The Scottish Government

« Previous | Contents | Next »

Listen

Conference report

Background

Between April and October 2008 the Scottish Government undertook an Audit of Current Scots Language Provision in Scotland, to establish where provision currently exists and to determine what opportunities may exist to improve provision for the Scots language. The research findings (report and table of provision) were published on 27 January 2009 on the Scottish Government's website: http://www.scotland.gov.uk/Publications/2009/01/23133726/0.

The aim of the Scots Language Conference was to formally present the research findings to representatives from the Scots language community and enable discussion of possible ways forward to promote and develop the language, with the purpose of providing the Scottish Government with views and suggestions on how the Scots language may be better promoted and developed in future. The agenda for the conference is attached at Annex A.

Welcome - Linda Fabiani MSP, Minister for Europe External Affairs and Culture

Minister Fabiani welcomed delegates to the conference, the first of its kind to be hosted by a Scottish administration. She referred to the recent uncertainty about future funding arrangements for the Scottish Language Dictionaries and the Scots Language Centre, and announced that the Scottish Government would assume direct responsibility for funding these organisations after their respective current allocations of funding from the Scottish Arts Council expire at the end of September 2009.

Introduction and overview of the day ahead - Billy Kay

The Chairman for the day, Billy Kay, encouraged those audience members, who had it in them, to speak in their Scots tongue wherever possible throughout the day's proceedings. He acknowledged that some delegates may have come to the conference with reservations or scepticism about the intentions behind the Scottish Government's audit, and said that today would present ample opportunities for people to air their concerns. He also reminded delegates, however, that the emphasis of today's conference was forward-looking, referring to the existence of the audit and this conference as the Scots language community's first hope for meaningful progress being made in a long time. He emphasised the potential for what is learned from the conference to be used for positive, practical purposes in the future.

The Scottish Government's Audit of Current Scots Language Provision in Scotland - presentations from Janet Ruiz, Principal Research Officer at Scottish Government and Dr Rhys Evans of Integrate Consulting

Janet Ruiz provided some background to the audit and the research process underpinning it. The Europe, External Affairs and Culture Analytical Services Unit in the Office of the Chief Economic Adviser commissioned the research to establish a baseline 'snapshot' of current provision for the Scots language in Scotland. A Research Advisory Group comprising officials from the Scottish Government [Janet Ruiz, Julie Carr (both social researchers in the Europe, External Affairs and Culture Analytical Services Unit), Michael Napier (Gaelic and Scots Unit), Emma Wilson (Curriculum Division)], the Scottish Arts Council (Gavin Wallace) and representatives from Itchy Coo (James Robertson and Matthew Fitt), was established to support and provide contacts to Rhys Evans. The audit was not intended to be a census of every single act of provision, nor was it an audit in a financial sense. It should, perhaps, be viewed as the first step in a journey ahead. Outputs from the audit include the audit report and the data table of provision. The Scottish Government recognises the potential value of this information to policy makers and practitioners and will enable the data table to be updated with information from individuals and organisations whose acts of provision were not captured by the audit in the first instance. The slides from Janet Ruiz's presentation are attached at Annex B.

Dr Rhys Evans, who has a background in social policy research, gave an overview of how the audit was undertaken. This included: the aims and objectives of the audit; the research methodology, how data were gathered and reported; discussion of findings; potential ways forward; conclusions and impressions. A key message emerging from Dr Evans' report is that Scots is a living language which may be considered as a community asset and can contribute to improving the situation of its users within their community, and to improving the situation of the community within the wider world. The slides from Rhys Evans' presentation are attached at Annex B.

Scots language in schools - presentation by pupils from Nethermains Primary School, Denny

In a change to the running order, the next item on the agenda was a presentation by schoolchildren from Nethermains Primary School, who sang and read in Scots. When asked if they felt proud about using the Scots language, they answered with a resounding "yes!"

The pupils' teacher, Caroline Winning, and Headteacher, Mary Connolly, reported that in the last year, as a result of learning about and in the Scots language, the pupils have extended their vocabulary and increased their attainment in writing by at least one level. Learning in Scots has also increased the confidence of the pupils with the support of their parents, the community and the local authority.

The Scottish Government's Audit of Current Provision for the Scots Language - questions to the panel

The next session offered conference delegates the opportunity to ask a panel comprising the Research Advisory Group and the Minister for Europe, External Affairs and Culture questions about the audit. The audience's questions and the responses from the panel are summarised below.

• Why do successive governments support Gaelic but show little support for the Scots language?

The remit of the audit research was not to answer that question; however the issue did come up during the course of the research. The research was designed so that these types of question could be noted and thereby potentially feed into any future research.

