Weel duin tae Amy Lord wha hae bin nominatit in Scots Teacher o the Year sponsored by Scottish Qualifications Authority in the Scots Language Awards. Vote now!
The Scots Language Awards are in the Cumnock Toon Ha, Cumnock in pairtnership wi East Ayrshire Cooncil on 14th September at 7pm. Tickets fir the ceremony are available tae buy here: https://eastayrshireleisure.com/events/scots-language-awards/.
We askit Amy Lord o Amy Lord thae speirins.
Tell us aboot yersel or yer ootfit.
I teach a YMI fundit programme cried “The Scots Sang an Leid Projeck” in Stirlin an Clackmannanshire Scuils that’s bin runin fer saxteen twalmonths. I wark wi young fowk in primary scuils, frae nursery age tae twal, lairnin them Scots sangs tae help growe their interest in chantin, history an cultuur an, o course, the leid. I also dae CPD wi scuil dominies in local cooncil settins tae help them teach Scots (and sang) wi confidence.
I also wark wi singin boorachs an choirs aroon Scotland, specialisin in Scots tradeetional sang.
Whit wis it got ye involvit wi the Scots leid?
Growin up in a musical hame in Dunblane, my passion fer the leid stairtit when I began tae study Scottish Music, specialisin in Scots sang an leid at the Royal Conservatoire o Scotland (formally RSAMD). I’m no a naitural linguist, bit my luve fer the stories an histories o the sangs made me gey fascinatit wi Scots an wis my steppin stane intae the leid.
Sae, since graduatin, I’ve been teachin fowk Scots throu tradeetional sang, as I truly believe it’s yin o the maist aiccessible weys tae lairn whit I consider a gey aiccessible leid.
Why dae ye feel it is important tae use Scots in everyday life?
Spikin Scots in oor ilkaday life is sae important as it’s sic a glorious pairt o oor cultur an history. It’s vital that we spik it as muckle as possible tae help nurture it, an daein even a wee bit ilka day an stairtin sma wid dae this.
Also, tae sae ower like aboon, it’s sic an aiccessible leid – and lairnin it wid hae the same value as ony ither leid, in tairms o education an pride. Scots is my seicont leid, an my pride at bein able tae spik it is gey precious tae me.
Dae ye hae a favourite Scots phrase or saying?
"Gonnae no".
Is there a Scots speaker who inspires you?
I’m mair o a Lallans Scots spikker mysel if I’m onythin, bit I luve listenin tae Doric frae fowk frae the North East – Natalie Chalmers, Shona Donaldson an Geordie Muirison fer exemple.
I also hae great admiration fer the wark o Matthew Fitt, wha I’ve hid the pleasure o warkin wi on occasion. He’s introduced Scots wi sic ease tae thoosans o weans throu his buiks an teachin an it’s inspirin tae watch/be aroon.
Do you hear Scots spoken regularly in your local area? Have you noticed any changes over time?
There’s no an awfae lot o Scots spak in my wee locale, bit I’m warkin on it wi my wark in scuils! In the wider cooncil area there’s a bittie mair, o course.
Ony particlar career heighlichts
Career hieghlichts…och I’m lucky that thairs bin mony, bit watchin a class o primary seevin (maistly laddies…in the last week o simmer tairm – ither dominies, ye’ll ken whit that week’s like) singin the Scots sang “The Lang Road Doon” by Steve Byrne at a scuil assembly wis yin. They sang it wi sae muckle emotion an undertood ilka wird. Bonnie.
Wha’s yer plans fir the days aheid?
I’d luve tae wark in mair local cooncils an areas daein the Scots Sang an Leid Projeck – I’m also hopin tae publish a wee buik o my Scots sang arrangements fer singin boorachs.
Read more about Amy Lord
http://www.amylord.scot
Facebook: http://www.facebook.com/amylord.scot
Twitter: http://www.twitter.com/
Instagram: http://www.instagram.com/
The Scots Language Awards are in the Cumnock Toon Ha, Cumnock on 14th September at 7pm. Tickets are available to buy here: https://eastayrshireleisure.com/events/scots-language-awards/ There wull be some grand entertainmint oan the nicht tae, includin a recital fae Billy Kay, Susie Briggs, alang wi musical performances fae Claire Hastings an Sèan Gray.
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