The usual criterion for distinguishing language from dialect is mutual intelligibility.
Mutual intelligibility, however, is a continuum, with Scots verging towards the language end while Geordie being more on the dialect end of the spectrum.
There’s a limited degree of mutual intelligibility between some other Germanic languages, such as Dutch, Afrikaans, Frisian and German, too.
However, for all practical intents and purposes those are still separate languages.
Someone once quipped that languages are dialects with an army, which could explain why Scots historically is considered a separate language while Geordie is not.
Mutual intelligibility, however, is a continuum, with Scots verging towards the language end while Geordie being more on the dialect end of the spectrum.
There’s a limited degree of mutual intelligibility between some other Germanic languages, such as Dutch, Afrikaans, Frisian and German, too.
However, for all practical intents and purposes those are still separate languages.
Someone once quipped that languages are dialects with an army, which could explain why Scots historically is considered a separate language while Geordie is not.