Modern Shetlandic Scots

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Modern Shetlandic Scots is a term commonly used among linguists when referring to the dialects spoken in the various parts of the archipelago which comprise Shetland. Also known as 'Shetlandic' in English discourse, and some variation on 'Shaetlan' within its own discourse. Locally most commonly referred to as 'da dialect' or 'Shetland dialect', often abbreviated to 'Shetland' or 'Shetlan'. To be distinguished from Norn, the earlier Norse language of the islands, which nonetheless charged MSS with a richness and a northern vigour unique among Scots dialects.

It is the primary vehicle of Shetland's Literature besides English. One of the finest exponents of classic MSS in the 20thC. is the poet William J. Tait of [[Yell] who allied himself with Hugh MacDiarmid's Scots language revival.

John Magnus Tait has developed a website as an introduction to MSS, Inbuis ta Shaetlan.