The main purpose of this page is to illustrate the complexity of detail contained in the SGDS.  This is demonstrated by taking an apparently simple 3-letter word and examining each of the letters in turn. 

 

Letter 'R'

Although four variations for this letter are shown, the information given  in the survey is, in fact, considerably more sophisticated, with various ancillary diacritic marks used in conjunction with the four phonetic symbols shown on the 'rud (R)' map.

The Survey (Vol I  pp131-133) defines these symbols as follows:

'r': voiced alveolar trill (two taps or one tap).

'R': velarized or neutral (i.e non-velarized) voiced alveolar trill (three or more taps).

'ɹ': voiced alveolar fricative.

'ʁ': velarized voiced alveolar fricative.

(NB this differs from the 'ʁ' used in the help website (below) where the symbol indicates a uvular 'r', as found, e.g., in French speech).

 

Blue smbols indicate a trilled 'r', with the diamonds stronger than the squares. The red symbols indicate a voiced, non trilled fricative 'r', again with the diamonds being stronger.  This 'r' is becoming increasingly found in Scottish speech, especially in younger people.

 

Letter 'U'

The Survey show a wide variation in this vowel sound. As with 'R', there are more variations within the categories selected on the attached map - variations of 'u' have been mapped in the section dealing with 'cù' in the Aspiration page

The vowel sounds are represented by the following IPA symbols:

u, ʊ, ɤ, ɯ, ø, e (Click on 'Help' below)

 

Letter 'D'

This is shown with two categories, 't' and 'd', though the Survey indicates there are variations within these e.g. in the Lochaber area, post-aspiration of the final 't' was found.