The Board is a jynt project in development wi representatives fae Aiberdeen Varsity, Robert Gordon Varsity, Aiberdeen City and Shire Cooncils, Moray Cooncil, an Angus, an oor community, wi an Executive consistin o Peter Reid, Thomas A. McKean, Frieda Morrison, an Andrew Ritchie.
Oor Strategic Board met in April tae formally constitute the body an plan oor programme o wark. This board mad up o Hamish Vernal (chair), Diane Anderson, Jim Brown, Peter Cook, Fiona Dakers, Bruce Eunson, Laurence Findlay, Gordon Hay, Robert Lovie, Thomas A. McKean, Lynne Mennie, Robert McColl Millar, Frieda Morrison, Jenny Niven, Peter Reid, Andrew Ritchie, Anne Thirkell, Sheena Wellington, and Doreen Wood.
A wider, community-based Advisory Board meetin will be held in Mey or June.
The North-East Scots Language Board (NESLB)
The North-East o Scotland is hame til a rich heirskip o language, music, ballad an sang, story, history, an lore, alangside the dynamic creativity o those fa stey an wirk here. A key pairt o this heirskip is North-East Scots, the expressive tongue that mony North-Easters spik, think, an feel in: Doric, Mearns, Dundee, Nairn, Toonser, Aiberdeen, Banffshire, Fisher Doric, Deeside Doric, Buchan.
Throu advocacy, campaignin, education, public programmin, an sustained research, the Board aims tae big up linguistic an cultural confidence in the North-East, be a pouerfu voice for social an economic regeneration, an a driver towards a national Scots Language Board. We are seekin a sustainable, dynamic future for North-East Scots as a vibrant tongue, mair an mair respectit ootower the region in the context o a diverse an open society.
In comin eers, visitors tae the North-East will tak tent richt awa that they are comin intil a special cultural region wi a strang an vibrant identity. They will encoonter North-East Scots bein used nae jist on the street, bit in scuils, shops an museums, an in the region's varsities an civil institutions; they will hear an see it used on radio an television. Residents an inabootcomers baith will experience a prood cultur, deeply rootit in history an tradition, shapit by creativity, an repurposed for modernity.
Fit We Dee
The Board his been foonit expressly tae uphaud, promote, an celebrate the eese o North-East Scots. We aim tae normalise its use aa ower the airt, fae education an the media tae business an public life, wirkin in pairtnership wi the Scottish Government, Education Scotland, an local authorities, scuils, businesses, an the cultural sector.
The Board is a hub for fosterin an developin North-East Scots an for giein advice tae the Scottish Government anent regional language maiters. We aim tae mak siccar that the language commands equal respect tae that gien til English an Gaelic.
Goals
The Scottish Government's Scots Language Policy recognises that the Scots leid is an essential pairt o oor cultur an heritage, a kenspeckle featur o fit wey we express oorsels in oor communities, as weel as bein a weel-kent pairt o oor internationally renount sang, poetry, an literature. The Scottish Government seeks tae uphaud Scots, an encourage respect an recognition for the language sae that fit is the language o the hame, for mony, can be used wi pride in ither airts o Scottish life.
The Board his been foonit tae reflect an uphaud this goal by promotin an developin North-East Scots as an integral pairt o the region's heritage, identity, an cultural life. Steps maun be taen tae mak siccar that its use is normalised in education, the airts, media, an ither sectors.
The Board seeks tae:
- Big up confidence in the use, unnerstaundin, an lairnin o the language
- Promote an facilitate access tae the region's cultural treasures throu the language
- Increase the acceptance o North-East Scots in o education, the warkplace, an in o the media
- Offer advice tae government, the media, public bodies, an ithers on maiters relatin tae North-East Scots
- Monitor an report on Scots language policies an the European Charter for Regional or Minority Languages as they relate tae North-East Scots
Priorities
Wirkin wi the Scottish Government, local authorities, varsities, scuils, an colleges, we aim tae improve provision an accessibility ootower the sector, baith for native spikkers an learners.
- Education - Uphaudin the use o North-East Scots in educational settins an the hame, an creatin a Pathwey for Scots for early eers, primary an high scuils, an tertiary education
- Communities an Individuals - Supportin communities an individuals, includin them that's new tae the language, in usin the language wi confidence in ony settin
- Culture - Biggin up the place o North-East Scots in promotin, developin, an sustainin oor strang cultural heritage an identity
- Business - Promotin the use o North-East Scots in the warkplace an commercial life
- Media - Campaignin for a greater presence o North-East language an cultur in Scottish media, fae press tae radio an television, as weel as media trainin for young fowk
- Tourism - Upsteerin the use o North-East Scots in the heritage an tourism industries, makin the visitor experience o this distinctive region better
- Materials - Forderin, developin, an upsteerin the creation o language resources for faimilies, lairners, civic leaders, visitors, dominies, et al.
