Haud Yer Tongue TG - Channel 4

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factfile 3
Short history of the Scots
language
Pre-5th century Pictish language. Ogam script – still difficult to decipher. Also a form
of Welsh Brithonic was spoken in some parts of Scotland.
5th century Arrival of Gaelic from Ireland.
H A U D Y E R T O N G U E
5th–8th centuries Angles and Saxons came to Britain. Inglis language came to Scotland
and north England (Northumbria). Inglis developed into Scots in
Scotland and English in England.
11th–15th centuries Throughout this time Norse, Danish, Latin, French and Gaelic
influenced Scots. Like all languages, Scots contains words from other
countries.
1424 By now, the language was called Scottis and was quite different, but
still related, to English. Scots was spoken by royalty and used, with
Latin, for official documents. It was the official language of Scotland.
15th century Henryson and Dunbar wrote in Scots. King James IV greatly
encouraged his Scots writers at court.
16th century The Geneva Bible was translated into English but not Scots. Many
Scots therefore wanted to learn English.
1603 Union of Crowns. King James VI of Scotland became James I of
England, too. He moved to London with his court. English became
more popular with royalty and writers.
1707 Union of Parliaments of Scotland and England. English became the
official language of Scotland instead of Scots, though it was still
spoken by the people.
18th century A highly popular revival of written Scots by Robert Burns, Allan
Ramsay and Robert Fergusson.
1872 Scottish Education Act banned Scots from schools.
20th century Revival again of written Scots. Hugh MacDiarmid used it for highly
intellectual poetry.
1991 Scottish Office National Guidelines encourage Scots in schools.
1999 Higher Still exam encourages written Scots and Scots-language
studies.