Unlocking Scots: The Secret Life of the Scots Language

The Scots language is the hidden treasure of Scottish culture. For many of us it is still how we speak to each other, how we express our feelings, our humour, even our Scottishness. It not only connects us to our communities at an emotional level but also links us to our past. Scots was created by millions of voices coming together to share words, phrases and jokes; to understand, act on (and often laugh at) the world around them. Aye, but what exactly is ‘Scots’ anyway? Usually spoken in a mix with Scottish English, at least nowadays, is it really a language at all? Was it ever? And what about its future? Dr Clive Young embarks on a quest to learn about the secret life of the language he spoke as a bairn. Along the way, he encounters centuries of intense argument on the very nature of Scots, from the first dictionaries, through MacDiarmid, The Broons, Trainspotting and on to present-day Twitter rammies. (And of course, endless stushies about how to spell it.) Some still dismiss Scots as ‘just’ a dialect, slang or bad English. Behind this everyday disdain Dr Young uncovers a troubling history of official neglect and marginalisation of our unique minority language, offset only by a defiant and inspiring linguistic loyalty. A refreshing counterbalance to the usual gloomy prognosis of Scots’ supposedly ‘inevitable’ demise, Dr Young sketches out a practical roadmap to revitalise Scotland’s beleaguered tongue and simple ways we can all keep it ‘hale an hearty’ for future generations. Acause if you dinna dae it, wha wull?

About the Author :
DR CLIVE YOUNG is an Edinburgh-born educational consultant now living in London. He is now the Head of Programme Development at University College London and taught as an Associate Lecturer at the Open University for a decade. He created one of the first websites dedicated to the Scots language in 1996, coining the word ‘wabsteid’ on the way. While studying language and linguistics at the Open University he began to work on what is now scotslanguage.info, a searchable archive of Scots news from press and social media.

Review :
I'm ready to declare it the essential book of our times for understanding our relationship with Scots - packed with real world relevance. STEVE BYRNE, Director of TRACS Scotland Dr Young has just published a very readable and thoughtful book called Unlocking Scots in which he thrashes out some of the real and concocted stushies around the language. DAVID LEASK, The Herald Lang-time screivar, speirar an steerar, Dr Clive Young, a body that mony in the Scots warld will ken o, haes noo set furth a buik cryed Unlocking Scots that we doot will mak a rare read for aw thaim wi an intress in the culture an politics o the Scots leid. SCOTS LANGUAGE CENTRE As the author of Scots The Mither Tongue, I am delighted that this book brings the story of Scots up to date in a detailed and skillful narrative that will appeal to all Scots devotees. BILLY KAY The book was well researched (it was great to see people I know & respect in the Scots speaking community getting mentioned too) and it is incredibly well written too, which makes it a suitable read for readers who are laymen when it comes to linguistics, as well as experts! It’s a refreshing read. I feel that it’s a must-have book for anyone interested in the Scots language & it’s going next to my other Scots books permanently! MIZLIOT Well written and well researched. DR VALENTINA BOLD Thoui wechty in wecht an wechty in tocht, this is nae dree academic thesis. It is maist readable an shuid be read by onywan wi an interest in the Scot Leid an foo tae tak it forrard. Dr Clive Young is kenspeckled mang Scots screivers, spikers an readers. His is a vyce weel worth the listenin tae. This buik is essetial readin tae onywan wi an interest in the Scots Leid at ony level an I recommend it maist assuredly. Lallans magazine Comprehensive, detailed, and at times uncomfortable account ...in-depth insight ...will add to the scholarship in this field. BABEL