Knappin an kn-

Tae knap in Shaetlan means tae spaek English (in a akwirt wye). Da wird knap originally meant 'tae doose, ding' in baith Middle English an Aald Scots. Bit hit's bøn øsed wi da meaneen o “tae spaek in a akwirt wye" fae at laest 1581.

Hit's pronounced /knap/ wi da <kn> seid jüst laek it's spelt, k- + -n-. In fact de'r a braa few peerie plaesses in Shetland whar <kn> is seid in full, so at knife, knowe, knee, knot etc is pronounced /knaɪf/, /knau/, /kni:/ an /knɒt/ (no /nʌɪf/, /ni:/, /nɒt/ laek wi StE, whar da k- isna pronounced). Dis is laek idder Germanic languages, whar baith da k- an da -n- is soonded oot, laek in da German Knie (/kni:/) an Swedish knä (/knæ:/), 'knee'. Da k- in wirds laek knife, knot an knee cam tae be unspokken aboot da 16C idda English varieties, bit ithin Scots varieties yun cheinge happent laetter. Bi noo kn- pronunciations is completely geen fae maist Scots varieties. Hit could be at Shaetlan is keepit dis pronunciation trowe hit bein fun in da Scandinavan substrate firbye.

App: Pink Trombone by Neil Thapen