SCOTS LANGUAGE TIMELINE
1424 to date
(Grateful thanks to the Scots Language Centre for their permission to use the entries marked thus: *)
2023
Scottish Government carries out a public consultation in advance of a Scottish Languages Bill.
2017
Publication of the Concise Scots Dictionary, Second Edition, the ideal reference work for readers, learners, speakers and students of the Scots language. Updated from the first edition in 1985, it is the single most authoritative volume on the history, pronunciation and geographical distribution of Scots words.
Drawing on the 22 definitive volumes of the Dictionary of the Older Scottish Tongue (covering the period to 1700) and the Scottish National Dictionary (1700 onwards), with new words gathered from the Scottish National Dictionaries’ national reading programme, the Concise Scots Dictionary offers an accessible, one-volume dictionary for all readers and writers, updated throughout to reflect modern Scots usage, alongside coverage of older Scots. It is also an invaluable guide for anyone with an interest in the history of Scotland, her people and their way of life.
2015
Scots now offered as a language for study in senior school.
2014
Our home town of Keith in Moray (mid way between Aberdeen and Inverness in North-east Scotland) was the first to achieve Scots Toun status, a prestigious Scottish Government / Scots Language Centre award bestowed on communities which have retained their linguistic culture.
2013
Publication of 2011 Census figures confirming that there are 1,541,693 Scots speakers in Scotland, 40,839 in Moray.
2011
Scotland’s Census. Following decades of campaigning, questions on Scots included for the first time.
2009
Homecoming Scotland. A year-long, Scotland-wide celebration of the 250th anniversary of the birth of Robert Burns. Check out Mither Tongue’s tribute HERE
*2008
Scottish Government commissions the first ever government audit of provision for the Scots language.
*2002
The Dictionary of the Older Scottish Tongue and Scottish National Dictionary Association merge to form the new Scottish Language Dictionaries.
*2002
Publication of L Colin Wilson’s ‘Luath Scots Language Learner’.
*2001
Foundation of Cross-Party Group on Scots in the Scottish Parliament.
*2001
The UK Government ratifies the European Charter for Regional or Minority Languages on behalf of Scots (under the provisions of Part II).
*2000
Scottish Parliament allows speeches and oath-taking in Scots, provided they are accompanied by an English text translation.
*2000
The Boord O Ulster Scotch is founded.
1998
Royal Mile public demonstration in Edinburgh is first held on behalf of rights for Scots speakers.
*1997
Publication of David Purves’s ‘A Scots Grammar’.
*1996
The Scottish National Party become the first political party to adopt a policy on the Scots language.
*1996
Both ‘The Kist’ and ‘Scots School Dictionary’ are published.
*1996
General Register Office for Scotland Report estimates 1.5 million Scots speakers in Scotland or 30% of Scottish population.
*1995
Campaign for a Scots question in the census gets under way.
*1993
The ‘Concise Scots Dictionary’ published.
Scots Tung and Glesca Scots Speikers’ Curn are first campaigning Scots language groups founded to lobby the political world.
*1993
Scots Language Resource Centre (later renamed Scots Language Centre) is founded with support from Perth Council.
*1993
The European Bureau of Lesser Used Languages recognises Scots as a minority European Language.
*1992
The Ulster-Scots Language Society is founded.1980s / 90s
Scots was tolerated / accepted in the classroom.
*1991
Scottish Education Department announces wish for Scots to be included in the school curriculum.
*1985
The ‘Concise Scots Dictionary’ published.
*1983
W.L. Lorimer’s New Testament in Scots published.
(Translated directly from Greek).
1950s
Children were shamed and ridiculed for speaking Scots in school.
1947
His Majesty’s Inspectorate for Education Report read “Scots is not the language of educated people anywhere and could not be described as a suitable medium for education or culture. It is the first duty of infant teachers and the continuing duty of all primary teachers to implant and cultivate fluent speech in standard English. Against such unlovely forms of speech masquerading as Scots, we recommend that the schools should wage a planned and unrelenting campaign”.
1930s
Children were physically punished for speaking Scots in school.
*1931
First part of ‘Dictionary of the Older Scottish Tongue’ published.
*1901
William Wye Smith’s ‘New Testament in Braid Scots’ published.
*1873
James Murray’s ‘The Dialect of the Southern Counties of Scotland’ is published. Having mapped out the dialects of Scots for the first time, and a chronology, Murray founded the modern study of Scots.
*1872
Education (Scotland) Act ignores Scots language and confirms earlier moves towards English-only education in Scotland.
*1855
Repeal of Stamp Act leads to growth in popular press and encourages article writing in Scots in local newspapers.
*1845
Appointment of first HM Inspector of Schools in Scotland marks beginning of an official attempt to discourage (and ban) Scots speaking in education.
*1808
John Jamieson’s ‘An Etymological Dictionary of the Scottish Language’ is the first Scots language dictionary.
*1801
First Burns Supper held (at Alloway in Ayrshire).
*1796
Death of Robert Burns at the age of 37 (21 July).
*1786
Robert Burns publishes ‘Poems Chiefly in the Scottish Dialect’.
1759
Birth of Robert Burns (25 January) who re-invigorated Scots after centuries of neglect.
*1707
Treaty of Union ends Scottish independence. Scots-speaking politicians must now sit in the British parliament in London and are mocked because of their language.
*1649
Death of Charles I, technically the last monarch able to speak Scots.
*1641
Publication of first collection of ‘Scottish Proverbs’ (collected by David Fergusson who died in 1598).
*1603
James VI of Scotland also becomes king of England and moves royal court to London.
*c.1424
James I’s ‘Kingis Quair’ is first literary work in Scots written by a king.
Murdoch Nisbet makes first Scots translation of New Testament.