Language under threat, warns MSP
An MSP says the Scots language could “vanish for good”unless more is spent on its protection.
It comes as new research classed the native tongue as officially at risk of extinction. Scots is one of 12 UK and European languages classed as under threat by language-learning app Busuu.
Their study shows that only 1.5 million speakers of Scots remain and the language has been classified as vulnerable alongside others such as West Flemish, Eastern Slovak and Welsh.
Speaking in Holyrood, Tory MSP Mrs Dowey - who was elected to the South Scotland Region list - asked what action is being taken to increase the number of speakers and when it will be achieved by.
In response, cabinet secretary Angus Robertson said:“The Scottish Government is determined to keep working with the Scots-speaking community.”
Mrs Dowey said:“Scots is of real importance to people in Ayrshire, especially given the Burns connection, and it’s really concerning to see it placed on a list of vulnerable languages.
“With only around 27 per cent of Scotland’s population still speaking our native tongue, we need action from the Scottish Government and quick.
“While it was nice to hear about cabinet secretary’s enthusiasm for the Scots language, I’d have liked him to have spoken more about the funding the Scottish Government should be providing to encourage more people to learn Scots. It’s all very well reaching out to the community but what we need is serious investment otherwise Scots could vanish for good.”