NLS debate report

A debate about Scots held last month at the National Library of Scotland brought in an audience of over 100 people. Here David Purves gives his impression of the evening's events.

At the moment the report is only available in English.

This event was essentially a panel discussion, chaired by Michael Hance, Director of the Scots Language Centre in the A K Bell Library in Perth. This was founded in 1990 by the Scots Language Society (SLS) to provide information on Scots language and literature. The SLS was founded earlier in 1972 (Hon Preses, Christopher Murray Grieve), and the magazine LALLANS was launched in the following year under the editorship of J K Annand. Since LALLANS is the only literary magazine published exclusively in Scots, it has provided a valuable outlet for writers in Scots in poetry and prose from the last quarter of the twentieth century..
A general discussion followed short addresses by John Corbett, James McGonigal, Gillian Munro, David Purves and Rab Wilson. This event attracted a capacity audience and most of the enthusiasts for Scots language who have survived from the founding of the SLS in 1972 appeared to be present. Many, of course, have since gone to the Land o the Lael.

Issues which were discussed, were whether Scots matters and to what extent it is an important budge of national identity and could now be revived. Against the background of a Scottish Government ostensibly committed to cherishing Scotland’s linguistic heritage, Linda Fabiani, the Minister of Culture gave assurance of that commitment, although questions remain unanswered about the future funding of the Scots Language Centre and the role of ‘Creative Scotland’ in relation to promoting the image of ‘Good Scots’ in education and public life. There was some comment on the evident gross disparity between present arrangements for funding Gaelic and Scots and the official use of the heading: ‘Culture and Gaelic Division’ as part of the Cultural Directorate at Victoria Quay.

A plea was made by David Purves for the republication of an updated version of ‘The Way Forward for Scots Language’ published in 1997 by the Scottish Centre for Economic Centre for Economic and Social research (Hon. Vice-Preses, Alex Salmond, MP). This document has been overtaken in some respects, by events, but an updated version has been recorded on the electricscotland website, and nine reforms deemed necessary in the updated document were listed in the March number of the Scots Independent, as appropriate guidance for the development of Government policy for the Scots language.

A wide range of relevant questions were discussed relating to current attitudes to Scots, but although we now have a National Theatre, there was no discussion of the reluctance of this body to promote the production of plays in Scots. However, the extension of drama in Scots beyond the range of pantomime and mock-historical comedy in buckled shoes, and the extent to which Scots should be taught in schools are issues which evidently require further, more-focussed discussion with Government involvement.