Scots Language Center

2nd August 2009 Reading

Sun, 02 Aug 2009 02:25:00 +0100 GMT

Scots Language Center: 2nd August 2009 Reading In the recordings of the Scots New Testament, Tom Fleming brings the well known stories of the gospels to life in a distinct Scots voice. Throughout Homecoming year the Centre will be broadcasting a series of readings from the Scots New Testament CDs. This one is for Sunday the 2nd of August and is from the Gospel of John Chapter 6:24-35. The next reading will be broadcast on the 9th of August 2009.

26th July 2009 Reading

Sun, 26 Jul 2009 02:04:00 +0100 GMT

Scots Language Center: 26th July 2009 Reading In the recordings of the Scots New Testament, Tom Fleming brings the well known stories of the gospels to life in a distinct Scots voice. Throughout Homecoming year the Centre will be broadcasting a series of readings from the Scots New Testament CDs. This one is for Sunday the 26th of July and is from the Gospel of John Chapter 6:1-15. The next reading will be broadcast on the 2nd of August 2009.

19th July 2009 Reading

Sun, 19 Jul 2009 02:06:00 +0100 GMT

Scots Language Center: 19th July 2009 Reading In the recordings of the Scots New Testament, Tom Fleming brings the well known stories of the gospels to life in a distinct Scots voice. Throughout Homecoming year the Centre will be broadcasting a series of readings from the Scots New Testament CDs. This one is for Sunday the 19th of July and is from the Gospel of Mark Chapter 6:30-34. The next reading will be broadcast on the 26th of July 2009.

12th July 2009 Reading

Sun, 12 Jul 2009 02:10:00 +0100 GMT

Scots Language Center: 12th July 2009 Reading In the recordings of the Scots New Testament, Tom Fleming brings the well known stories of the gospels to life in a distinct Scots voice. Throughout Homecoming year the Centre will be broadcasting a series of readings from the Scots New Testament CDs. This one is for Sunday the 12th of July and is from the Gospel of Mark Chapter 6:7-13. The next reading will be broadcast on the 19th of July 2009.

5th July 2009 Reading

Sun, 05 Jul 2009 02:33:00 +0100 GMT

Scots Language Center: 5th July 2009 Reading In the recordings of the Scots New Testament, Tom Fleming brings the well known stories of the gospels to life in a distinct Scots voice. Throughout Homecoming year the Centre will be broadcasting a series of readings from the Scots New Testament CDs. This one is for Sunday the 5th of July and is from the Gospel of Mark Chapter 6:1-6. The next reading will be broadcast on the 12th of July 2009.

Fri, 03 Jul 2009 05:03:00 +0100 GMT

Is Scots juist a baur?

Wed, 01 Jul 2009 04:50:00 +0100 GMT

BROCK n badger

Sun, 28 Jun 2009 11:09:00 +0100 GMT

Scots Language Center: BROCK n badger The badger appears as ‘broc’ in both Old English and Gaelic, but because the word appears in similar forms in Breton, Cornish, Welsh and Irish, we can assume that it was a Celtic word which Old English borrowed. It makes its first appearance in Older Scots in the late fifteenth century in Henryson’s Orpheus and Eurydice: “My bed salbe with beuer (beaver), broke, and baire”. That might have been an unpleasant repose since the badger is traditionally, if unfairly, associated with some antisocial characteristics. Caesar, in Burns’ poem The Twa Dugs, refers to the behaviour of human gentry: “They gang as saucy by poor folk, As I wad by a stinkan brock”, and J. W. Byers in a lecture published in the Northern Whig and Belfast Post (1901) explains “A ‘brock’ in the North of Ireland is also applied to a dirty, malodorous person”. The smell seems to be so pervasive that S. R. Crockett writes in The Men of the Moss-Hags (1895) “I steek baith the inner and the outer doors to keep awa’ the waff o’ the brock”. Their grouchy personality also comes off badly in Scottish literature. In Ramsay’ s Poems (1721), we read “The Miser...Girns like a Brock”. To many, brocks are unwelcome. Andrew Cheviot in his collection of proverbs (1896) records that one might say of a foolish person : “He hasna sense enough to keep a brock oot o’ the kail yaird”.
No wonder then that they have been persecuted. There is a record in the Accounts of the Treasurer of Scotland (1506) of a payment made “To Fynlaw Makneill that brocht toddis and brokkis to the King” and The Account Book of Sir John Foulis of Ravelston (1698) makes a similar reward “To Jonie Frizill for stoping the holls of the fox and brocks”. Today, such behaviour would be severely punished.

