Campaign launched for legal protection of Scots language

A new campaign has been launched to demand official recognition for the Scots language.

Oor Vyce brings together entertainers, writers, academics and political campaigners who want the Scottish Parliament to pass a law similar to the 2005 Gaelic Language Act that will promote “The Mither Tongue”.

They also want an official body like Bòrd na Gàidhlig, to raise the status and profile of Scots.

The campaign builds on a commitment made at the SNP conference last year to secure better protection for the language, which is spoken by one in three Scots – or more than a million and a half people – according to the 2011 Census.

Jack Capener, founder of Once Vyce, said: “It’s time for Scots voices to be heard. Despite its prevalence in everyday life, Scots lacks any sort of official status. There’s no legislation in place recognising it. We need to protect and promote it like Gaelic.

“When sae mony fowk dinnae see the wey they blether wi yin anither aw the time in their ain country respectit bi politeecians, it maks them scunnert an feelin hoo they talk micht somehoo be wrang. An we ken fine it’s no wrang, it’s yin o oor ain vyces.

“That’s why we’re calling for the Scottish Government to legislate for a Scots Language Act to officially recognise the rights of Scots speakers and set up a board with powers to protect and promote the language.”

Oor Vyce had a soft launch on social media yesterday ahead of the main launch after lockdown is lifted.

The language originated with the Angles who arrived in Scotland around 1,400 years ago.

At one time, Scots was the national language, spoken by kings and used to write official records, but it was displaced after the 1707 Act of Union.

Scots is recognised by the UK government as a regional language under the European Charter for Regional and Minority Languages, which the Scottish Government supports

A Scottish Government spokesperson said: “We take the promotion and preservation of the Scots language seriously and our ambition is for Scots to be recognised, valued and used in Scottish public and community life. We are aware of the recent calls for an agency to support Scots and are talking to the sector to better understand their wishes.