INGLIS

INGLIS [Pronounced /ˈɪŋlɪZ/ and /ˈɪŋlZ/]. The word for English in northern MIDDLE ENGLISH and Older SCOTS, used from the 14c by writers of Older Scots as the name of their language, which they saw as the same as the language of England. In the late 15c, such writers began using the national name Scottis (pronounced /ˈskotis/ and /skots/) for the language of Lowland Scotland and both terms continued in use as more or less free alternatives, Inglis predominating. Sometimes, however, 16c Scottish writers used Inglis for the language of England alone:Lyke as in Latyn beyn Grew termys sum,
So me behufyt quhilum, or than be dum,
Sum bastard Latyn, Franch or Inglys oys,
Quhar scant was Scottys.
( Gavin Douglas , Prologue to Book I, Æneid, 1513)
[Just as in Latin there are some Greek terms,
So it behoved me at times, rather than be dumb,
Some bastard Latin, French or English to use,
Where Scots was scant].


The term Scottis was opposed to Sotheroun or Suddroun (Southern: the English of England), a less ambiguous term than Inglis. Only from the early 18c was the present-day terminology consistently applied, Scots for the VERNACULAR of the Scottish Lowlands and English for the language of England and the standard variety being imported into Scotland.