Viscount Astor

Papers are invited for an academic conference examining linguistic and philological evidence relating to the accent of the outlaw and popular hero, Rob Roy MacGregor, to be held in the Old Library Tea Room, Balquhidder in September. The opening address will be given by our patron, William Waldorf Astor III, 4th Viscount Astor.

Donald Meek has already offered a plenary paper on guttural fricatives in 18th Century drover communities.  We also hope to explore how caterans loosened Lowland vowels.

Professor Robert P. C. Murdoch of Aberfoyle University will lead an afternoon workshop on the use of plosives in early land disputes in Highland Stirlingshire (pre-registration with the Home Office is essential).

Liam Neeson will join us for scones on the patio at conference close.

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This field of research owes a great debt to Viscount Astor, who has announced his intention to champion the accent of Rob Roy through personal use.  Viscount Astor’s family has connections with the Tarbert Estate on Jura, through a company registered in the Bahamas.