Scots Language Center

darg n. (the result of product of) a day’s work

Mon, 12 May 2008 02:56:00 +0100 GMT

Darg (also sometimes dark) is often used in contexts that hark back to an age when agriculture and manual labour engaged a larger proportion of the population than today. In his book, Riot, Revelry and Rout: Sport in Lowland Scotland Before 1860 (2000), John Burnett remarks that William Alexander’s Victorian tales of contemporary life in Buchan "contain individuals who begin as penniless farm loons … who rise through solid hard work. The interminable darg dominated North-East farming life".

Darg has been in use in Scottish texts since at least the sixteenth century, and is shortened from Older Scots dawerk or daywerk, literally "a day’s work". In Ane Satyre of the Thrie Estaitis (1540), Sir David Lyndsay penned such lines as: "We sall nowdir spair for wind nor rane, Till our day wark be done". Darg also refers to the product of a day’s work, often measured in terms of bales of hay gathered, quantities of coal mined, and so on, and many of these uses continue into the modern period. The Transactions of the Highland Society of Scotland (1803), for example, notes: "A darg of peats is as many as a man can cut in a day".

John Jamieson’s early nineteenth-century Etymological Dictionary of the Scottish Language records the use of darg-days, "days during which cottars had to work for their landlord, in lieu of rent". Under rather different circumstances, workers might also undertake a love-darg, which Jamieson defines as "a piece of work or service done, not for hire, but merely from affection". A more modern translation might be "a labour of love". An illustration appears in an article in the People’s Friend from September 1938: "Our Love Darg is the effort made every autumn by the People’s Friend and its readers on behalf of child patients in hospital".

Fri, 09 May 2008 12:09:00 +0100 GMT

Langholm Academy Project

Fri, 09 May 2008 11:38:00 +0100 GMT

In 2007 Liz Niven worked on an Arts Across the Curriculum project with pupils at Langholm Academy. The aim was to compile text based on the language of Langholm. Using the poetry of Langholm's Hugh MacDairmid, creative writing produced by pupils and discussion groups, they produced a body of text. Some of this was then painted onto bannisters, providing a visible legacy of the work done. The project provided an opportunity to develop an understanding of the Scots language and its history, and to look at some spelling issues using Scots language dictionaries. A final report contained examples of pupils work.

The Scots language over the water

Thu, 08 May 2008 11:50:00 +0100 GMT

The province of Ulster, which largely constitutes Northern Ireland today, has received input of Germanic speech on two or three occasions: firstly through the Norsemen between the 9th and 12th centuries, secondly from speakers of English, from the 12th century onwards, and lastly by way of Scots speakers first attested in the 16th century. The earliest Scots documents in an Ulster context are those issued by the Scottish MacDonald clan who sought an alliance with the English Crown in the 1540s. Though normally Gaelic-speaking, the MacDonalds used Scots as the nearest language they had to English. Thereafter Scots was used by various individuals, but most notably by communities of Scottish Lowland settlers in Ireland in the wake of the Ulster Plantation (1609). The use of Scots in administration in Ireland went into decline after 1640 but there was a revival in poetry in Scots during the 18th century by men such as William Starrat. Presbyterian ministers also continued to preach in the language. The form of Scots spoken in Ulster is derived from West Central Scots – a reflection of the large scale settlement from Ayrshire and the surrounding region - with an accent distinct to Ulster. Scots is also spoken in Donegal within the Republic of Ireland. There is a very useful book by James Fenton 'The Hamely Tongue A Personal Record of Ulster-Scots in County Antrim' (republished by the Ullans Press in 2000) which should serve as a good introduction to Scots across the water.

There are many links on the internet which deal in more detail with various aspects of the Scots language in Ulster, including the following:

Ian James Parsley maintains a website which answers many basic questions related to the use, status and background of Scots as spoken and written in Ulster today: http://www.ianjamesparsley.net

For official policy relating to the Scots language in Ulster please follow this link to the Department of Culture, Arts and Leisure in Northern Ireland: http://www.dcalni.gov.uk/index

The Ulster Scots Agency is an organisation devoted to the various aspects of Ulster identity and heritage of which language forms a part. There is some information on the language here: http://www.ulsterscotsagency.c

Ian Adamson, for long a language campaigner in Ulster, has some very interesting material related to comparisons between Gaelic, Frisian and Scots: http://www.ianadamson.net/inde

Richard Archibald maintains a website with samples of Scots vocabulary which allow visitors to hear Ulster pronunciation: http://uk.geocities.com/richar

For an example of the Scots language in Donegal – and the way in which it is pronounced there – the East Donegal site includes vocabulary among its heritage interests:
http://www.eastdonegalulstersc

