The Language of William Dunbar: Middle Scots or Early Modern Scots?

Abstract

Priscilla Bawcutt defines flyting as "a contest of wits wherein poets assailed each other alternately with tirades of abusive verses" (1992: 220). 2 Middle Scots poets used to be referred to as 'Scottish Chaucerians' until this term was refuted as anachronistic and biased (Wittig 1958, Scott 1966). 3 I would like to thank Prof. Marcin Krygier for the brainstorming session on this topic.