Wir Ain Leed — Reflexive Pronouns
Dunoon, Argyll and ButeReflexive pronouns indicate that the action turns back upon the subject.
The reflexive pronouns are formed by adding sel to the possessives. The suffix sel is usually used collectively and the suffix sels individually.
Singular
Plural
1. Person:
masel
myself
wirsel(s),
*oorsel(s)
*oorsel(s)
ourselves
2. Person:
yersel
yourself
yersel(s)
yourselves
3. Person:
himsel,
hissel*
hersel
itsel,
hitsel*
hissel*
hersel
itsel,
hitsel*
himself
herself
itself
herself
itself
thaimsel(s)
thairsel(s)
thairsel(s)
themselves
*Emphatic forms.
A telt ye A micht can mend it masel.
I told you I might be able to repair it myself.
I told you I might be able to repair it myself.
We can dae awthing wirsels.
We can do everything ourselves.
We can do everything ourselves.
A saw ye'd been early asteer yersel this mornin.
I saw that you’d been active early yourself this morning.
I saw that you’d been active early yourself this morning.
Coud ye dae that yersels?
Could you do that yourselves?
Could you do that yourselves?
Weel, it'll no mend itsel.
Well, it won't repair itself.
Well, it won't repair itself.
Ma brither kens fowk that mends awthing thairsels.
My brother knows people who repair everything themselves.
My brother knows people who repair everything themselves.
Sel(s) may be used independently.
Gang awa yer twa sels.
Go away both of you.
Go away both of you.
Fair play tells the sel o it.
Fair play speaks for itself.
Fair play speaks for itself.
Your lad's juist the sel o ye.
Your boy is just like you.
Your boy is just like you.
The reflexive pronoun can be intensified by inserting ma before sel. The form ma nain is the result of re-analysis of mine ain.
A made it aw ma ain sel
I made it entirely by myself.
I made it entirely by myself.
Gie's the scissor, and A'll cut it mine ain sel.
Give me the scissors, and I'll cut it myself.
Give me the scissors, and I'll cut it myself.
The word lane or lee lane, plural lanes is used in much the same way as sel.
She wis sittin her lane.
She was sitting by herself.
She was sitting by herself.
Is she by her lane?
Is she on her own?
Is she on her own?
A wis aw ma lee lane.
I was by myself. (all alone)
I was by myself. (all alone)
We gaed wir lanes.
We went by ourselves.
We went by ourselves.
He leeved his lane.
He lived alone.
He lived alone.
The auld aik stuid its lane.
The old oak stood by itself.
The old oak stood by itself.
Thay stuid thir lane.
They stood by themselves.
They stood by themselves.
Gin ye'd hae telt him, he wad hae stuid by his lane.
If you had told him, he would have stood alone.
If you had told him, he would have stood alone.