Audio gospels in Scots

Thu, 08 May 2008 02:43:00 +0100 GMT

The four gospels in Scots are now available as audio versions. Today Wild Goose Publications, in conjunction with the Lorimer Trust and Scots Language Centre, has put on sale a newly-produced audio version of the four gospels (Matthew, Mark, Luke and John) from W.L. Lorimer’s New Testament in Scots which was first published in book form in 1983. The gospels are read by Tom Fleming. Wild Goose Publications are making copies available as a special offer until 30 June 2008. Until that date customers will be able to purchase all four CDs as a set for £59.99 (with free p&p) or individual CDs at £15.99 each (plus £2.50 p&p). The usual price for an individual gospel will be £19.99. For more information please contact Wild Goose on 0141 332 6292 or e-mail lorna@ionabooks.com or follow this link to the website: http://www.ionabooks.com/newsi

Burns An' A' That Festival

Tue, 06 May 2008 12:13:00 +0100 GMT

Between the 17 and 24 May the ‘Burns An’ A’ That’ festival, billed as a showcase for the best of talent in Scotland, will be taking place. Recent press reports have been critical of the fact that ‘Status Quo’ would top the bill at the festival with many people left scratching their heads as to the connection between Status Quo, other acts and Burns and the Scots language. There are many events during the festival with the common factor being that they will take place in ‘Burns country’, though there are just a few Burns and Scots-related events. During this period the town of Tarboltin intends to commemorate the seven years Burns lived in the town, with music, poems and songs. Nothing has so far been set in stone so those with an interest should contact ‘Burns Auld Tarbowtin’ on 01290 551 100. Paintings by the artist Alexander Goudie will form an exhibition telling the tale of Tam O Shanter at Rozelle House, Rozelle Park, Ayr, each day 19-24 May, 10am-5pm. Entry is free. In addition there will be a ‘Robert Burns Pride and Passion’ exhibition at Carnegie Library, Ayr, showing 19-31 May, 9am-7.30pm. This will tell the story of the life of Burns and has been assembled by the people at the National Library of Scotland. To learn more please contact: 01290 551 100. Lastly, staff from the Centre for Robert Burns Studies will be holding a panel discussion entitled ‘The Robert Burns Conspiracies’ at the Burns National Heritage Park, Alloway, beginning at 7pm on 20 May. Tickets for this event cost £3. For more details please phone 01292 443 700 or enquire with the Burns Festival Office on 01292 612 477.

Dramatising Scotland Conferance

Tue, 06 May 2008 11:16:00 +0100 GMT

The Association for Scottish Literary Studies is holding its annual general meeting this day in the Netherbow Theatre, 43-45 High Street, Edinburgh. During the day academics, playwrights and others will examine the various ways in which Scotland has been portrayed in drama. Among the papers will be one by Liz Lochhead entitled ‘Old and new alliances: adaptions into Scots’ between 12.00 and 1.30pm. The day commences at 10am and finishes after an overview by Mark Fisher at 4.15pm. Tickets cost £30 (£25 for members). Please enquire with Duncan Jones at the University of Glasgow on 0141 330 5309 or e-mail: d.jones@scottish.arts.gla.ac.uk

Royal Society Burns Conference

Tue, 06 May 2008 03:18:00 +0100 GMT

The Royal Society of Edinburgh is hosting a one day conference to mark the anniversary of the birth of Robert Burns. The conference, entitled ‘Robert Burns and Global Culture’ will reflect on issues such as the global reputation of the poet, the translation of his work in world literatures, and the various ways in which Burns is celebrated. Leading Burns scholars will contribute to the debate and there will be time to examine the latest research on Burns. Sheena Wellington and Kirsteen McCue will both perform at the musical lunch and a Burns Supper is also planned. Conference will open at the Royal Society at 9am with registration and coffee and will close at 5pm. There will be a concert on the same evening at St Cecilia’s Hall, University of Edinburgh. For more in formation please enquire with the Royal Society either rby phone on 0131 240 5000 or by e-mail events@royalsoced.org.uk

Shetland Cultural Conference

Tue, 06 May 2008 02:23:00 +0100 GMT

The Elphinstone Institute (University of Aberdeen), in conjunction with the Millennium Institute’s Centre for Nordic Studies (University of the Highlands and Islands) and Shetland Museum and Archive is holding an international conference in Lerwick, Shetland. It is entitled ‘Taking Shetland out of the Box: island Cultures and Shetland Identity’. The conference will look with particular interest at the various ways in which Shetland has been a meeting ground for different cultures, and the ways in which those cultures shaped the native identity, including language. Anyone who would like to submit a paper should send an abstract (no more than 300 words) with a little about their background (not more than 100 words) to the Elphinstone Institute by 1 September 2008 at shetlandconference@abdn.ac.uk

