Burns Night and the Scots language

Last year we held an Infusion Burns Night, albeit on the 27th January. Some of Rabbie Burns' poetry was read and we enjoyed our haggis, neeps and tatties - though sadly only as a starter.

I was pleased to read a recent Guardian piece on In praise of ... Scottish words but I recognise that not everyone has the privilege of growing up in Scotland. I'm therefore pleased to say that the The Dictionary of the Scots Language (DSL) is freely available on the Internet. It comprises electronic editions of the two major historical dictionaries of the Scots language: the 12-volume Dictionary of the Older Scottish Tongue (DOST) and the 10-volume Scottish National Dictionary (SND). These 22 volumes provide a comprehensive history of Scots, and are essential research tools for anyone interested in the history of either Scots or English language, and for historical or literary scholars whose sources are written in Scots.

Fair fa' your honest, sonsie face,
Great chieftain o' the puddin'-race!