Linda and colleagues from the ICH research team have enlisted the help of Scotland’s politicians. MSPs were asked to ‘do some work in their lunch hour’ and on 4 March were shown the ICH in Scotland Wiki and asked to help populate the online inventory. South of Scotland MSP, Aileen Campbell, contributed Lanark’s Lanimer Day celebrations and ‘Whuppity Scoorie’ while Alasdair Allan told the team about funeral walks in the Western Isles.

Gunn has urged SLC visitors to contribute online, ‘It couldn’t be easier to add examples of customs and traditions practiced in your part of the country to the ICH in Scotland wiki’ says Linda, ‘I’m a computer numptie, but I’ve managed it!’ The team have developed an online tutorial to show you how, so either let them know about your examples of ‘seasonal’ and weather related  customs and sayings or get online and add them yourself. Gunn has asked that people continue to make contributions on the theme of weddings and courtship (blackening and the like). ‘There’s no closing date for any subject on this project’, she says.

Find out more and contribute to the wiki at www.ichscotlandwiki.org.

There is no Scots version of this article

Dr Maggie Scott, formerly a lexicographer with Scottish Language Dictionaries, says, ‘In some of my research I’m looking at the ways that people are ‘comfortable’ with Scots partly to see whether it appears that Scots is progressing towards the status of a ‘standard’ language according to Einar Haugen’s model, where ‘elaboration’ (i.e. use in various contexts/text types, etc) plays a key role. I’m interested in seeing which environments seem more accepting of Scots – the archive that SLC is building up should provide some interesting information about the where and when Scots is used.’

Scott would like to hear about other examples of Scots used in business and other settings. Anyone with information that could help Scott with her research should write to:  m.r.scott@salford.ac.uk

The informal event will introduce the website and there will be computers there for people to try out the site. Anyone attending the launch can stay for as long as they like. The official launch will take place at 12 but visitors are welcome to come along until 4.00 pm.

The launch will be advertised in the Shetland Times and anyone interested in the site is invited to pass on information to other language enthusiasts.  SFW convenor, Laureen Johnston urged people to attend the launch saying, 'Try an win alang - hit's wirt a celebration.'

If you would like to send any comments or response in support of Scots to the BBC Review please e-mail srconsultation@bbc.co.uk or write to:

Strategy Review Consultation,

BBC Trust, 180 Great Portland Street,

London W1W 5QZ.

Download the BBC Strategy Review in pdf form below:

The aim of Life Stories is to give older people and their carers the chance to enjoy quality, inclusive arts activities. From February to May this year, professionals from Life Stories will be visiting older people’s groups in the Leith and Leith walk areas of Edinburgh to tell stories from the past and present.

For more information about the project visit the Scottish Storytelling Centre or contact Caroline Budge at caroline@scottishstorytellingcentre.com 

The dialect year has its own facebook page which already has over 500 members. To read more about the celebrations and to join the facebook group visit the Orkney Heritage Society

Another alphabet book for children currently available is the 'Children’s guide to Shetland’s wildlife in dialect'.  This is available from The Shetland Times.

John wis editor o Scots language journal, Lallans, an for mony years wis ane o the main players in the Scots Leid Associe. A poet, writer an political activist John wis widely respectit in the Scots language warld.

Tributes tae John haes been lead bi Derrick McClure, Convenor o the Ministerial Working Group on Scots. McClure described John as ‘an ensampil tae’s aa’, gaun on tae say, ‘in John Law we hae tint a mauchtie kemp for the cause o the mither tung.  Editor o the Lallans journal, owsersetter, makar an screivar, an abune aa a steive weirman, fechtin for the leid wi a ne’er-dwynin lealtie.

Preses o the Scots Leid Associe, Dr Chris Robinson, peyed tribute tae John’s commitment tae the Scots cause, ‘I first got tae ken John ower a wee dram an a muckle argie-bargie aboot Scots spellin. Sen syne, I hae come tae haud him in affection an respeck. Whit he haes duin for the Scots leid is athoot marra. He wis a fine scriever hissel an his encouragement o ither scrievers an his  involvement wi Lallans haes brocht mony a new talent intae the Scots  literary scene. For mony years he wis the backbane o the Scots Language Society. John wis a richt steerer, aye gettin new folk engaged wi the leid or pittin smeddum intae auld dargers.  He wis fu o  ideas, pit them forrit wi the practicalities thocht throu an wisna  feart tae dae the feck o the wark. For example, he wis in the coorse o makkin an edition o Gavin Douglas's Aeneidos wi the assistance o  Caroline Macafee. I ken I spik for mony fowk whan I say he wis an inspiration. The Scots leid haes lost a guid freen.’