Oor Approach
- We aim tae present ae voice for the promotion o North-East Scots, wirkin thegither tae advance the cause o cultural an linguistic confidence in the region
- We will forder the status, application, an accessibility o the language til - an for - aa, in innovative weys
- We will disseminate knowledge, best practice, an grundit research for the betterment o the citizens o North-East Scotland
Activities
The Board will uphaud an forder the eese o North-East Scots in aa aspects o life, as weel as hielichtin the diversity o contexts far it is aye widely eesed. The Board will contribute til a process o normalisation that will allow North-East Scots tae heeze up its place in Scotland's linguistic fabric.
The Board will:
- Create an uphaud opportunities for spikkers an learners tae use the language
- Uphaud the use o North-East Scots in oor scuils throu the Curriculum for Excellence
- Gie uphaud til organisations wantin tae rax their use o Scots
- Wirk wi the Scottish Book Trust an ither bodies tae enhance the resources available tae the public
- Contribute findins fae the Elphinstone Institute's language wark tae the debate
- Uphaud an contribute tae the Scottish Government's plannin an policies for Scots
- Forder the pittin intil effect o the SQA Scots Language Award
- Mak kent the connections atween bi- an tri-lingualism an attainment
Research
Clear an comprehensive research is vital in identifyin successes, failures, an new opportunities for oor language, briggin its rich history an its dynamic, creative present. If language forderin an plannin is tae succeed, we maun unnerstaund fit wey North-East Scots is wirkin in the ilkaday. Research will address current practice, new an evolvin forms, an eeses an contexts, as weel as the importance o language in the formation an development o regional identities, in business, an in tourism. The Board will forby monitor its ain wark, initiatives, an programmes for efficacy an ootcomes.
Language Plannin
The Board aims tae advise an gie uphaud tae the government an public authorities on language plannin an policies, an, in addition, gie a lift tae private an third sector organisations tae forder the use an value o North-East Scots in ilkae walk o life. Oor wark will forby advise an gie uphaud til ony organisation or group wantin tae bring North-East Scots mair visibly intil its wark an activities, that micht include, for example, assistin wi education, trainin, policy development, an implementation.
(Owreset takin tent o the Mak Forrit stylesheet for Scots)
The Board is a joint project in development with representatives from Aberdeen University, Robert Gordon University, Aberdeen City and Shire Councils, Moray Council, and Angus, with an Executive Board consisting of Peter Reid, Thomas A. McKean, Frieda Morrison, and Andrew Ritchie.
Our Strategic Board met in April to formally constitute the body and plan our programme of work. This board consists of Hamish Vernal (chair), Diane Anderson, Jim Brown, Peter Cook, Fiona Dakers, Bruce Eunson, Laurence Findlay, Gordon Hay, Robert Lovie, Thomas A. McKean, Lynne Mennie, Robert McColl Millar, Frieda Morrison, Jenny Niven, Peter Reid, Andrew Ritchie, Anne Thirkell, Sheena Wellington, and Doreen Wood.
A wider, community-based Advisory Board meeting will be held in May.
Why a North-East Scots Language Board
The North-East of Scotland is home to an exceptional heritage of language, music, ballad and song, story, history, and lore, alongside the dynamic creativity of those who live and work here today. A key element in this heritage is North-East Scots, the expressive tongue in which many North-Easters speak, think, and feel: Doric, Toonser, Mearns, Dundee, Nairn, Banffshire, Fisher Doric, Deeside Doric, Buchan.
Through advocacy, campaigning, education, public programming, and sustained research, the Board aims to enhance linguistic and cultural confidence in the North-East, being a powerful voice for social, and economic, regeneration, and a driver towards a national Scots Language Board. We envision a sustainable, dynamic future for North-East Scots as a vibrant language, increasingly respected across the region in the context of a diverse and open society.
In coming years, visitors to the North-East will immediately be more aware that they are entering a distinctive cultural region with a strong and vibrant identity. They will encounter North-East Scots being used not just on the street, but in schools, shops and museums, and in the region's universities and civil institutions; they will see it used on public buildings and signage; they will hear and see it used on radio and television. Residents and visitors alike will experience a proud culture, deeply rooted in history and tradition, shaped by creativity, and repurposed for modernity.
