Welcome for new online Scots language corpus

4.59.24pm BST (GMT +0100) Mon 13th Aug 2007

Alliance Youth Affairs spokesperson Ian James Parsley

Alliance Youth Affairs spokesperson Ian James Parsley has welcomed a new online Scots language dictionary as a prime example of what cross-channel cooperation can deliver for the tongue on both side of the Irish Sea.

Cllr Parsley stated: "Given the relative lack of resources the Scots language has in Scotland, the development of a searchable database of Scots words covering such a vast range of post-war archive material is a fine achievement. The corpus will provide the definitive reference for the Scots tongue on both sides of the 'Sheuch', a source of pride and enjoyment to those who use it in Ireland as well as in Scotland.

"The project has had input from Queen's University as well as universities in Scotland and further afield. The combination of expertise from both Scotland and Northern Ireland, accompanied by leading players from elsewhere in Europe, is a fine example of how minority language projects should be run.

"The Scots language is spoken in homes across three jurisdictions. It will only thrive if its development is led by those best qualified to lead it, in Scotland, Northern Ireland and the Republic of Ireland, working in cooperation. The online corpus is a superb outcome and evidence of the vast potential of such cooperation."

ENDS