We recognise that there are discussions going on about the different approaches which up to now have been or in future may be taken for the Gaelic and Scots languages; Minister Fabiani added that it is not constructive to make direct comparisons, which have the potential to be divisive and perhaps from this point forward we should move on to celebrate the diversity of languages in Scotland.

• As part of a credible language planning process surely it is time that Part 3 cover of the European Charter for Regional or Minority Languages is extended to Scots?

The most recent submission to the Council of Europe in respect of implementing the Charter for Regional or Minority Languages in respect of Scots was an improvement on the previous one three years before.

What matters just now, more than the act of securing Part III coverage, are the additional or enhanced measures themselves that would make Part III coverage possible.

At the moment we would settle for even just one period a week of Scots in schools; the position under Part 3 where the whole curriculum is delivered in Scots is a long way off. However, there are immediate cases to be put forward in culture, arts, music and media, and we should consider how the best can be made of these opportunities.

• How important is an event like this to normalise the Scots language and to work with other language groups?

This conference is crucial within a European context, it gives recognition to Scotland as a multilingual country: we are a '3-voiced' country and we should use more than one language. The influences of the Gaelic and Scots languages are seen throughout our indigenous art and culture and we are all the better for this cultural diversity.

As an example of what can be achieved, reference was made to the recently improved position of the Frisian language which is spoken in Friesland (in the Netherlands) and has a similar relation to the Dutch language as Scots has to English. Frisian is now actively supported by the local authority and national government in the Netherlands.

There was a suggestion of animosity between Gaelic and Scots speakers in Scotland; however, the panel did not agree with this, and suggested it was rather a frustration at the perceived imbalance between the languages. One delegate then raised the point that outcomes from audits such as this provide an environment to address these issues and that the Scottish Government holding this conference is an amazing step forward for the people who have been campaigning to get to this position for such a long time. The audit has also provided for the first time a reliable body of data.

• In the light of this audit is centralised direction likely to emerge from the government?

Across the board nobody really knew what was being provided in the field as nobody had really looked at it before. There is obviously a balance to be struck. The government will carry on with this work and see what can best be achieved.

One delegate characterised provision for the Scots language up to now as 'atomistic', in the sense that pockets of excellence do exist. However, where they exist, there is no direction applied to support or provide cohesion to them. Another delegate welcomed the audit's findings that provision in the higher education sector is strong, but cautioned that the infrastructure in that sector is weak, and that there may be opportunities for growth in the sector, if issues concerning access funding can be addressed.

Breakout sessions one and two

Conference delegates were split into seven discussion groups and were asked to consider five questions during two breakout sessions before and after the lunch break. The notes from each breakout group are provided in Annex C.

Scots language in schools - presentation by pupils from St Ninian's Primary School, Stirling

The schoolchildren gave a presentation on their 'Words from the Weans' project, which involves compiling a national children's Scots dictionary with assistance from the Scottish Language Dictionaries. They have gathered Scots words used by school pupils from across Scotland and aim to publish the resulting dictionary. The pupils and their Headteacher, Elaine Wylie, explained that their vision is to inspire people to use the Scots language and to feel good about it. The teacher and pupils' parents reported great enthusiasm and commitment to the project, and as part of the celebrations for the Year of Homecoming are inviting visitors to bring home Scots words that are used abroad. Conference delegates were invited to contribute to the project by emailing their words to: homecomingwords@stirling.gov.uk

Top lines from discussion groups

In this session the facilitators summarised the points made in their groups in response to the questions provided for discussion. The main themes, views and suggestions arising from each question are summarised below:

1. What roles should central and local government play in the further development of policy for the Scots language? What should such policy, if desirable, attempt to address?

• Consider how the language is regarded, its status and value: encourage its use at all levels, endorse Scots as a language of Scotland.
• Central government should give a clear message so that there is a strong lead from the top to local government.
• Incorporate Scots language promotion into National Indicators / Single Outcome Agreements.
• Need active policy statements to build on.
• Address issues of discrimination against Scots speakers.
• Need leadership, clear vision.
• Set up an advisory group (similar to Professor Donald Meek's Ministerial Advisory Group for Gaelic) to co-ordinate the approach of all parties.

2. What kind of structure is desirable to improve the current delivery of support and provision for the Scots language? What roles could existing or new public bodies and Scots language organisations play in such a structure?

• A body or institute for the Scots language, a 'Scots Leid Board' to co-ordinate policy and guidance.
• Positive publicity for the language.
• A forum to bring all agencies together and promote networking.
• Sustainable funding.

