Staff news

Event explores Scots language

Staff and students are invited to join an event celebrating Scots and Scottish English.

The afternoon of talks and discussions takes place on Burns Day – 25 January – in the University’s Psychology Building on George Square.

The Scots@ed event will showcase recent research on Scots and Scottish English taking place at the University.

Event details

Sign up to the Scots@ed event: http://www.ed.ac.uk/ppls/linguistics-and-english-language/events/scots-ed

Wide-ranging speakers

Speakers with a range of backgrounds and interests are taking part in the event.

Author and broadcaster Billy Kay and theatre-maker and performer Ishbel McFarlane are among those taking part in a panel discussion. They will be joined by the first Scots Scriever – the official writer in the Scots language – Hamish MacDonald.

One session will explore current research on the linguistic history of Scots. Researchers will look at spellings and sounds, Scots manuscripts and Scotland’s relationship with France.

A number of academics will also discuss the use and features of Scots and Scottish English in the present-day.

The event will end with a Posters and Prosecco session, when postgraduate and undergraduate students will display their recent work on the topic along with wine and nibbles.

Research funding  

The event is the first of its kind at the University. It comes after the Arts and Humanities Research Council granted £1million in 2013 for researchers at Edinburgh to investigate the early history of Scots.

Organised by Chancellor's Fellow Dr Rhona Alcorn, the event is open to all students and staff, at any stage in their career, who are interested in learning more about the Scots language.

Dr Alcorn is leading a brand new undergraduate course on the linguistic history of Scots, which launches this semester.

Related links

Scots@Ed

History of Scots undergraduate course