Scots is a language, not an accent or 'bad' English – Kenny MacAskill

Some unionists in Scotland denigrate the Scots language, even though their equivalents in Northern Ireland support the Ulster tongue, writes Kenny MacAskill MSP
Mary of Guise, portrayed at Linlithgow Museum, spoke in her native French to Scots and English nobles so both could understand her as they would have struggled to communicate using Scots and English (Picture: Graham Hamilton)Mary of Guise, portrayed at Linlithgow Museum, spoke in her native French to Scots and English nobles so both could understand her as they would have struggled to communicate using Scots and English (Picture: Graham Hamilton)
Mary of Guise, portrayed at Linlithgow Museum, spoke in her native French to Scots and English nobles so both could understand her as they would have struggled to communicate using Scots and English (Picture: Graham Hamilton)

I enjoyed the recent programme on the Scots language by Alistair Heather. It built on much good work especially by the erudite Billy Kay. A Scots tongue there most certainly is and it’s both contemporary and historic.

I recall reading a biography of Mary of Guise, Mary Queen of Scots’ mother, detailing how as she brokered peace between Scots and English nobles, with French the language of choice not just diplomacy.

Without it both were virtually unintelligible to the other.

Hide Ad
Hide Ad

Over the years Scots has been denigrated. Received pronunciation was to the fore and a Scots tongue considered uncouth.

Read More
How Scotland's sport clubs help keep Scots alive as a language – Alistair Heathe...

Though never persecuted as much as Gaelic, it still suffered and was bred if not beat out of us.

At my school in West Lothian, an English teacher with a rather plumy accent told us all how bad our accents were.

Hardly encouraging and, for some, it must have been hugely debilitating.

Of course, with modern mass media, both languages and accents have converged in so many ways.

But Scots remains and is important. It should be cherished and supported. It’s the language of our people with all its regional dialects.

For it’s about who we are and how we view ourselves. It’s about self-confidence and it’s a language, not just an accent.

It’s ironic that unionists in Northern Ireland support the Ulster tongue, whilst many here denigrate its Scots equivalent.

Kenny MacAskill is the SNP MP for East Lothian

A message from the Editor:

Hide Ad
Hide Ad

Thank you for reading this article on our website. While I have your attention, I also have an important request to make of you.

With the coronavirus lockdown having a major impact on many of our advertisers - and consequently the revenue we receive - we are more reliant than ever on you taking out a digital subscription.

Subscribe to scotsman.com and enjoy unlimited access to Scottish news and information online and on our app. With a digital subscription, you can read more than 5 articles, see fewer ads, enjoy faster load times, and get access to exclusive newsletters and content. Visit www.scotsman.com/subscriptions now to sign up.

Our journalism costs money and we rely on advertising, print and digital revenues to help to support them. By supporting us, we are able to support you in providing trusted, fact-checked content for this website.

Joy Yates

Editorial Director

Comments

 0 comments

Want to join the conversation? Please or to comment on this article.