tàelᶫ tàeldhᶫ tòlunk tòldhunk
2/3sg. tàlirr tàldhirr tàlist tàldhist
1pl. tòluᶰ tòldhuᶰ tàlinst tàldhinst
2pl. tòlud tòldhud tàlist tàldhist
3pl. tòlᶫ tòldhᶫ tàlist tàldhist


Class 3

Suppletive verbs

Syntax

Texts

UDHR Article 1

Original (English):

All human beings are born free and equal in dignity and rights. They are endowed with reason and conscience and should act towards one another in a spirit of brotherhood.

Old Norse (modern translation):

Allir menn eru bornir frjálsir ok jafnir at virðingu ok réttum. Þeir eru allir viti gœddir ok samvizku, ok skulu gøra hvárr til annars bróðurliga.

Scots Norse:

alirr me n-èor bhornirr friàlsirr o hiavnirr, hàevn vhirding h-o rhèot h-at tèrr. tèrr èor h-alirr vìt ghaèddirr o shanviosc, h-o shcùl ghaèr vhàrr til anarr bhròdhurligh.
(alirr me n-èor bhornirr friàlsirr o hiavnirr, hàevn vhirding h-o rhèot h-at tèrr. tèrr èor h-alirr vìt ghaèddirr o shanviosc, h-o shcùl ghaèr vhàrr til anarr bhròdhurligh.)
/ˈa.ʎɪr ˈmʲɛ ˈɲeɾˠ ˈvˠɔrˠ.ɲɪrˠ ˈfʲrʲol.ʃɪrʲ ɔ ˈçav.ɲɪrʲ ˈhovʲɲ ˈvʲɪrʲ.dʲɪŋ hɔ ˈɾʲetˠ çətʲ tʲerʲ ˈtʲerʲ ˈeɾ ˈha.ʎɪr ˈvʲitʲ ˈɣe.dʲɪrʲ ɔ ˈhã.vɪsˠk hɔ ʰkul ˈɣeɾʲ ˈɣor tʲɪʎ ˈa.ɲərʲ ˈvˠrˠo.ðˠur.ʎɪʝ/
English translation
lit: "all men are born free and equal, being dignity and rights at them. they are all endowed to reason and to conscience, and should act each to others to brotherly(ness)"
"all men are born free and equal, having dignity and rights. they are all endowed with reason and conscience, and should act to eachother as a brotherhood"

Lexical comparison

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