Scots Language Awards 2023: Speakin' Weird

Weel duin tae Speakin' Weird wha hae bin nominatit in Scots Project o the Year 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 Orla Kelly o Speakin' Weird thae speirins.

Tell us aboot yersel or yer ootfit.
My name is Orla Kelly, I'm a writer originally from Ireland, living in Aberdeen since 2016. I started Speakin' Weird spoken word night in 2017 because I was a spoken word performer and wanted to see more performance spaces in Aberdeen. The Aberdeen poetry and spoken word community have really made it their own and we have lots of regular attendees, as well as first time performers every month. It's a monthly night, with an open mic and a headline performer, from Aberdeenshire or elsewhere in Scotland or the UK.

Whit wis it got ye involvit wi the Scots leid?
Speakin' Weird became a hub for people performing in the Doric language. We have some awesome Doric and Scots performers like Jo Gilbert, John Bolland, Mae Diansangu, Fiona-Jane Brown and Judith Taylor to name a few, as well as speakers of other dialects like Hannah Nicholson from Shetland. It's been brilliant to see the seamless mixture of English and Doric on stage every month.

Why dae ye feel it is important tae use Scots in everyday life?
I'm not a speaker of Doric myself, coming from Ireland. I've found hosting Speakin' Weird really valuable for learning more about the Doric language: it's history, heritage and of course vocabulary. I'll often ask a performer what a particular word or phrase means after their performance. It's pretty grim to hear how the language was discouraged in the past and as children people were told to speak English at school. It's fantastic now it's getting more recognition and acknowledgement.

Dae ye hae a favourite Scots phrase or saying?
It's a little bit dark but I like "There's aye water far the stirkie droons". It's quite visceral as an image!

Is there a Scots speaker who inspires you?
I remember the poet Judith Taylor reading a poem onstage about the building of the bridge over the river Tay, saying how Scots is seen as a colloquial, everyday language, but it can just as much be a language of technology and enterprise.

Do you hear Scots spoken regularly in your local area? Have you noticed any changes over time?

Ony particlar career heighlichts
We hosted authors of the Doric poetry collection Norlan Lichts Lesley Benzie, Sheena Blackhall and Sheila Templeton, which stands out as a brilliant night.

Wha’s yer plans fir the days aheid?
Speakin' Weird is on the second Wednesday of the month at Spin, Littlejohn street, Aberdeen. We always want to hear new voices.

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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