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:''For other uses, see Scotch (disambiguation), Scottish (disambiguation), or Scots (disambiguation)''.
'Scotch' is an adjective meaning 'of Scotland', now usually considered pejorative by Scots. Common contemporary usage is 'Scottish' or 'Scots', but 'Scotch' is still in contemporary use outside Scotland without being considered archaic or pejorative. Many Scots consider that the word "Scotch" should only be applied to specific products, usually food or drink, such as scotch whisky, scotch pie, scotch broth or scotch eggs.

Contents

Decline in usage

See also

Footnotes

Decline in usage

The adjective or noun '''Scotch''' is an early modern English (16th century) contraction of the English word ''Scottish'' which was later adopted into the Scots language. It more or less replaced ''Scottish'' as the prevailing term in England. ''Scots'' (the modern Scots language form of early Scots ''Scottis''^[1]) predominated in Scotland until the 18th century when anglicisation became fashionable and ''Scotch'' was used in both England and Scotland.^[2] ''Welch'' (for ''Welsh'') is a similarly anglicised analogue of ''Scotch''.
From the early 19th century ''Scots'' or ''Scottish'' increasingly became the preferred usages among educated Scottish people, ''Scotch'' being regarded as an anglicised affectation. In modern usage in Scotland, "Scotch" is never used, other than as described in the following paragraph for a short list of articles; it has gathered patronising and faintly offensive connotations ("frugal with one's money")^[3] , and a non-Scot who uses the word in conversation with Scots as a description of them may find this a good test of their courtesy. The use of "Scots" and "Scottish" is not altogether consistent; but in many words and phrases one or the other is normally used: there is a certain tendency for "Scottish" to be used in more formal contexts.
In modern current English usage the general term for things from or pertaining to Scotland is ''Scottish''. ''Scots'' is used for the Scots language and Scots law, although one increasingly hears it used of people and organisations, especially in newspaper articles. ''Scotch'' remains in use only for phrases like Scotch broth, Scotch beef, Scotch egg, etc . One cynical joke is that ''Scotch'' can be used only for things which can be bought, such as whisky, eggs and politicians. Scotch terrier was once one of these legacy uses, but has increasingly been replaced with Scottish terrier.
Scotland was one of the first countries in the world to introduce compulsory education for all children in 1872 (England introduced it in 1880). The Scottish school system was placed under a "Scotch Education Department" with offices in London. In 1918, as a result of objections from within Scotland, the department was moved to Edinburgh and renamed the Scottish Education Department. This reflects the linguistic preferences of modern Scotland.
John Kenneth Galbraith in his book ''The Scotch'' (Toronto: MacMillan, 1964) documents how the descendants of 19th century pioneers from Scotland who settled in Southwestern Ontario affectionately referred to themselves as Scotch. He states the book was meant to give a true picture of life in the Scotch-Canadian community in the early decades of the 20th century.

See also

★ Scotch whisky

★ Scotch College

★ Scots-Irish American

★ Scots language

★ Scottish English

★ ''Tha Boord o Ulster-Scotch''

Footnotes

1. ''Inglis'' was the Early Scots word for ''English'', and the modern form can still be found in surnames and place names as Ingles or Inglis (IPA) e.g. Ingleston or Ingliston etc.
2. See for instance the title of a 1786 poem by Robert Burns, "On a Scotch Bard, Gone to the West Indies" (copy at robertburns.org) (copy at bartleby.com). A 1788 letter by Burns says in part: "Apropos, is not the Scotch phrase ''Auld lang syne'' exceedingly expressive? There is an old song and tune which has often thrilled through my soul. You know I am an enthusiast in old Scotch songs." ("Auld Lang Syne" in ''The Burns Encyclopedia'', at robertburns.org) Burns wrote of himself in 1787, "The appellation of a Scotch Bard, is by far my highest pride; to continue to deserve it is my most exalted ambition." ("National Bard, Scotland's", ''op. cit.'')
3. [http://www.answers.com/topic/scotch-1 Definition}