‘Real renaissance’ of the language of Robert Burns, says campaigner

It seems that after 300 years of shame, the language of Robert Burns is finally on the up.

For the head of the Oor Vyce campaign, Jack Capener, it’s about time.

He said: “There is little doubt that we are experiencing a real renaissance of Scots, possibly for the first time ever.”

At just 23 years old, what Jack lack sin experience he makes up for in passion and enthusiasm.

“It’s gaining more and more prominence in newspapers, literature, theatres, social media… and that is down to the fact that there are a lot of people out there campaigning with their own resources, with their own time and their own money, for the Scots cause,” he said.

“I was one of those people. I’d neglected and pushed aside my own Scots voice when I was younger, but once I rediscovered it I really found pride in Scots again and started using it whenever I could.

“What I thought was really lacking, though, was a national co-ordinated strategy – something that links up all these individuals, campaigners and activists and gives them a platform to talk to the government , so I decided to set up Oor Vyce.”

In Jack’s mind, the most important part of this aim is the creation of an official governmental body which would have the responsibility of looking after, promoting and protecting the Scots language.

Ideally it would be similar to the Bòrd na Gàidhlig, which receives funding from the Scottish Government to promote Gae l ic across the country.

The bard, Robert Burns, spoke and wrote in Scots.