Bill Wilson MSP

Dr Wilson, a long-time advocate of Scots language and culture, recently attacked the Scottish Arts Council for cutting funds to the SLD, a move which is forcing the organisation to resort to desperate measures to raise money to support its highly praised linguistic work.

Dr Wilson said:

“I am delighted that stars such as Robbie Coltrane, Ronnie Corbett, Brian Cox, Alan Cumming, Paul Laverty, Ken Loach, Andrew Marr, Shereen Nanjiani, Rebecca O'Brien, Bill Paterson, Siobhan Redmond, Hardeep Singh Kohli, Richard Wilson and Kirsty Young all value the work of Scottish Language Dictionaries.  The SAC claims to, but won’t fund them.  It would be tragic if this excellent organisation had to close down.  I hope the auction is a huge success!”

Notes to Editors

1. Scottish Language Dictionaries press release re eBay auction

http://www.scotsdictionaries.org.uk/auction.html

2. The importance of the work of Scottish Language Dictionaries

Background

THE DICTIONARY OF THE SCOTS LANGUAGE (DSL) comprises electronic editions of the two major historical dictionaries of the Scots language: the 12-volume Dictionary of the Older Scottish Tongue (DOST) and the 10-volume Scottish National Dictionary (SND). DOST contains information about Scots words in use from the twelfth to the end of the seventeenth centuries (Older Scots); and SND contains information about Scots words in use from 1700 to the 1970s (modern Scots). Together these 22 volumes provide a comprehensive history of Scots, and a New Supplement now (2005) brings the record of the language up to date. These are therefore essential research tools for anyone interested in the history of either Scots or English language, and for historical or literary scholars whose sources are written in Scots or may contain Scots usages.
 
In the DSL, these two dictionaries are being published together in their full form for the first time. Thus, information on the earliest uses of Scots words can be presented alongside examples of the later development of the same words. By making the DSL freely available on the Internet, Scots Language Dictionaries also aim to widen access to the source dictionaries and to open up these rich lexicographic resources to anyone with an interest in Scots language and culture. Its educational uses range from university research to help with the production of Scots materials for young children.

Present situation

However, two centuries after the publication of John Jamieson’s “Etymological Dictionary of the Scottish Language” set the international standard for lexicography, we still lack an up-to-date complete dictionary of the language (present dictionaries lack the words Scots shares with English).  This is a significant handicap in the struggle to eliminate discrimination against the Scots language.  It prevents the development of automated translation and spell-checkers, and makes it harder to teach the language.  Now that the previously inadequate funding for Scots language Dictionaries has been cut all its work is in jeopardy.  Contrast this with the healthy funding enjoyed by Ulster Scots.

3. Two of Dr Wilson’s previous press releases re support for the Scots Language

Homecoming Scotland Shames Scottish Arts Council — MSP Lambasts SAC’s Neglect of Indigenous Culture

http://www.billwilsonmsp.org/index.php?option=com_content&task=view&id=254&Itemid=2

Scottish Dictionary Anniversary to be Celebrated by Postage Stamp Issue?

http://www.billwilsonmsp.org/index.php?option=com_content&task=view&id=204&Itemid=2

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