3. How can the new curriculum framework for schools provide opportunities for young people to explore the Scots language and culture?

• More provision for teacher training and CPD is necessary.
• More contemporary resources are required.
• A charter should be adopted to provide consistency among local authorities.
• ICT applications should be exploited.
• Learning opportunities in Scots should be provided.
• More needs to be done to include Scots in the secondary curriculum.
• SQA should consider a qualification which recognises pupils' use of Scots.

4. What opportunities exist to increase access to the Scots language in the media (print, radio, television, online) and how can the media be encouraged to engage with the Scots language community?

• Grow the publication industry itself to promote Scots literature.
• Expansion of resources in schools, especially at secondary level.
• New technology, internet downloads.
• Enhancement of public service programmes.
• Government could commission TV programmes in Scots, to influence broadcasters.
• Funding should be made available to promote programmes in Scots.
• Create a portal to access Scots language media.

5. How can the Scots language and its cultural practices be considered, developed and promoted as an economic asset?

• Better promotion of Burns; encouragement of other writers and publishing in Scots.
• Tourism opportunity: worldwide interest in language and dialects of different areas of Scotland.
• Genealogy.
• Homecoming 2009 is a good step, however more could be done to bring out aspects of Scots culture: central agencies should engage more with local providers.
• Raise awareness of Scots in public life as part of our 'intangible cultural heritage'.
• Local and national festivals, e.g. Scottish Language Festival.

Plenary discussion

The plenary discussion which followed was led by Billy Kay and revisited some of the points that had been made in the previous session. The questions raised and views expressed by delegates are summarised below.

Many of the groups suggested the need for a central board or body for the Scots language, do we really need this or would it just be another layer of bureaucracy?

• This board would not be to provide a policing role but act as an instrument for strategic national co-ordination.
• Should structure not wait until function has been determined?

And if there is no overarching central authority, what should there be?

• Something along the lines of the Meek Advisory Committee to safeguard the future of our language, very important to provide a 'route map'.
• In the current economic climate difficult to justify government funding? There are already good ideas / models to build on, don't need a new body.
• The need for positive discrimination of Scots over English.
• Funding could come from Europe as well as our own resources.

Education

• A conference about Scots language in Education would be a positive outcome from this event.
• The Scots language has a fragile infrastructure; the constant need to convince people in power that the language is a good thing is a drain on creative energy and human assets: future support for Scots language in education must come from education authorities, and not cultural bodies.
• The government has a role as an influential voice in both education and broadcasting.

Media

• Publicity is a crucial tool in persuading parents to bring up children to be proud of their own heritage - successful people who are known Scots speakers should be used as role models.
• Normalisation of the Scots language will only be achieved through increased use of the language in the media.

More widely , it is unacceptable that discrimination against Scots speakers is still prevalent in some areas of public life. The Scottish people have to overcome the 'Scottish cringe' and begin to regard the Scots language in a positive way.

Where does Minister Fabiani view the Scots language sitting within the Scottish Government?

• The way the government is set up in Scotland enables everything (including Scots language matters) to be addressed in the mainstream across the whole organisation. Ms Fabiani's portfolio is located within the Office of the First Minister, which ensures that it has a high profile. The Gaelic and Scots Unit has recently been taken out of Culture Division and moved to the division which among other things deals with national identity, which reflects how important the Scottish Government considers Scots to be for Scotland.

Billy Kay picked up on the view expressed by some delegates that, while research into the economic impact of festivals has already proven their value and also demonstrated how they can empower and raise the self-esteem of communities, the full socio-economic benefits have yet to be realised from the Scots language. He proposed that one example of how this may be addressed would be the creation of 'Scots Trails' around Scotland, to promote the culture and language in designated areas, which could work as social and economic assets for these communities. Much work has been done to promote the Gaelic heritage and identity of certain areas in Scotland, and perhaps the time is now right to consider how something similar may be done for the Scots language? This may also open up opportunities for a better interface between the Gaelic and Scots languages than has been the case until now.

Summary of the day's proceedings - Billy Kay

Billy Kay said that an important baseline has now been established by government with the audit, and it is important to build on the energy, enthusiasm and knowledge that had been shared by delegates at the conference today. In his view there appeared to be a number of points on which delegates were united, and a number of things that might be achievable without the need for major reforms. What has been raised at today's conference would no doubt provide a valuable springboard for Scottish Ministers and the Scottish Government.

