Scottish Resistance through Language in Outlander by Diana Gabaldon
Scottish Resistance through Language in Outlander by Diana Gabaldon

Summary/Abstract: The use of non-standard language varieties in fiction is an effective writing technique, and at present, such varieties appear both in popular fiction and films or television series, incorporating specific linguistic, stylistic and cultural elements. The use of Scots in fiction and other cultural products is relevant to the study of the English language and culture, as there is an overlap between these varieties, due to their shared history and prolonged contact. There is much discussion on various websites on the use of Scots (and Scottish Gaelic) in the highly popular novel Outlander, by Diana Gabaldon, and its television adaptation. However, academic research conducted on the use of such language varieties in popular historical romance fiction is rather scarce.This study was conducted with a descriptive-analytical approach, performing a literature review on the topic of Scottish languages and their use in literature, and a comparative analysis of the selected first three chapters of the novel Outlander, the script for the first episode of the eponymous television series, and the episode itself. The use of Scots grammatical features and lexical items has been presented, and the use of Scottish symbols and other cultural elements in the selected texts and episode have been discussed. While the novel cannot be considered an authentic representation of Scottish identity and culture, the featuring of Scots in such a popular work of fiction and the internationally acclaimed television adaptation has generated interest in and discussion around the topics of Scottish languages, culture and history. Our intention throughout this article is to underline the role of Scots being used not only as an identity marker of its speakers but also as a form of resistance to the oppressive presence of the English on the Scottish territories.

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