Scots Word of the Week is written by Chris Robinson of Scottish Language Dictionaries

This week's word is discussed by Scots language writer and educator Liz Niven.

28th June 2009 Reading

Sun, 28 Jun 2009 02:17:00 +0100 GMT

Scots Language Center: 28th June 2009 Reading In the recordings of the Scots New Testament, Tom Fleming brings the well known stories of the gospels to life in a distinct Scots voice. Throughout Homecoming year the Centre will be broadcasting a series of readings from the Scots New Testament CDs. This one is for Sunday the 28th of June and is from the Gospel of Mark Chapter 5:21-43. The next reading will be broadcast on the 5th of July 2009.

Sat, 27 Jun 2009 11:53:00 +0100 GMT

Sat, 27 Jun 2009 06:07:00 +0100 GMT

Government to set up Scots advisory group

Thu, 25 Jun 2009 12:56:00 +0100 GMT

Further to the government conference held on the Scots language, at the University of Stirling on 9 February 2009, and the publication of those proceedings, the Scottish Government is now seeking to establish a working group to take advice and make suggestions how best to move forward from the Scots language audit of 2008. Accordingly, members of the Scots language community are invited to put forward the names of suitable individuals who they think would take part in the Scots working group which would meet under the auspices of the Minister for Culture, External Affairs and the Constitution. Suggestions for names should be sent to Michael Napier, Policy Officer, at the Scottish Government, either by way of e-mail:

Michael.Napier@Scotland.gsi.gov.uk

or by post to Michael Napier, Promotion of Scotland and Tourism Divison: Gaelic and Scots Unit, The Scottish Government, Area 2-J North, Victoria Quay, Edinburgh EH6 6QQ. Telephone 0131 244 4942.

Suggestions should be sent no later than the deadline of 3 August 2009.

Childhood memories in poetry

Thu, 25 Jun 2009 12:25:00 +0100 GMT

Scots Language Center: Childhood memories in poetry Scots Language Center: Childhood memories in poetry Scots Language Center: Childhood memories in poetry Scots Language Center: Childhood memories in poetry Scots Language Center: Childhood memories in poetry Scots Language Center: Childhood memories in poetry Childhood for some poets is a rich source of ideas, particularly when using Scots language. For many of these writers, childhood was a time of uninhibited language use, a time when Scots voices were more frequently heard. They may find themselves using Scots when writing about people or scenes from childhood, even when they use English for other creative work.
We have gathered together a collection of recordings of poets reading poems relating to their childhood. John Manson's 'Pleuan' remembers a childhood in Caithness, Derek Ross grew up in 'Dunbae Road' in Stranraer. Alex Berry with 'Brass Reel' remembers Blantrye, while Betty Tindal's 'Memories' and 'Slaes' are founded on school days in Perthshire. Doug Curren's 'Basketmakers' is a poem based on a childhood in Galloway.

Photography inspires poetry

Thu, 25 Jun 2009 11:28:00 +0100 GMT

Scots Language Center: Photography inspires poetry Scots Language Center: Photography inspires poetry Derek Ross from Stranraer and Dumfries writes poetry using photographs as a foundation for much of his work. We have here two of his Scots language poems which have come from photographs he took. He has regularly exhibited joint poetry and photography with Angus Macmillan. His poetry podcast can be heard at www.dgpodcast.blogspot.com/200

