Idioms in Scots

Legeny, Viola (2018) Idioms in Scots. MPhil(R) thesis, University of Glasgow.

Abstract

Despite much research and a great variety of literature on the subject of idioms, the borders of idiomaticity seem very difficult to define. This thesis aims to study how far prototype theory can assist us in the identification of idiom. By gathering and analysing the characteristics of idioms, it is possible to extrapolate gradience where certain features are more, or less prototypical thereby creating a scale of idioms instead of a clear-cut definition. The Scots material is suggested here as a case study: a language variety that is under-researched. This work analysis idioms on four levels: Function, Structure, Lexical and semantic levels. A methodology for a suggested extension of the idiom section of the Historical Thesaurus of Scots is also presented. Apart from adding to current research in Scots, this thesis also provides methodologies for gradience that can be applied to other languages too.

• Item Type: Thesis (MPhil(R))
• Qualification Level: Masters
• Keywords: Scots, Idioms, linguistics, thesaurus, prototype theory.
• Subjects: P Language and Literature > P Philology. Linguistics; P Language and Literature > PD Germanic languages; P Language and Literature > PF West Germanic
• Colleges/Schools: College of Arts & Humanities > School of Critical Studies > English Language and Linguistics
• Supervisor's Name: Smith, Professor Jeremy and Rennie, Dr. Susan
• Date of Award: 2018
• Depositing User: Ms Viola Legeny
• Unique ID: glathesis:2018-8694
• Copyright: Copyright of this thesis is held by the author.
• Date Deposited: 04 May 2018 09:45
• Last Modified: 16 May 2018 10:17
• URI: https://theses.gla.ac.uk/id/eprint/8694