Ever wondered about the vibrant future of Scotland’s unique languages? The Scottish Government is pouring £650,000 into Scots language projects, from captivating children’s books to teacher training! What do you think this boost means for Scottish culture?

The Scottish Government has unveiled a significant financial commitment of £650,000, earmarking these funds for a range of initiatives dedicated to preserving and promoting the rich heritage of the Scots language across the nation. This substantial investment underscores a renewed governmental focus on cultural safeguarding and linguistic diversity, aiming to secure the future of this integral part of Scotland’s identity for generations to come.

This considerable funding package represents a notable increase of £150,000 compared to last year’s allocation, highlighting a growing recognition of the vital role the Scots language plays in the country’s cultural landscape. The capital will be strategically distributed among eleven distinct organisations, each committed to fostering the language through diverse projects, from educational resources to community engagement programs.

The official announcement is anticipated to be made by Deputy Minister Kate Forbes during a visit to Bill and Bain printworks in Glasgow. This event will also serve as the launchpad for a new children’s book written entirely in Scots, symbolizing the government’s dual approach of direct investment and tangible educational outputs to support language growth.

The spotlighted publication, “Auchtermichty Aw-Stars,” is an innovative creation by Scots Hoose Yaldi, a prominent advocate for Scots language literacy. This engaging book features three captivating plays centered around a youth football club, designed to make learning Scots enjoyable and accessible for younger audiences.

“Auchtermichty Aw-Stars” is just one component of a broader series of Scots language books and comics slated for distribution to schools and nurseries across Scotland. This educational outreach initiative aims to embed the language within the curriculum from an early age, cultivating a deeper understanding and appreciation among young people and ultimately contributing to its sustained growth.

Echoing this sentiment, Ms. Forbes emphasized that these plays are part of a wider collection of free Scots resources designed to enhance young people’s understanding of the language. She further underscored the government’s legislative commitment, referencing the Scottish Languages Act, which seeks to establish Scots and Gaelic as official languages and implement new teaching standards for Scots.

The tangible impact of such investments is already evident, with recent census data revealing a positive trend: the number of individuals aged 15 and under in Scotland proficient in Scots has risen from 29% to 35%. This significant increase is directly attributed to sustained investment in language promotion and education, validating the effectiveness of these strategic initiatives.

Beyond children’s literature, the funding will support a variety of other crucial projects. This includes new Open University courses tailored to equip teachers with the skills to integrate Scots into their lessons, a comprehensive Dictionaries of the Scots Language project meticulously documenting the origins and meanings of Scots words, and dedicated efforts by Doric and Scots Radio to champion the broadcast of Doric.

The Doric dialect, a distinct form of Scots primarily spoken in the north-east, will also receive targeted support. The Doric Bord has been allocated £15,435 to provide expert advice to governmental bodies and media on language-related matters, while the Doric Festival secured £22,100, aiming to cultivate the next generation of Scots-speaking media professionals through its programming.