What We Do
The Board is established expressly to support, promote, and celebrate the use of North-East Scots. We aim to normalise its use throughout the region, from education and the media to business and public life, working in partnership with the Scottish Government, Education Scotland, and local authorities, schools, businesses, and the cultural sector.
The Board is the hub for fostering and developing North-East Scots and for providing advice to the Scottish Government on regional language matters. We aim to ensure that the language commands equal respect to to that given to English and Gaelic.
Goals
The Scottish Government's Scots Language Policy recognises that the Scots language is an essential element of our culture and heritage, a recognised feature of how we express ourselves in our communities, as well as being a familiar aspect of our internationally renowned song, poetry, and literature. The Scottish Government seeks to promote and support Scots and encourage respect and recognition for the language in order that what, for many, is the language of the home, can be used with pride in other areas of Scottish life.
The Board has been established to reflect and support these aims by promoting and developing North-East Scots as an integral part of the region's heritage, identity, and cultural life. Steps must be taken within Scotland - the home of Scots - to ensure that its use is normalised in education, arts, media, and other sectors.
The Board seeks to:
- Encourage confidence in the use, understanding, and learning of the language
- Promote and facilitate access to the region's cultural treasures through the language
- Increase the acceptance North-East Scots in education, the workplace, and in the media
- Offer advice to government, the media, public bodies, and others on matters relating to North-East Scots
- Monitor and report on Scots language policies and the European Charter for Regional or Minority Languages as they relate to North-East Scots
Priorities
Working with the Scottish Government, local authorities, universities, schools, and colleges, we aim to improve provision and accessibility across the sector, both for native speakers and learners.
- Education - Supporting the use of North-East Scots in educational settings and the home, and creating a Pathway for Scots for early years, primary and secondary schools, and tertiary education
- Communities and Individuals - Supporting communities and individuals - including those new to the language - in using the language with confidence in any setting
- Culture - Enhancing the place of North-East Scots in promoting, developing, and sustaining our strong regional cultural heritage and identity
- Business - Promoting the use of North-East Scots in the workplace and commercial life
- Media - Campaigning for a greater presence of North-East language and culture in Scottish media output, from the press to radio and television, as well as media training for young people
- Tourism - Encouraging the use of North-East Scots in the heritage and tourism industries, enhancing the visitor experience of this distinctive region
- Materials - Promoting, developing, and encouraging the creation of language resources for families, learners, civic leaders, visitors, teachers, et al.
Our Approach
- We will present a unified voice for the promotion of North-East Scots, working together to advance the cause of cultural and linguistic confidence in the region
- We will promote the status, application, and accessibility of the language to, and for, all, in innovative ways
- We will disseminate knowledge, best practice, and grounded research for the betterment of the citizens of North-East Scotland
Activities
The Board will support and promote the use of North-East Scots in all aspects of life, as well as highlighting the diversity of contexts in which it is already widely used. The Board will contribute to a process of normalisation in which North-East Scots can enhance its place in Scotland's linguistic fabric.
The Board will:
- Create and support opportunities for speakers and learners to use the language
- Support the use of North-East Scots in our schools through the Curriculum for Excellence
- Provide support to organisations wishing to expand their use of Scots
- Work with Scottish Book Trust and other agencies to enhance the resources available to the public
- Contribute findings from the Elphinstone Institute's Language Day to the debate
- Support and contribute to the Scottish Government's planning and policies for Scots
- Promote the implementation of the SQA Scots Language Award
- Publicise the connections between bi- and tri-lingualism and attainment
Research
Clear and comprehensive research is vital in identifying successes, failures, and new opportunities for our language, bridging its rich history and its dynamic, creative present. If language promotion and planning is to succeed, we must understand how North-East Scots is working in the everyday. Research will address current practice; new and evolving forms; uses and contexts; as well as the importance of language in the formation and development of regional identities, business, and tourist trade. The Board will also monitor its own work, initiatives, and programmes for efficacy and outcomes.
Language Planning
The Board aims to advise and support the government and public authorities on language planning and policies, and, additionally, to encourage and support private and third sector organisations to promote the use and value of North-East Scots in every walk of life. Our work will also support and advise any organisation or group wishing to bring North-East Scots more visibly into its work and activities. This may include assisting with education, training, policy development, and implementation.