Scotland’s other national tongue has been misunderstood and, at times, officially mistreated for centuries. Though weakened by long neglect, Scots still endures as a rich and living part of everyday speech and culture.

Widely spoken, rarely written, and often misunderstood, it survives in homes, streets, and workplaces across the country. It is the language of my childhood in East Central Scotland.

In 2025, Scots was belatedly recognised as an official language. But recognition alone does not change behaviour. Despite its visibility, there is still little agreement on how Scots should be used, supported, or developed.

This raises a more practical question: can Scots be rehabilitated as a “proper” minority language, alongside Gaelic? I believe it can.

My book Unlocking Scots: The Secret Life of the Scots Language explores that possibility. It traces the language’s hidden history, reveals its linguistic sophistication, and sets out a realistic path for its future.

You can read the opening chapter here, and order the book here.

I am currently working on a follow-up to Unlocking Scots, Developing Scots, which will move beyond recognition to focus on use. It argues for a clear “theory of use” and, through fieldwork, interviews, and local case studies, sets out what is needed for Scots to be used more confidently and more widely.

Article:  Speak up about the Scots language — or we’ll lose it (paywall) The Times Scotland  11.09.23

Article: Why we must all do our part to revitalise the Scots language, The National 01.10.23