Research project
New perspectives on English in Scotland
Exploring the language of the lower classes in the nineteenth century
Traditional histories of English primarily focus on the development of written Standard English in England. Moreover, due to the social stratification of literacy, the “standard” history is largely based on materials that reflect the language of higher classes. This project aims to adjust the traditional view by (1) shifting the focus to Standard English in Scotland and (2) exploring the hitherto underexposed role of the lower classes in shaping a unique variety of (written) Standard English in Scotland. This will be achieved by making available and studying unique lower-class material in the form of pauper letters from the nineteenth century.