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MUSCOVITE Posted 14 years ago
Grammar

A-chasing the deer

Hi,

>> My heart's in the Highlands a-chasing the deer

I only know that 'constructs' such as a-chasing are archaic ... but I'd like to know a little more about this curious "grammar form". In Burn's times, was it used in every day English, or was it used exclusively in poetry?
Structurally, this construct is "a + present participle? What "a" is here then?
Thank you!

Mus-te
  

Top answer

Who's "Burns"? Is he Scottish by any chance? More context, please.

— JohnParis

  • Who's "Burns"?
  • Is he Scottish by any chance?
  • More context, please.
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3 Answers
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Who's "Burns"? Is he Scottish by any chance? More context, please.
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Hello John,

Sorry, it should have been "in R. Burns's times" of course...

I don't khow the title of the poem, but the fitst stanza is as follows:

My heart's in the Highlands, my heart is not here,
My heart's in the Highlands a-chasing the deer -
A-chasing the wild deer, and following the roe;

My heart's in th
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Yes, it is the Scottish dialect and you will still hear it today, particularly among the elderly.
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