Unlocking Scots
Unlocking Scots
The Secret Life of the Scots Language
Clive Young
ISBN: 9781804250495
Binding: paperback
In Stock
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About this book:
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 was created by millions of voices coming together to share words, phrases, jokes; to understand, act on and often laugh at the world around them.
Aye, but what exactly is ‘Scots’ anyway?
Is it still a language?
Was it ever one?
To answer these and many more questions posed by English and Scots speakers alike, Dr Clive Young sets out to uncover the secret life of Scots – the centuries of vibrant debate and unconscious bilingualism hidden beneath slang and touristy tea-towels.
From 19th-century dictionaries to Twitter rammies, Young explores the evolution, suppression, and potential revitalisation of Scots. He not only investigates its troubled past, but also looks towards the future with hope and a practical action plan that will allow everyone, however estranged from the mither tongue, to keep it hale and hearty for generations to come.
Acause if you dinna dae it, wha wull?
Exploring the everchanging nature of Scots language, Unlocking Scots by Clive Young takes us through the controversial debates behind speaking Scots. Young analyses not only how we communicate in Scots in the present day, but how it has evolved over time. It is a language that connects us through the tongue we speak and the emotional depths it allows us to convey, a language spoken and understood by around 1.5 million Scots according to the last census.
He investigates the deep history of Scots and the linguistic tension surrounding those who naturally spoke it and reflects on how Scots has now been saturated in politics – and what that means for the future of Scots speakers.
Reviews:
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
It’s clear that what we need is education about the leid from the get-go if we’ve any chance of eliminating the prejudice Scots speakers face. EMMA GRAE