Phonetic Features
This type of distinctive features serves to create a unique word picture of a character complimenting its image as well as ensuring the reliability of the national communication space depicted in the text.
One of the features of the Scottish dialect given in the novel is the reduction of the last sound in the word. Here is the list of reductions found in the novel:
- the reduction of [g] in words with -ing / ng ending. It's important to mention that these words are not necessarily verbs in the form of Continuous and may belong to different parts of speech. In the course of the analysis about 250 words of this kind were found. Let's have a look at the table below to see what are the most frequently used.
"Outlander"
"Ye know, lass, it's fairly easy to be brave, sittin' in a warm tavern ower a glass of ale."- You know, girl, it's fairly easy to be brave, sitting in a warm tavern over a glass of ale.
- the reduction of [f] in reflexive pronouns. This feature is not frequently used, only about 5 words of this kind were found in the text.
"Outlander"
"We're pleased to see ye back in yer home, sir, and it's our hope, the lads and mysel' , as you'll soon be back to stay." - We're pleased to see you back in your home, sir, and it's our hope, the lads and myself, as you'll soon be back to stay.
"And I canna leave her for a minute, for fear she'll throw hersel' intae the water in her grief."- And I can't leave her for a minute, for fear she'll throw herself into the water in her grief.
- The other phonetic feature that is worth mentioning is negative form of modal verbs and the verb to be. In the Scots speech, the negative particle not is replaced by the particle na. This particle is used in conjunction with the verbs, in contrast to the particle not. This phonetic feature may be considered as a case of the reduction of the sound [t], in which the vowel o changes to the vowel a. In the course of the analysis 480 words demonstrating this feature were revealed, you can find some of them in the table below:
"Outlander"
"I canna even remember all their names." - I cannot even remember all their names.
"It wasna your fault." - It wasn't your fault.
"It wasna your fault." - It wasn't your fault.
Here is the list of words that suffered reduction as well bit cannot be sorted out according to one paticular pattern :
Wi' = With
O' = of
Ha' = Have/ has/ had
Awa' = Away
Ca' = Call
Wi' = With
O' = of
Ha' = Have/ has/ had
Awa' = Away
Ca' = Call
"Outlander"
"You can hold the reins, if Jamie canna manage one-handed, but do ye take care to keep close wi' the rest of us". - You can hold the reins, if Jamie can't manage one-handed, but do you take care to keep close with the rest of us.
"Ye should ca' your master now, laddie. He'll do no good tae the mill or himsel". - You should call your master now, boy. He'll do no good to the mill or himself.
"Ye should ca' your master now, laddie. He'll do no good tae the mill or himsel". - You should call your master now, boy. He'll do no good to the mill or himself.
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