Knowra Scots language Scots language Scots is a West Germanic language spoken mainly in Scotland and parts of Ulster. It has regional varieties and a literary tradition distinct from, though closely related to, English.
Northumbrian Old English : A dialect of Old English spoken in the Anglo-Saxon kingdom of Northumbria. Scots developed from northern varieties of Old English brought into southeastern Scotland.
Kingdom of Alba : A medieval kingdom that developed into the Kingdom of Scotland. The growth of royal power and settlements helped northern English spread through southeastern Scotland.
Robert Burns : An eighteenth-century Scottish poet whose work includes poems and songs in Scots. Burns’s poetry brought Scots to a wide literary audience.
Scots literature : Literary writing in Scots, encompassing poetry, drama, prose, and oral traditions. Literary works provide a long record of Scots across genres and periods.
European Charter for Regional or Minority Languages : A Council of Europe treaty that protects and promotes regional and minority languages. The United Kingdom’s ratification includes commitments concerning Scots.
Scots dialects : Regional varieties of Scots, including Insular Scots, Central Scots, Southern Scots, and Northern Scots. These varieties show how Scots changes across Scotland and Ulster.
Davidian Revolution : The political and social changes in Scotland during the reign of David I, from 1124 to 1153. New towns and settlers strengthened the use of northern English in medieval Scotland.
Allan Ramsay : An eighteenth-century Scottish poet and bookseller who wrote and published in Scots. Ramsay helped sustain Scots literary writing before Burns.
Scots language in education : The teaching and study of Scots in schools and educational institutions. Education gives Scots a place in curricula while supporting literacy in its varieties.
Scots language recognition : The social, political, and institutional recognition of Scots as a language. Recognition influences public policy and the resources available for Scots.
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