Robert Burns Anniversary Conference

Tue, 06 May 2008 02:08:00 +0100 GMT

To mark the 250th anniversary of the birth of Robert Burns, the Centre for Robert Burns Studies at the University of Glasgow is hosting a three-day conference to celebrate the many aspects of the life and work of Robert Burns. The Centre would be delighted to consider papers from anyone who would like to take part. Titles and abstracts (not more than 250 words) should be sent by e-mail no later than Friday 16 May 2008 to Burns2009@scotlit.arts.gla.ac.uk

braw adj. very good, excellent; handsome; splendid; brave

Mon, 05 May 2008 10:14:00 +0100 GMT

Braw developed from a variant of the word brave, itself borrowed into Scots and English from French. Early uses of braw, noted in Scottish sources in the seventeenth century, often relate to physical beauty, such as the "cumlie yowth of braw statour (build)" described in A Chronicle of the Kings of Scotland (c 1615). A more proverbial usage is found in Robert Pitcairn’s account of Ancient Criminal Trials in Scotland (1833): "the Devill wold giv us the brawest lyk money that ewer wes coyned". This sense continues to be represented in later literature, as in Sir Walter Scott’s novel, Old Mortality: "Ye think yoursell a braw fellow enow; and troth…there’s na fault to find wi’ the outside". Another of Scott’s novels, Heart of Midlothian (1818), illustrates the use of the plural noun which developed from the same word: "But, Madge, the lads only like ye when ye hae on your braws".

Turning to modern Scots screivin and bletherin, we find the word braw very well represented. It appears in just under ten percent of the documents collected for the Scottish Corpus of Texts and Speech at Glasgow University (www.scottishcorpus.co.uk), including a number of transcripts of interviews conducted for the BBC’s Voices project. In one sample, speakers from Inverurie compare their uses of braw, bonny and fine as adjectives for something attractive, and in another, from Glasgow, a speaker notes the frequent use of ‘bonny braw’ for someone who is good-looking. Examples of Scots texts that include the word braw can also be found on the website of the Scottish Parliament. One, entitled Makkin yer voice heard in the Scottish Pairlament, includes the following: "The Visitor Centre has braw visual an interactive displays that lats ye explore information anent the Pairlament at yer ain raik".

ASLS

Fri, 02 May 2008 10:51:00 +0100 GMT

www.asls.org.uk
The Association of Scottish Literary Studies produce materials for schools, run conferences on Scots language issues and produce publications about Scottish writing. Most resources are available by subscription or to buy. An extensive and growing body of information includes
- Academic articles about Scots language.
- New writing in Scotland
- Scotnotes. Secondary or tertiary level study guides on Scottish authors or poets.
- Teaching notes for teaching Scots language and literature in the upper secondary classroom. Based around literary texts.
- Laverock articles relating to teaching Scottish literature (magazine published between '95 and '97).

University level resources

Fri, 02 May 2008 10:48:00 +0100 GMT

Resources for university level Scots study include the following.

wwwesterni.unibg.it/siti_esterni/anglistica/slin/scot-bib.htm
An online bibliography compiled by Caroline Macafee and maintained by Marina Dossena

www.arts.gla.ac.uk/SESLL/STELL
A collection of material by Scots (some in Scots language). Plays, prose, poetry, language criticism, journalism. Suitable for secondary or tertiary level.

The Edinburgh Companion to Scots. Editors John Corbett, J. Derrick McClure, Jane Stuart-Smith
Edinburgh University Press 2003
ISBN 0748615962
Academic undergraduate level. History of Scots language, Scottish place-names and surnames, vocabulary, syntax, phonology, older Scots, modern Scots.

Secondary level online resources

Fri, 02 May 2008 10:35:00 +0100 GMT

Secondary level online resources can be found on the following websites.

www.arts.gla.ac.uk/SESLL/STELL
A collection of material by Scots (some in Scots language). Plays, prose, poetry, language criticism, journalism. Suitable for secondary or tertiary level.

www.scotstext.org
Poetry, proverbs, songs, short stories, longer prose, plays, religious texts in Scots.

www.scots-online.org
An instructional site with grammar, vocabulary and texts for learners. Also includes an online dictionary and a Scots language chat room.

http://bubl.ac.uk/link/s/scott
Contains information about writers and a theatre archive.

www.ambaile.org.uk
A Highland Council culture and history website containing audio collections, letters photographs and other documents. It includes a series of interviews in the Cromarty dialect www.ambaile.org.uk/en/item/ite

Resources for pre-3

Fri, 02 May 2008 10:24:00 +0100 GMT

The following are links or resources that would be suitable for teaching or using Scots with babies and toddlers.
www.scuilwab.org.uk
www.mamalisa.com/world/scotlan
www.ichy-coo.com
www.hanselcooperativepress.co.

