History of The Scots Language - Pre-literary Scots

Pre-literary Scots

The nature of early forms of the language are obscure due to Viking plundering and destruction, Edward I's removal of the national records and their subsequent loss, the destruction of the monasteries in border warfare, and vandalism during the Reformation. It is difficult to assess whether Scots descends largely from the Old English of Lothian or the Anglo-Danish of Yorkshire introduced some four hundred years later, which would explain the Norse elements in Early Scots which are lacking in Northumbrian Old English. Current insights into pre-literary Scots stem largely from place-names, archaeology and a few words in Latin documents.