Scots in Parliament

Thu, 25 Jun 2009 10:11:00 +0100 GMT

This month the Scots Language Centre focuses on the place of the Scots language in the Scottish parliament, both past and present. At one time the use of both spoken and written Scots was taken for granted in our national institutions because the ruling classes also spoke Scots. The earliest examples of this date from the 14th century. For this earlier period please see the article on the left hand menu entitled ‘Scots and the Three Estates’ which outlines the history of the language in Scottish politics between the 1300’s and 1707. This is accompanied by two readings of 16th century acts in Scots. Between 1707 and 1999 Scotland had no parliament of her own but this was re-established as a result of the devolution referendum in 1997. Because the ruling classes abandoned Scots, the Scottish parliament today is almost wholly conducted in English. However, the status and presence of Scots in the new parliament since 1999 is described in our second article (see left) ‘Scots at Holyrood’.

MSP's controversy in the aisles

Thu, 25 Jun 2009 02:41:00 +0100 GMT

Dr Bill Wilson, MSP for West of Scotland, has proposed that supermarkets and other shops in Scotland should label produce with their Scots names as well as the English equivalents. In response to this idea, it has been reported that Richard Todd, of the Scottish Retail Consortium, has said that the Consortium must only use ‘correct’ words. In a press statement Wilson has challenged Todd over his suggestion that the Scots language terms for items of produce were somehow ‘incorrect’ and asked why Scots vocabulalry was not being employed by shops in localities around Scotland.

Wilson did not suggest that every individual item should be provided with a Scots label, but rather that supermarket and shop shelves and sections could be marked or headed with a Scots name for the items being sold. He said that this could be done at minimal cost and would certainly enhance ‘Brand Scotland’ in tourist markets as well as raising the profile of Scottish produce.

Wilson further added that the apparent attitude of the Scottish Retail Consortium was “cultural arrogance” and made a “mockery” of the Year of Homecoming and of the language of Robert Burns that it was intended to celebrate.

Wed, 24 Jun 2009 04:10:00 +0100 GMT

Dublin and Lewis acts win minority language song competition

Tue, 23 Jun 2009 12:02:00 +0100 GMT

Scots Language Center: Dublin and Lewis acts win minority language song competition Scots Language Center: Dublin and Lewis acts win minority language song competition Last Saturday night two young acts were chosen to represent the Celtic & Scots languages at the Liet International Song Competition for European minority languages. Ten acts from the various Celtic and Scots languages travelled from far and wide to Eden Court Theatre, Inverness, Scotland, to perform in front of an enthusiastic audience. The event was also broadcast live over the internet.

The live audience as well as the global internet audience voted for their favourite act and ultimately chose the young Isle of Lewis rock act Sunrise Not Secular singing their song Lasair an t-Oidhche (Flame of the Night) in Scottish Gaelic. Lead vocalist, David Nicolson said David said "Nòs Ùr was one of the most incredible experiences to date for Sunrise Not Secular. Winning the vote was incredibly humbling, a great victory for the Gaelic language and a testament to the fans' overwhelming support. We couldn't be happier."

Five independent jury members, representing the various language groups, decided to give the jury winners prize to the respected Dublin singer-songwriter Fiach who's song was titled Sea Táim (So I) in Irish Gaelic.

The event was hosted by TV star Tony Kearney and acclaimed singer-songwriter Karine Polwart who enthralled the audience after the intermission with her own newly composed song in the Scots tongue.

Micheal Russell MSP, the Minister for Culture, External Affairs & The Constitution, gave a rousing speech at the prize-giving stating “In Scotland, we need to make sure, in every circumstance, that Gaelic and Scots is spoken, particularly on stage, in music, for audiences who wish to hear it. The songs you heard tonight are a celebration of all the Celtic and Scots language nations.”

Event organiser, Brian Ó hEadhra said “Nòs Ùr grows year on year and the positive feedback from the audience and artistes has been incredible. The event challenges old fashioned notions some folk have about minority language speakers and we aim to demonstrate that there is a vibrant and healthy future for our indigenous languages.”

Text supplied by Brian Ó hEadhra

Nòs Ùr http://www.nos-ur.eu/index.htm

There is no Scots version of this article.

You can listen to the Scots entries to the competition here.