LTScotland

Fri, 02 May 2008 09:42:00 +0100 GMT

www.LTScotland.org.uk/earlyyea is the official guidance to those involved in birth to 3 caring provision. There is information on projects and examples of best practice from across Scotland. This includes promoting language development through play. There are examples from Aberdeenshire on helping speech development through role-play, conversation and discussion. Another project in Victoria Nursery/Primary, Glasgow encouraged developing language development in a multicultural setting. Information on publications include 'Birth to three - supporting our youngest children' and a parents guide. This is available in English and Gaelic but not Scots. There are some resources about Robert Burns and Scottish culture.

Bookstart

Fri, 02 May 2008 09:36:00 +0100 GMT

www.bookstart.co.uk is UK wide literacy development charity with an identifiable Scottish presence. They produce a songsheet/mat of nursery rhymes for babies. This year it includes nursery rhymes in English, 1 in Scots (Ally Bally) and 1 in Gaelic. The charity gives out free packs to babies and toddlers to promote literacy and language development and they seek to include Scottish works.

Scots language at university

Fri, 02 May 2008 09:28:00 +0100 GMT

Want to study Scots language at university? Here are courses available at Scottish universities.
Edinburgh University
Scots language has previously been offered to first year students within the English language department and presumably could be offered in future if student numbers justify this. Classes on the historical development of Scots language, the history of Scots dialects and modern Scots are currently available to Honours English language students. Use of Scots in essays etc is not permitted. The School of Celtic Studies offers a Scots language module within its Ethnology degree. Scots language can be studied at Phd level. Scots Language Dictionaries are based at the university
Glasgow University
Scots literature is strong in Glasgow, and some Scots language teaching takes place at Honours level. The emphasis is on the development of the language and establishing the language's pedigree. Scots can be used in essays etc, so long as spelling systems are agreed. Scots language classes are found integrated within English language courses at every level. An Mlitt programme in English language includes the history of the Scots language. There is also a postgraduate level cross-cultural Scottish Studies course covering history, literature and politics. Phd level scots language study is possible here.
RSAMD
The traditional music degree includes a language element. During first year this covers Gaelic and Scots. After first year students specialise in either Gaelic or Scots and continue with this language strand to Honours level. This will include learning the historical language, its development, perceptions and contemporary usage.
Moray House Teacher Training College
A Scots language option is available to honours secondary English teachers. This option is to help enable the teacher teach Scots literature, so emphasizes use of texts. Both older and modern Scots language is analysed.
Aberdeen University
The Elphinstone Institute and the Forum for Research into the Languages of Scotland and Ulster are both closely connected to Aberdeen so much expertise is available here. Modules on Scots language are available in the English language degree programme: the history of British Isles languages. An Mlitt programme in Irish and Scottish Studies is available and contains a Scots language element. Phd supervision in Scots language is available.
Stirling University
A Scottish literature course is available which includes texts in Scots language. This strand continues to postgraduate level.
Others
Lothian Equal Access programme for schools promotes university study for those with no family history of university study, or other potential barriers to further education. A collaboration between Napier, Stirling and Heriott Watt, the summer school includes a language/literature/media strand. This will involve teaching of historical and modern Scots and phonetics. www.leapsonline.org
Glasgow Goals project. Similar to the Lothian project. www.gla.ac.uk/services/widenin
Research Communication and Action. A project involving postgraduate language students applying theoretical research in Edinburgh schools. www.scieng.ed.ac.uk/trnskil/re

New Work by Stella Sutherland

Fri, 02 May 2008 02:51:00 +0100 GMT

Poet Stella Sutherland will launch her new work of poems in Shetlandic and English - called Joy of Creation - at the Shetland Librray in Lerwick. Doors open 4.30 for 5pm start and wine will be served. Everyone welcome. Sponsored by the Handsel Cooperative Press. Enquire with Christine Da Luca on deluca.c@gmail.com

Edinburgh Master-Poet

Thu, 01 May 2008 04:41:00 +0100 GMT

Stewart Conn - Edinburgh's first 'poet-laureate', along with musician-jester John Sampson, will be performing the poetry and period music of Edinburgh in the Middle Ages with particular reference to Scotland's lost master-poet, Roull of Corstorphine.
Tickets are £8 (£6 concession) at the Scottish Storytelling Centre. The programme starts at 7pm. For more information enquire with: reception@scottishstorytellingcentre.com