Hae ye iver felt the yird dunt beneath yer feet as a Scots word bubbles up in yer mind, a wird that captures a feelin or a place better than ony English wird ever could? Mibbe ye hear it in the cadence of a granda’s story, the lyrics of a modern Scots band, or the pages of a Lewis Grassic Gibbon novel. That deep, resonant connection is the hertbeat o the Scots leid—a leid o braw power, humour, and soul, and no a mere “dialect.” Noo, for the first time, a groundbreaking online course is here tae help ye find yer voice in Scots, no just hear it.
This isnae aboot learnin a furrin tongue. It’s aboot reconnecting wi a fundamental pairt o Scottish heritage, claimin it, an learnin tae wield its unique expressive power. Whether ye’re a Scot keen tae write in yer mither tongue, a member o the global diaspora seekin a link to yer roots, or a leid-lover fascinated by this robust and melodic tongue, this online course is designed for ye. It’s a virtual gathering place, a ceilidh o the written wird, where the auld and the new combine tae keep the leid livin and breathin.
Why the Scots Leid? Why Noo?
Scots isna deid. It’s vibrantly alive. It’s in the poetry of Liz Lochhead, the gritty urban prose of Irvine Welsh, the singsong rhymes o weans in the playground, and the banter at a local pub. It’s a leid that can convey warmth, scorn, poetry, and profound emotion, aften aw at the same time. It’s the leid o “dreich” for a rain-soaked day, “sonsie” for a cheerful, plump face, and “stramash” for a glorious uproar. It’s a leid that carries the wecht o history in its sounds—the auld Inglis o the Angles, the Norse o the Vikings, the Gaelic o the Hielands, and the French o the Auld Alliance.
Tae write in Scots is tae participate in a cultural renaissance. For centuries, Scots was marginalised, dismissed as “slang” or “bad English” in a process known as linguistic stigmatisation. But a powerful revival is underway. There’s a hunger tae reclaim this heritage, tae affirm its legitimacy, and tae create new stories and airt in the leid. This course is yer chance tae be a pairt o that movement, tae add yer ain voice tae the chorus.
Whit Tae Expect: A Journey Intil Yer Ain Voice
This isna a dry, grammar-heavy language class. It’s a creative workshop, a historical exploration, and a supportive community aw rolled intae ane. The online format means ye can immerse yersel frae onywhere in the warld, at a time that suits ye, connectin wi fellow learners in Canada, Australia, Aiberdeen, or Ayr.
1. Diggin the Roots: Unnergrunnin the Leid
The journey begins wi unnergrunnin. Ye’ll explore the rich history o Scots, frae its golden age as the language of the Stewart court—where makars like Robert Henryson and William Dunbar penned masterpieces—through its decline, and noo its renewal. Ye’ll learn aboot the different dialects: Doric frae the North-East, the braid Scots o the Central Belt, the gentle lilt o Ulster Scots, and the distinctive voices o the Islands. This context is crucial, giein ye a foundation o respect and unnerstaunin for the leid’s depth and variety.
2. Findin Yer Ear: Lairnin tae Listen
Afore ye write, ye maun learn tae hear. The course makes full use o modern technology, immersin ye in the sounds o Scots through audio recordings o native speakers, poetry readings, sangs, and spoken stories. Ye’ll develop an ear for the distinctive phonetics, the rhythm, and the musicality. Is it “hoose” or “hoos”? “Auld” or “aul”? Hearin the subtle differences is the first step towards finding your own authentic written voice.
3. The Tools o the Trade: Spellin, Grammar, an Style
Aye, there will be some grammar! But it’s liberating, no restrictive. Scots has its ain grammatical structures and a wonderfully flexible approach tae spelling, which often reflects sound rather than rigid rules. The course will guide you through the main conventions (e.g., the use of apostrophes to mark missing letters, as in “wi’” for “with”), without stifling your individual style. You’ll learn about key resources like the DSL (Dictionaries of the Scots Language) and how to use them as a creative springboard, not just a rulebook.
4. The Creative Craitur: Findin Yer Form
The hert o the course is the writing itself. Through a series o engagin and supportive exercises, ye’ll be encouraged tae experiment. Mibbe ye’ll start wi a short memoir, draain on the words o yer ain faimly. Mibbe ye’ll try yer haun at a poem, playin wi the alliteration and kennings that are sae native tae Scots. Or mibbe ye’ll write a short story, capturing the banter and drama o everyday life. The virtual classroom will be a workshop where ye can share yer work, get constructive feedback frae peers and an experienced tutor, and gain the confidence tae let yer Scots voice shine.
5. A Leevin Community: The Online Coorie-In
The beauty o an online course is the community it builds. You’ll be pairt o a virtual ceilidh, a gathering o fowk wi a shared passion. Through discussion forums, live video sessions, and shared workspaces, you’ll debate the best way to spell a word, share a newly discovered Scots phrase, and encourage one another. This sense of not being alone in this journey is invaluable, breaking down the isolation that can sometimes come with writing.
Wha is this Course For?
- Scots at Hame and Abroad: For native speakers who understand but never learned to write Scots, or for those who want to move beyond spoken familiarity to creative expression.
- The Curious and the Creative: Writers, poets, and artists of any background looking to expand their linguistic palette and draw inspiration from a powerful and evocative leid.
- Educators and Communicators: Teachers, tour guides, storytellers, and performers who want to incorporate authentic Scots into their work.
- The Heritage Seeker: Anyone with Scottish ancestry wanting to connect with their cultural heritage on a deeper, more meaningful level.
Tae write in Scots is mair than a technical skill. It’s an act o preservation and innovation. It’s aboot takin haud o a cultural treasure and passin it on, enriched wi yer ain experiences and stories. This online course is the gateway. It’s a warm invitation tae come in, get comfortable, and discover the writer that has aye been inside ye, waitin tae whorl their wirds.
Dinna let the mairvy tunes o the leid fade. Enrol noo, and add yer ain verse tae its ongaein sang.