Weel duin tae Rona Munro wha hae bin nominatit in Scots Writer o the Year sponsored by National Library of Scotland in the Scots Language Awards. Vote now!
The Scots Language Awards are in the Johstone Toon Ha, Johnstone on 16th September at 7pm. Tickets fir the ceremony are available tae buy here: https://handsup.link/SLA-BuyTickets.
We askit Rona Munro o Rona Munro thae speirins.
Tell us aboot yersel or yer ootfit.
I'm a Scottish playwright and screen writer. Stage credits include 'The James Plays' for NTS, EIF and the National Theatre uk. Screen credits include work from Dr Who to Silver Bear and BAFTA winning films.
Whit wis it got ye involvit wi the Scots leid?
Living and working in Scotland as a writer I grew up hearing Scots and speaking Scots as mony o' us do, in a mixture of Scots and English, depending on context. When I started writing it just felt natural to reflect that in my work. I've written purely in English, purely in Scots but, mainly and most recently in a mixture of the twa that feels to me to reflect how maist folk talk now. I was richt green when I started and got a shock when my mild mixty moxty Scots and English lines were nae so welcome doon south! 'Lines thicker than frozen porridge' is a quote from a London paper that haunted me till I learned my worth. Even my ain agent, then, told me I'd do better writing in French! I'm nae sure why I persevered but Scots words give an energy and poetry to characters that maks them real to me, and, I hope, to audiences.
Why dae ye feel it is important tae use Scots in everyday life?
I don't think any language can be maintained by conscious effort alane. If folk don't feel it natural in their mou, they'll no use the words and the words will die. But science tells us that the form o' words shapes the thoughts and feelings o' the speaker. The form o' Scots we speak shapes oor identity as Scots, a unique and particular identity, something to cherish beyond any narrow definition o' nationalism. The Scots words we still use are the traces of oor ancestors and of a' the many diverse folk that have made Scotland their hame. Oor living, growing, changing language is the yett that opens tae welcome in a' the mony diverse folk still makin Scotland their hame, it builds a particular shared understanding and it is aye, beautifully, changing.
Dae ye hae a favourite Scots phrase or saying?
'There wis worse losses at Sherrifmuir.'
Particular to my Mum's family and good for any disappointment.
Is there a Scots speaker who inspires you?
Jules Horne, poet, filmaker, playwright and performer. She's a freend and near neighbour who inspires me with all she builds in the voice of her native Hawick.
Do you hear Scots spoken regularly in your local area? Have you noticed any changes over time?
I live in Selkirk. Border Scots is robustly alive here and I hear pithy phrases and braw bursts o' conversational poetry maist days.
I notice how folk are bi lingual, swopping frae Scots to English depending who they're talking to. It maks me hopeful, if you can keep two languages, such close kin to each other but so different in rhythm and vocabulary, together in your heid, neither one needs to win over the other, baith can live.
Ony particlar career heighlichts
'The James Plays cycle' now five plays long with mair to come is what I'm maist proud of writing.
Wha’s yer plans fir the days aheid?
Writing, walking the dog, eating guid food, ony day that has all three is a braw day.
Read more about Rona Munro
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The Scots Language Awards are in the Johnstone Toon Ha, Johnstone on 16th September at 7pm. Tickets are available to buy here: https://handsup.link/SLA-BuyTickets There wull be some grand entertainmint oan the nicht tae, includin a recital fae Renfrewshire’s poet laureate Shaun Moore,wha wis appointit as the region’s Tannahill Makar last year. talks fae weel regairdit Scots scrievers Cat Cochrane an Shane Strachan, alang wi musical performances fae celebratit multi-instumentalist brithers Euan and Lewis McLaughlin, an sangster Iona Fyfe.
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