Champion Scots

Published on 26/07/2012 00:00

Martyn McLaughlin’s excellent article on John Jamieson’s dictionary of the Scots language (23 July) shows a welcome support and acknowledgement of Scots.

I look forward to a page of Scots, perhaps once a month, on the lines of the weekly Gaelic page.

The letters in response, from Joe Darby and David Stevenson (25 July), show the interest in both Scots and Gaelic, both of great value to Scotland 
(although the financial support is less equal).

Written Scots has been rather marginalised, into comic prose or tiny, though interesting, lists of Scots words, and will benefit from being much more visible. The Scotsman is an ideal place. Fons Scotiae (a publisher of books in Scots, including translations of classics) has just published Iain WD Forde’s Twelve Children’s Tales in Gaelic, Scots and English, with CDs in 
Gaelic and Scots, which will allow adults and children the chance to see and hear Scotland’s three languages.

Susan Forde

Main Street

Scotlandwell, Kinross-shire

Much as I relished reading the article about the Scots lexicographer John Jamieson, and Joe Darby’s letter, the word “dialect” in association with Scots is politically sensitive.

While in historical context, as in both the article and Joe Darby’s letter, any possible offence is less. But to relegate Scots to the dialect league and deny it language league membership risks offence.

The comparative ease of usage of Scots because of more recognisable linkage with English, which Gaelic does not have, is referred to in Joe’s letter as a 
reason for preferring the teaching of Scots to teaching of Gaelic.

This, of course, could likewise be referred to as a reason for not engaging in the teaching of Scots instead of Gaelic.

But why not both? The harvesting and storing of Scots words and phrases bestows on the work of John Jamieson a 
preciousness.

Ian Johnstone

Forman Drive

Peterhead