Lang time frien an former editor o Scots Tung Wittins, Bob Fairnie said, ‘Whit can a body say aboot John?  He WIS the Scots Language Society for sic a lang while an pit in a pouer o wark editin the Lallans Magazine.  He wis a guid exemplar o the verra kinna Scots language upsteerer that the Scots language cannae dae athoot.  He didnae juist fecht for the language, he yaised it an aw.  Ma hertfelt condolences gauns oot tae Janet an his faimlie.’

Speakin ower the weekend poet an frien, Rab Wilson, said, ‘This hus taen the wind richt oot ma sails the nicht, it is an utter tragedy! Ah steyed ower wi John an Janet juist twa weeks syne, daein a Scots language warkshoap at Perth Prison, an we hud a richt guid blether anent aathing affectin Scots an current cultural ongauns. John wis aye the first guy ah wid phone gin ah needit ony advice ava anent Scots; be it regairdin poetry, politics, leeterature, (e'en hou tae spell a bluidy wird!) - or juist cause ah fancied a bit craic! as faur as ma writin gaes, he wis aiblins the best frien ah hud.’

Joy Hendry editor o the leeterary journal, Chapman, wis a lang time collaborator wi John. Hendry said, 'John Law seemed indestructible. He was so many things to so many people. To me, and to Chapman, he was an invaluable friend and supporter. We gleefully plotted and planned over many things over many years - all to try to further the cultural situation of Scotland. We didn't always agree, of course, but however much I disagreed with him, the sheer integrity of his intent was never in any doubt. One of my preoccupations since the news broke on Saturday is to imagine, fondly but with profound sadness, what further mischief he might have got up to. I am so glad, now, that an almost unimaginable printer's cock up of his translation of Pablo Neruda's 'The Heichts o Macchu Picchu' into impeccable Scots in Chapman 108 led to its proper publication in pamphlet form. All present and correct this time. I have lost one of my dearest and closest friends. One small comfort is that my grief is shared by so many.'

Poet, writer an activist, Janet Paisley, caws tae mind a relationship wi John that wis common amang fowk in the Scots language warld, 'Ower mony year ago tae coont, I sent a bittie writin tae Lallans, and back it cam aw markit oot wi gey annoyin spellin advice. Mair years went by, and whaurever the leid needit a haun, John Law was amang thaim gien it, quate, dignified, shair, but takin awthing in. In the brek fae yin sic meetin, he askit me tae gie him somethin fur Lallans. Ye'll mind, says I, ah cannae spell. Och, says he, we'll no haud that agin ye. John argied fur Scots tae the coos cam hame, but didnae faw oot aboot it. He'd gang his ain gait, but ay made room fur ithers tae gang theirs. He gied respect, an won it fae ye. John's yin ae thae rocks oor leid stauns oan noo, ay present even when elsewhaur. Present yit a lang whiles, an aw times sairly missed.'

Alasdair Allan, MSP for the Wastren Isles an campaigner for Scots said, 'A wes fell sorry tae hear John hed dee'd.  A hed lang respeckit hs wurk for the Scots leid, an hed wrocht wi him in dargs as sindrie as poleitical activism, the Scots Language Society, leiterarie an ither daeins.  Awbodie at kent him wull miss him. Oor thochts is aw wi Janet an his faimlie.'

Poet, writer an educationalist, Liz Niven, said, 'A mind meetin John awa back when the Scots Language Resource Centre was jist a wee skinkle in his een.He approacht awthin in thon quate bit determined fashion, kennin whit he wantit tae dae an workin hard makkin shair he sortit it the best wey possible. An it wis a fine achievement. A true testimonie tae his skills as a negotiator an a gey feistie fechter fir the leid. He'll be weel missed by a wheen o fowk fae aw ower.'

Braidcaster an writer, Billy Kay, said, 'John Law wes a wice, douce, honest guidman wha wrocht without devaul for the leid that wes at the core o his and his kintrae’s bein – a muckle hertit man that’ll be sairly missed by aw the fowk, wha  believe in Scotland.'

Scots Independent Scots language columnist, Kenneth Fraser, commented, ' Aabodie that haes the weilfare o Scots at hert kens whit a muckle loss it haes tholit wi the daith o John Law. He wes ane o the maist eident wirkers in its cause. Scots needs no juist writers an teachers, bit organeesers that wul chauve awaa at the haurd wark, an this he did. Gin
Scotland haed haed mair lik him, oor leid wad hae been in a stranger poseition the day.'

