He lowered the bucket at the well to bring up water, filling his two buckets. Footsteps caused him to look up.
The coming king (nicholas reicher)
A Scottish Girl his own age stood regarding him. There was some confusion in her features.
“Are ye new here?” She asked.
“I am.” He said.
“English.” Her eyebrows raised. “Yer English, aren’t ye?”
“English, and Scottish now.” He said.
“How can ye be Scottish and English? Aren’t ye one or the other?” She tipped her head, waiting for an answer that made sense.
“I am now William MacLeod.” He said.
“Oh, and who were ye before?” A hint of a smile played on her lips. She was enjoying the word games.
“William of York.” He said.
“Ah. Ye are English.” She said.
“Naughton MacLeod adopted me last night.” He said. “He says I am a Scot now.”
“Ach. And where did ye come from then?” She let the buckets down, waiting for his answer.
“Powys, Wales.”
“Ye come from Wales and yer not Welsh?” She laughed. “Tell me, English!”
“I’ve been in Wales for a few months.” William said.
“Ach. I can hear it in yer voice.” She admitted. “Give it a year in the Highlands, and ye won’t sound English any more.”
“Aynglish.” He said. “So different from how the Welsh say it.”
“Yer makin’ fun a me, are ye now?” She said.
This scene from my novel “A Coming King” used extensive Highland Scottish speech patterns. I’ve got a disclaimer coming in a second, so before UK readers cry foul, let me explain.
William and Tira are both young, around sixteen years old. William is by rights the King of England, but his throne has been supplanted by King Henry IV. Tira MacAllister is a Highland Scot, living near Skye.
Every modern Scot seems to think their Scottish speech pattern is the only authentic one. Sure, they’re aware of differences, but if someone from America speaks with that speech pattern or accent, they ridicule them.
In the past I’ve demonstrated the difference between authentic Highland Scottish accents and Irish accents by using a single scene from “Braveheart”. William Wallace’s father says “Go home, boy, or ye’ll feel the back o’ me hand!” Irish accent.
Williams brother… “Go ahaeme, William.” Scottish Accent.
I don’t rely on this movie alone – I knew a couple of Scottish immigrants to the US, and theirs is the speech pattern I copied. Certainly I’m aware that Scottish papers mocked Mel Gibson’s accent. Never mind that I’ve met a Highland Scot who had the same accent. Or that there was five or six Scottish national actors in the movie with similar accents.
There’s upper class Highland, middle class (or professional) Highland, and lower class Highland. But there’s also Skye, Lewis, Glascow, Aberdeen – a whole host of accents that range from an almost Irish lilt to a British accent with a hint of the Scottish Gaelic glottal stops to the full blown, every day man Isle of Skye Highland Scot – which is what I was aiming for.
There’s also the difference between men who need to project authority in their voice versus those who try to project an educated air. Personally, I still think the common Highland accent sounds educated without sounding British. Be yourself!
What I wanted to project was the difference in speech patterns between upperclass British, Welsh, common Welsh and Scottish accents. I used both lowland common, Edinburgh (or what would have been Edinburgh at the time) Highland Macleod and Highland Campbell. Today not as much difference in speech of differing Highland clans, but six hundred years ago there would have been – Highland clans tended to stay together. This is reflected in the fact that some US MacLeods sometimes address one another as “cousin”, including associated sub-clans like the MacLures.
Generalizing occurs in novels, because you’ve got too much work to do, too much to convey, and you have to do it in as few words as possible.
This scene shows the variety in speech patterns in Scottish accents and speech patterns. Understand that modern Scottish differs slightly. The accents have softened. But before UK readers critique me unfairly, I’ll remind you that Naughton’s speech pattern literally is that of a Scot I’ve met.
“Someone coming.” A Scot at the gate said.
the coming king (nicholas reicher)
“Tis Lord Stewart of Rothesay.” MacAllister said.
David Stewart came in, standing in front of William. “Ye are unharmed, I hope.”
“Aye.” William said.
“Who were the traitors?” Stewart asked.
“That was Campbell and his sons, with English assassins.” Naughton said. “I cannae believe Jude Campbell would try to betray ye.”
“That explains why he was going through the crowds, trying to convince everyone against William.” Stewart said. “Never in my life have I seen anyone fight like that.”
“He did well.” Sir John said. “A bit slow with the backhand.”
“I’m working on it.” William said.
“From now on, nobody gets close to William ever again.” MacAllister said.
“Fond o’ the lad?” Naughton grinned.
“I dinnae want to tell my daughter her suitor was killed.” MacAllister rumbled.
“Words say little. Deeds say much.” Stewart said. “The English tried to kill ye tonight.”
“Aye.” William said.
“Ye struck them down with no hesitation.” Stewart said. “I believe what ye said.”
The “Ye” is used commonly throughout the book, for all. This reflects the more common English usage of the 17th century. It would be unreadable to use the Middle English of the 14th-15th century – to reflect that, all “Ye’s” are singular, all the “you’s” are plural. “Aye” is used as an affirmation for the same reason.
There’s an unconscious trait of men trying to project an aura of being a warrior – men always deepen their voices. The more deep in the chest the voice resonates, the stronger one appears. Considering the time of 1399-1400, Scotland was still having to fight off British invasions, sometimes only from British lords who sent their men on raids to seize Scottish cattle and sheep, sometimes to stop British lords from seizing Scottish lands. Henry IV’s rule was either too tenuous to interfere, or too indifferent.
So the speech patterns here reflect this. Notice that you read MacAllister’s voice as deep, rumbling.
If I did my job correctly, you now have a handle on the personalities of William, Tira, her father, Naughton MacLeod, and David Stewart. The speech patterns and bantering show status and personality. MacLeod is the chieftain of the MacLeods, and yet addresses MacAllister as almost an equal.
You know the playing field from two scenes, if I did my job right.
Notice the respect that David Stewart is showing William. He’s accepted William’s story that he’s the King of England – Stewart is in line to be the King of Scotland. In these two sentences I’ve shown Stewart’s respect for William as a warrior, acknowledging and supporting his claim to the throne, and a promise of alliance.
Oh, and if you’re a Lewis of MacLeod, you’ll love the constant references to the Lewises as the most violent and fearsome of Scots. Other Scots may be offended, but hey…
The Lewises used to rob your ancestors.
That’s tough. Anyone who could rob the toughest warriors in all of Europe has to be really vicious and tough!