Billy Kay thanked the audience for their attendance and for their contributions to the day's proceedings, and stated that it was a pleasure to see so many people who are passionate about the Scots language coming together to debate its future. He said that whilst there should be no doubt about the fragility of the Scots language, there is clearly great potential to rectify the situation, which is all the more urgent in the year when Scotland celebrates the 250 ^th anniversary of the birth of Robert Burns. Like Gaelic, Scots is a national language of Scotland, and surely the time has now come when Scots speakers no longer have to plead for the same level of support that has been given in recent years to Gaelic speakers? He alluded to "Harry", a primary school pupil he had spoken to recently in the course of a discussion about using the Scots language, who said: "the thing that has changed for me is that everything about me has changed". Billy Kay felt assured that the political will exists to improve matters for Scots; however, the extent of this will has still to be determined. He thanked Minister Fabiani for her participation in today's conference before inviting her to deliver her closing remarks to conference.

Closing address - Linda Fabiani MSP, Minister for Europe, External Affairs and Culture

Minister Fabiani thanked everyone for attending and Billy Kay for facilitating the conference.

Responding to the main points of the plenary discussion Minister Fabiani asserted that Scots is a national language of Scotland, and that it is definitely 'good for the nation'; she added that the Scottish Government is ready to do what it can to encourage, enable and endorse the use of the language. Clearly a balance needs to be struck between a top-down and a bottom-up approach, and she would ensure that any action the Scottish Government takes is inclusive.

She said that whilst the current channels for delivery are up for discussion, she did not consider the creation of another statutory body to be politically or financially tenable in the current climate. She reiterated that the will to improve the current situation exists, and government and the Scots language community need to think around how this may be achieved. Scots is integral to the nation's identity, and there should be scope to see the importance government attaches to the language reflected in mechanisms like the Single Outcome Agreements in place between local authorities and national government, and also ensure that all government directorates and agencies give due recognition to the language. The Minister shared the view that it would be desirable to have a single portal to provide co-ordination of efforts and communication.

In the case of education, the Minister stated that it would perhaps be beneficial to have another seminar specifically targeted at learning and teaching bodies, policy makers and practitioners, which among other things could consider the needs of pupils beyond primary level. It would be important to involve professional bodies such as Learning and Teaching Scotland, HMIe and the Scottish Qualifications Authority, as well as teachers themselves. Consideration should also be given as to how existing classroom resources such as 'Glow' (schools intranet) may be harnessed to promote the use of Scots by pupils in schools.

The Minister referred to the National Theatre for Scotland and the community outreach work it undertakes with parents and children, saying that this work may provide an opportunity to make in-roads to developing the profile of Scots in the theatre's programming and could be another way of demonstrating the social and economic benefits to be derived from promoting Scots.

Concerning the media, Minister Fabiani said that consideration should be given to how the Scots language can embrace 'new media' resources to better engage with younger audiences. She also agreed that more publications should be available in Scots for adolescents. The Minister reiterated the view that a coordination of effort and communication would be beneficial, and said that in her opinion Creative Scotland would have a vital contribution to make in this respect. She also mentioned that the Scottish Government had recently begun a review of the support currently in place for traditional and indigenous arts in Scotland. The Scottish Broadcasting Commission's recent recommendation to establish a new Scottish digital network offers the prospect of providing a fresh Scottish perspective on production and broadcasting in Scotland, and logically, should also offer new opportunities for the Scots language. The Minister agreed with much that had been previously said about harnessing the economic potential of the Scots language, citing creative industries and festivals as two examples of where perhaps progress can be made quickly. In her view, Scotland has a 'unique selling product' for internal and external markets in Burns and the Scots language, and the government would consider how Homecoming 2009 could be used to develop sustainable economic benefits

The Minister reiterated how much the Scots language and culture was an asset and force for good for Scotland, and that the time has now come for people in Scotland to reconsider how they value this aspect of the country's heritage. She referred to the situation in Japan, where the government has adopted 'living treasures' to promote the country's traditional culture and customs, and mentioned that in this country, Napier University had recently undertaken some research on Scotland's 'intangible cultural heritage'.

Minister Fabiani concluded that the conference could not have decisions from her today, however, she had learnt a lot from the day's discussions, which would be summarised in the form of a conference report and issued the following month. In her view events like this were welcome and long overdue. She proposed that after the conference report had been published, she would like to meet a small group of (up to six) experts from the Scots language community to explore how some of the recommendations from the audit and suggestions emanating from the conference may be taken forward. She asked the assembled representatives from the Scots language community to consider who the most appropriate candidates may be, and forward their nominations to her official Michael Napier.

The Minister thanked everyone for taking part and said that the depth and extent of the work that is going on around the country is impressive.

« Previous | Contents | Next »