North Northern Scots is a group of Scots dialects spoken in Caithness, the Black Isle and Easter Ross.

Caithness

The dialect of Caithness is generally spoken in the lowlying land to the east of a line drawn from Clyth Ness to some 4 miles west of Thurso. To the west of that Scottish Gaelic used to be spoken. The Caithness varieties have been influenced by both Gaelic and Norn. The dialect spoken in the neighbourhood of John o' Groats resembles that of Orkney to some extent.

Phonology

The phonology of the Caithness varieties generally follows the pattern of the Mid Northern Scots varieties but:

Grammar

The grammar generally follows that of other Scots dialects, but: The past tense and past participles -it**** an t are realised and in, for example, hurtit, skelpit (smacked), mendit, traivelt (travelled), raxt (reached), telt (told) and kent (knew/known). The diminutive -ock is realised influenced by or borrowed from Gaelic. A final -ock in other words may also be realised. Often written -ag in dialect writing. The present participle and gerund -in may be differentiated and, for example: He wis aye gutteran aboot and He's fond o gutterin aboot.

Black Isle and Easter Ross

Contact with Mid Northern Scots via fishermen from the Moray Firth and modern education has influenced the Black Isle varieties to some extent. Avoch was originally Gaelic speaking but was settled by Scots-speakers, especially fisher folk, in the 17th century. More recently there has been a shift to Highland English. The traditional Black Isle dialect of Cromarty became extinct in October 2012, upon the death of the last native speaker, Bobby Hogg.

Phonology

The phonology of the Black Isle and Easter Ross varieties generally follow the pattern of the Caithness varieties but: