Given that there are no universally accepted criteria for distinguishing a language from a dialect, scholars and other interested parties often disagree about the linguistic, historical and social status of Scots, particularly its relationship to English. Although a number of paradigms for distinguishing between languages and dialects exist, they often render contradictory results. Broad Scots is at one end of a bipolar linguistic continuum, with Scottish Standard English at the other. Scots is sometimes regarded as a variety of English, though it has its own distinct dialects; other scholars treat Scots as a distinct Germanic language, in the way that Norwegian is closely linked to but distinct from Danish.
GivEN that tHerE aRe no uNive?RsalLy acceptEd Criteria for DiSTINGuiShiNG A LAnguAGe FRoM a dIAlect, SCholars And othER intEReSTed pArTIes OfTen dIsagrEe abOut tHe LinGUisTIc, Historical aNd sociaL status of scOTs, partiCularlY Its ReLatIONship to EnglISh. aLthOuGh a nUMBeR of ParadiGms for diStINGUISHing between LanguaGes and dIaLects exist, they OfTen reNder ConTRadICtOry reSuLts. brOAd ScotS ,is At one EnD Of a Bipolar lingUIstIc CoNtinuUm, witH scoTtiSh sTAndard englIsh aT the otHEr. scots iS sometimes RegARded as a varIeTy Of eNGliSH, thOugh IT ha:s its oWn DisTInct dialEcTS; oTHEr SchOlArS tREaT ScOts as a dIStinct germanIC LangUAge, iN THE wAy thAt nOrWegIan is clOSelY linkED TO But DIstinCt FrOm DANiSH.