Colin Donati wis a freen tae John an warked wi him at the Scots Leid Associe an in owersettin the Universal Declaration o Human Richts. Colin said, 'Even nou I’ve no taen it in. John wis a rock - a solid, siccar, dependable body o guid sense that awbody could aye lippen on. He wis a bonny fechter that didna hae ony ambeition but for the cause in the darg he wis daein. Awbody the day warkin for the leid wis indebtit tae him in some wey or ither and there isna ae body amang us winna fin themsels somewey feelin his loss. He wisna jist a chuckie on a cairn, he wis a cairn in his ain richt.'

Dr Caoline Macafee fae the University o Aiberdeen haed been involved wi John in mony projects ower the years. She said, ' Ah ay felt my wark wis in guid hauns wi John as editor - he wis carefu an consistent, bit, as Jack Aitken aince remarkit, he turnt oot a faur less authoritarian editor o Lallans than micht been feart. As Ah fun again recently, wirkin wi him on the Eneados, he listent, thocht things ower, an tane ither pynts o view intae conseederation, afore makin a soun judgement an stickin til't. John's veesion for the Scots leid will be sairly missed. His virr an eident sense o purpose wis an inspiration, an his tireless commitment an ensample that will ay bide wi's.'

Fiona Hyslop MSP, Minister for Culture, said, 'I knew John personally and he was an impressive man in many ways. John Law was a strong character with an even stronger commitment to Scotland and the Scots Language.  His work over decades has shaped and formed the foundations of a country which now has a reconvened Scottish Parliament, taking us nearer to Independence, and a status and profile for the Scots Language which is stronger than ever before.'

Michael Hance, Director o the Scots Language Centre, said, ‘There is nae dout aboot John’s contribution tae Scots. He didna come alang whan Scots haed stertit tae be fashionable. He wis aye there – dargin awa makkin the case for Scots. Whan he wis first a cooncillor in Perth he saw the chance tae bigg up a Centre for Scots an it is is because o his commitment an determination that we are aye here the day. John wis the Convenor o oor board whan I first stertit here at the Centre an he wis a fine an easy body tae work wi. We sometimes didna agree aboot aathin but that’s aye the case wi fowk that haes views they haud tae in a passionate like wey. I’m affa sorry for Janet an oor thochts is wi her ee nou.’

Hance’s tribute wis echoed bi SLC colleague, Dr Dauvit Horsbroch, ‘It wis a sair stammygaster tae hear that John isna wi us ony mair. Mair nor ony body, it wis John that fleitcht masel an ithers in ma student days tae haud-gauin forderin the Scots leid. He wis a lettert man, a shairp intellect, an a rare cheil. We will sairly miss him.’

Cllr Kate Howie, a colleague on Perth Cooncil an vice-convenor o the SLC said, ‘Since my Election John sat beside me in all Full Council meetings and became my mentor in the " workings " of the Chamber. His use of the Scots language in debate was never forced or unnatural. It always added so much to the strength of his well thought-out arguments. There were two main causes at the forefront of his mind – independence for Scotland and better support for the Scots language. He is a great loss to Scotland.’

BBC Scotland

Scotsman

Seeminlie, at ae tyme the war a lassie in Broughty Ferry that spak aboot the Toe Bridge, kis she thocht the name, The Tay Brig haed sumthing adae wi hir big tae.  Til a degree, in Scotland for monie generations, we hae suffert a process o deracination, a process o sinderin bairns frae thair cultural ruits – the conter o education.  Education soud help bairns ti bigg on thair cultural founds an bouster thair sense o faimilie identitie.  It is an ill thing ti tell a five-year auld bairn:  “The way you speak is wrong and must be corrected.”  Ti tell a bairn this, is ti yoke on its identitie an insult its haill faimilie backgrund.  This kynd o traetment has haen a fell effect on generations o skuil bairns, an eikit  an element o ill wull intil the Scots psyche, an is the source o the weill-kent Scotch creinge (or crulge). 

An important ootcum o this loss o pryde in Scots identitie haes been a parochial zeal amang local cooncils, tourist boards an cartographers, ti anglicise Scots street names an place names.  Native braes, closes, gaits, hauchs, knowes, loans,  raws, strachts,  vennels an wynds, haes been ruthlessly censored oot, in favor o alleys, avenues, crescents, hills, lanes an parks.  In St Andrews, the fact that Baxter’s Wynd is nou ‘the more elegant’ Baker Lane is proudlie posted.

