Ulster Scots

Of all the varieties of English taken to Ireland since the 17^th century, Ulster Scots is the only one which has retained a distinct profile and which can be unambiguously linked to the present-day varieties to which it is immediately related: Scots in western Scotland. Undoubtedly, Ulster Scots, especially in its rural forms, is quite separate from other varieties of English in the north of Ireland, let alone the south. Its highly divergent nature has meant that much debate has taken place concerning its status as a language or a dialect.

The regions where Ulster Scots is spoken are nowadays no longer contiguous. This would seem to imply a reduction of the previous geographical distribution. The areas where it is still found do, however, represent historical regions of settlement. There are three of these located on the northern periphery from north-west to north-east, hence the term Coastal Crescent or Northern Crescent.