1. The Dictionary of Scots Language
5/3/2018 6:27 AM
The Dictionary of Scots Language
How to Use the DSL
© 2007 Microsoft Corporation. All rights reserved. Microsoft, Windows, Windows Vista and other product names are or may be registered trademarks and/or trademarks in the U.S. and/or other countries.
The information herein is for informational purposes only and represents the current view of Microsoft Corporation as of the date of this presentation. Because Microsoft must respond to changing market conditions, it should not be interpreted to be a commitment on the part of Microsoft, and Microsoft cannot guarantee the accuracy of any information provided after the date of this presentation. MICROSOFT MAKES NO WARRANTIES, EXPRESS, IMPLIED OR STATUTORY, AS TO THE INFORMATION IN THIS PRESENTATION.

2. 5/3/2018 6:27 AM
What is the DSL?
The Dictionary of the Scots Language is used by researchers, writers and educationalists nationally and internationally who are interested in Scots. Senior students use the resource too.
Scottish Language Dictionaries has a range of publications and expertise which can support work in Scots with learners. The Concise Scots Dictionary and The Essential Scots Dictionary are used in schools. The Scots Dictionary for Schools app includes some audio and is free to download from app stores.
© 2007 Microsoft Corporation. All rights reserved. Microsoft, Windows, Windows Vista and other product names are or may be registered trademarks and/or trademarks in the U.S. and/or other countries.
The information herein is for informational purposes only and represents the current view of Microsoft Corporation as of the date of this presentation. Because Microsoft must respond to changing market conditions, it should not be interpreted to be a commitment on the part of Microsoft, and Microsoft cannot guarantee the accuracy of any information provided after the date of this presentation. MICROSOFT MAKES NO WARRANTIES, EXPRESS, IMPLIED OR STATUTORY, AS TO THE INFORMATION IN THIS PRESENTATION.

3. Using DSL
To access the Dictionary of the Scots Language go to

4. Example: clype

5. Example: clype (continued)
Results

6. Example: clype (Structure of Entries)
Headword
Variants
Parts of speech
Pronunciation

7. Example: clype (Structure of Entries)
Senses
Compounds
Etymology

8. Getting Started: Your turn
A. Look up one of the following Scots words:
bide glaikit heid
B. Identify some of the different parts of the ‘Structure of Entries’:
Headword, variants, parts of speech, pronunciation, senses, compounds, etymology.

9. Getting Started: ‘Peever’
Put the word peever in to the Quick Search box on the top right of your screen.
How many results are there for the word peever?
Are they all relevant to the meaning you were looking for?

10. Getting Started: ‘Peever’
2. Now click on Advanced Search and put peever in to the Advanced Search box.
Look at the differences from the ‘quick search’.
When would the advanced search be more useful to you?

11. Advanced Search

12. Getting Started: ‘Peever’
3. Now tick the ‘Exclude Quotations’ box.
Among other things, this will give you definitions for peever without any quotations.
Jot down one of the definitions you find.
When would you choose this option?

13. Exclude Quotations

14. Boolean search Q. What is a Boolean search?
A. A Boolean search allows you to combine words and phrases using the words AND, OR and NOT (otherwise known as Boolean operators) to limit or widen your search.

15. Boolean Search - Task
Some Scots speakers use the Scots word peever for hopscotch and some use the word beds.
You can explore quotations which relate to either or both of these words using the Boolean search option. Please note you need to select the advanced search box to do this.

16. Boolean Search - Task
Put peever AND beds in to the Advanced Search box. This will find entries which include both words. The AND must be in upper case. Remember to put in spaces around the word AND.
Now try peever OR beds. Remember OR needs to be in upper case.
How have these two searches differed?

17. Boolean Search- Task

18. Peever AND beds: Result

19. Peever OR beds

20. Peever OR beds: Result

21. Wildcards
If you are interested in a longer word which might start with peever and you are not sure of the ending, you can use the wildcard option.
In online searches, you can use ? for one missing letter or * for a few missing letters. You can use wildcards in either the Quick Search option or in Advanced Search.

22. Wildcards: Task
1. Enter peever? in to the Advanced Search box; the ? indicates that one letter is missing.
2. Enter peever* in to the Advanced search box. The * indicates that a few letters are missing.
In what way do these searches differ?
Did the search give you some options of words you might be interested in?

23. Peever?

24. Peever*

25. Using DSL: Your favourite words
You might like to do a couple of additional searches for information about your favourite Scots words.
Check that you feel comfortable with the different search options.

26. Examples of Scots words
birl clap footer
auld feart thrawn
craitur neeps wifie