Kirk Brae becums Church Hill, an the Sauchiebrae is doungradit inti the Willowbrae Road.  The velar fricative in haugh is whyles tint, sae that a street cryit Pan Ha’  kyths near Kirkcaldy  on a hauch whaur saut pannin uised ti gaun on. Sauchiehauch Street becums Sauchieha’ Street, an syne Sauchiehall Street, an Bridgehaugh an Philiphaugh becum  pronunced Bridgehaw an Philiphaw.  The surname, Waugh becums pronunced Waw an Loch Menteith is corrupted ti the Lake o Menteith, the name o the neiborin Carse nearby.  The Forestry Commission caws a new loch howkit in East Lothian, ‘Pressmennan Lake’.  In radio in Scotland, ootby the control of the Scots Government, annuncers ir employed wi bogus Inglish accents that whyles preclude the richt pronunciation o place names.  We hear Melrose wi a diphthong in the saicont syllable an Argyll wi the accent on the first.    Haill communities hae lost thair Gaelic or Scots place names.  Applecross kyths in the north-wast Hielands wi nae connection wi aipils or crosses, an cartographers hae bauchilt Muirbattle, (the dwallin-place on the muir) whaur muir wes locally pronunced, mair, ti Morebattle.

Short syne, thare hae been steps bi parochial tourist boards ti anglicise the richt names o the Scots landscape.   Bodies cawin thairsells The Forth Estuary Forum an the Forth Estuary Authority seeminlie disna ken that we hae a  Firth o Forth.  The’r nae sign in England o onie move ti rename the Thames Estuary the Firth o Thames.  Thare hae been ettils, agin public opposeition, ti  rename Clydesdale as Clyde Valley an Strathspey as Spey Valley, altho for a blissin,  the Clydesdale horse is aye wi us, an sum o us can still dance the Strathspey.  Tweeddale is chyngit inti Tweed Valley.

We maun be gratefu that a norie in the the 1930s that the Pass o Killiecrankie micht be renamed, the Princess Margaret Rose Glen, in lealtie til the Croun, cam ti naething!  It is ill ti finnd oot whit authoritie exists for sic chynges.  In onie wycelyke independent kintrie, place names that reflek its historie ir gien protection bi the Government an seen as national assets wi vailye for tourism. 

Agin the backgrund o national consciousness breirdin frae the estaiblishment o a Scottish Parliament, the tyme haes shuirlie cum ti conter thir effects o globalisation.  Sic trends thraeten ti undermine Scotland’s sense o national identity, an it is necessar ti tak a staun agin thaim, bi restorin the oreiginal native street names that reflek the Scots leid an the cultural heritage.   This process haes stertit areddies in Ireland, whaur Ulster Scots is stertin ti be regairdit, lyke Gaelic, as pairt o the linguistic heritage o Ireland as a haill. Ulster-Scots street signs hae kythed in the Belfast, Castlereagh an Ard Cooncil areas.  It is guid ti see Auld Loanen restored for Windyridge Cottages, Wal Raa for Well Road, Sooth Enn for Main Street an The Tounheid for Moat Road.  This is ae exempil in Ulster we micht dae weill ti follae.

 The separate composition category is for young composers (aged up to 21) and is designed to encourage new composition in Scotland. Called the Composition Award, the winning composer will receive a certificate and it is hoped his or her composition will be recorded and performed at the awards ceremony. The composition in this category may be in English, Gaelic or Scots.

 The choirs and composition will perform at the Perth Concert Hall, Mill Street, Perth, on Wednesday 2 June 2010, beginning at 10.30am. The adjudicator will be Kenneth Thomson. All entries must be sent in by the closing date of Friday 14 May 2010, to The Saltire Society, 9 Fountain Close, 22 High Street, Edinburgh, EH1 1TF.

If you would like more information, or entry forms, please contact the Saltire Society by phone 0131 556 1836, by e-mail saltire@saltiresociety.org.uk, or check out their website at www.saltiresociety.org.uk

The academics are hoping that people from around Scotland will send them information for a new online record of the customs, traditions, sayings, beliefs, superstitions and celebrations being carried out in Scotland today.

More information about the project including contact details are at the Intangible Cultural Heritage Scotland web site.  

Members can join in with all the talk about the fit's, far an fan's of North East life on facebook

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