Please note: In order to keep Hive up to date and provide users with the best features, we are no longer able to fully support Internet Explorer. The site is still available to you, however some sections of the site may appear broken. We would encourage you to move to a more modern browser like Firefox, Edge or Chrome in order to experience the site fully.

Supporting your high street Find out how »
Unlocking Scots : The Secret Life of the Scots Language, Paperback / softback Book

Unlocking Scots : The Secret Life of the Scots Language Paperback / softback

Paperback / softback

Only a few left - usually despatched within 24 hours

Description

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 not only connects us to our communities at an emotional level but also links us to our past.

Scots was created by millions of voices coming together to share words, phrases and jokes; to understand, act on (and often laugh at) the world around them. Aye, but what exactly is 'Scots' anyway?Usually spoken in a mix with Scottish English, at leastnowadays, is it really a language at all?Was it ever?And what about its future?Dr Clive Young embarks on a quest to learn about the secret life of the language he spoke as a bairn.

Along the way, he encounters centuries of intense argument on the very nature of Scots, from the first dictionaries, through MacDiarmid, The Broons, Trainspotting and on to present-day Twitter rammies. (And of course, endless stushies about how to spell it.) Some still dismiss Scots as 'just' a dialect, slang or bad English.

Behind this everyday disdain Dr Young uncovers a troubling history of official neglect and marginalisation of our unique minority language, offset only by a defiant and inspiring linguistic loyalty. A refreshing counterbalance to the usual gloomy prognosis of Scots' supposedly 'inevitable' demise, Dr Young sketches out a practical roadmap to revitalise Scotland's beleaguered tongue and simple ways we can all keep it 'hale an hearty' for future generations. Acause if you dinna dae it, wha wull?

Information

Save 18%

£16.99

£13.89

Only a few left - usually despatched within 24 hours
Add to Basket
Sign in to add to wishlist
 
Free Home Delivery

on all orders

 
Pick up orders

from local bookshops

Information