Southern Scots phonology is generally similar to that of the neighbouring
Central Scots varieties; however, some
vowel realisations may differ markedly. •
ch may be realised after
back vowels, for example (laugh) and (willow). The cluster
och is often realised , •
a (vowel 17) is often . Note final
a (vowel 12) in (away), (two) and (who) is often realised , often written , and in dialect writing. •
aw and
au (vowel 12) may be realised rather than or as in Central Scots dialects, for example (all), (cold), (handsome), (fall) and (snow), often written using in dialect writing. • In some areas
ai or
a(consonant)
e (vowel 4 or 8) may be realised rather that , for example (both), (broad), , (clothes), (grope), (cole), (load), (loaf), , (rope), (soap) often written , , , , , , , , , , in dialect writing. When the vowel occurs initially the realisation is often for example , (oak), , (oats), , (one) and (once) often written , , , , and in dialect writing. Similarly after in (whole), (home) and (hoarse) often written , and in dialect writing. The realisation may also occur for final
ae in for example (foretell). • In some varieties
e (vowel 16) may be realised
owe (root final) (vowel 13) may be rather than in (bow), (hollow), (knoll), (overturn), (ewe), etc. •
ui (vowel 7) is often realised or , however an unrounded realisation as in Central Scots is now widespread, for example, (above), (ankle) and (good). Unrounding to is now common in (ado), (board), (do), (floor), (ford), (shoe) and (to~too). == Grammar ==