New Translations

Tue, 23 Jun 2009 11:30:00 +0100 GMT

Scots Language Center: New Translations Scots Language Center: New Translations Translations of two medieval Scots language texts have recently been published. 'The life and miracles of St Ninian' is a translation of an anonymous early 15th Century Scots poem. Set in Galloway, the text is a mixture of pious language and down-to-earth descriptions of miracles such as the speaking baby or sudden growing of kale for the hungry. Written by C E Palmer, the translation was published by the 'Friends of Whithorn Trust' and continues the Trust's series of events, talks and academic publications relating to St Ninian and the Whithorn area. Further information about the trust is at www.whithorn.com
Seamus Heaney is the translator of the Robert Henryson text 'The testament of Cresseid and seven fables'. This volume has been produced with the English and Scots sitting along side one another, enabling the reader to see where Heaney has altered rhyme scheme or modernised text. Copies of this book are available at www.booksfromscotland.com
Heaney shows that translations of poetry work well when the translator is a poet as well as a linguist. We can listen here to two further poets reading translations. John Manson has translated Giuseppe Ungaretti's work 'San Martine Del Carso'. John is well known MacDiarmid expert. David Douglas also combines writing poetry with translating. Here we can listen to 'Grappa in September' by Cesear Parvese.

Scots at Holyrood

Tue, 23 Jun 2009 03:19:00 +0100 GMT

In September 1997 the Scottish people voted in favour of re-establishing the Scottish parliament and it began sitting once again in May 1999. From early on in the various deliberations and planning, Scots campaigners sought to carve out a place for the language in the new parliament. A consultative steering committee to the new parliament agreed to recognise Scots along with Gaelic in December 1998, and, in February 1999, the newly-formed Scottish Executive (now government) accepted a Scots version of the election leaflet for the new parliament elections. These were the first times that the presence of Scots had been allowed within government for 300 years.

The presence of Scots in the Holyrood parliament is very limited but still represents a step forward in comparison with the pre-1999 period. At a meeting of the procedures committee, on 16 November 1999, it was agreed that the oath of allegiance might be taken in Scots. That same month an MSP who tried to put forward a motion in Scots was informed by the standing orders committee that this was illegal. This caused a controversy and in January 2000 it was conceded that motions in Scots could be lodged as long as they were accompanied by an English version. It was also agreed that members of the Scottish parliament could make a speech in Scots so long as a text version was made available in English too. Several calls to have some Scots language signs within the parliament building – along with English, Gaelic and Braille – were eventually rejected without explanation by the corporate body, then headed by David Steel. Members of the Scots community have since complained of exclusion.

On 22 November 2000 a meeting of Scots language activists and groups was held in the Scottish parliament, along with MSPs from two or three parties, with the object of establishing a Scots group in the parliament. This was well attended and discussed several matters. It was agreed to establish a Cross Party Group on Scots in the Scottish Parliament and the Scots Language Society donated £250 towards it. The first formal meeting of this Cross Party Group took place on 31 January 2001 in a committee room of the parliament at George IV Bridge, Edinburgh, and declared that its aims were:

Tae forder the cause o the Scots Leid, lat memmers (MSPs) ken aboot the cultur an heritage o the leid an shaw the need for action tae uphaud Scots.

To date the only party in the parliament that actually has a policy on Scots is the Scottish National Party. This policy, adopted and approved in 1996, declares:

The SNP calls for promotion of the Scots language among adults and children, through a sufficiently-funded programme of resources planned to ensure the survival and development of the language.

In February 2000 political parties voted on a Scots-related matter for the first time. On that occasion the SNP, Greens and Scottish Socialists voted in favour of an amendment to the census to include a question on Scots language ability but this was defeated when the Labour, Liberal and Conservative parties voted to exclude the Scots language from the census.

It would be fair to say that Scottish governments and parliaments have been reactive rather than proactive in relation to Scots. Every concession to the language has been achieved only after activists have campaigned. As yet there is no institutional support for Scots, though the Scottish government conducted an audit into provision for the language in 2008.