Scotland has announced a new £650,000 fund to support the Scots language, a move welcomed by some as a step forward. However, when compared to investments in other Celtic and European languages, this figure highlights a significant disparity. It raises questions about Scotland’s commitment to preserving its indigenous tongue amid a history of cultural suppression.
The idea that Scots is merely a dialect of English stems from a long history of political and cultural dominance. For generations, Scotland’s schools punished children who spoke Scots, reinforcing shame and marginalisation. This pattern of linguistic suppression is not unique to Scotland. Across the North Sea, Norway endured 400 years of Danish rule, during which Norwegian was dismissed as a peasant dialect. Similarly, Frisian languages in the Netherlands and Germany faced decline as dominant Dutch and German standards took hold.
In recent decades, these nations have actively worked to revive their languages. Norway now treats its two official languages—Bokmål and Nynorsk—with equal respect, supported by substantial government funding. Friesland’s West Frisian benefits from a dedicated funding agreement with both national and regional authorities, ensuring its promotion and research.
In contrast, Scotland’s investment appears modest. The Welsh government allocates about £36.6 million annually to Welsh, while Ireland invests over £52 million in Irish Gaelic. Scotland’s £650,000 support for Scots is a fraction of these figures, especially considering Scotland’s education budget exceeds £4.5 billion. This means that for every £100 spent on English-language education, only about 14 pence is dedicated to Scots.
The funding gap is stark when considering other government spending. Scotland invests millions in translation and interpretation services to help new Scots access services, demonstrating a commitment to multicultural inclusion. Yet, the same level of investment has not been directed toward the language spoken by a significant portion of its own communities for centuries.
The passage of the Scottish Languages Bill in June 2025 marked a historic milestone. For the first time, Scots gained official status, compelling the government to develop a national Scots language strategy. A draft is expected for public consultation by spring 2026, with a final version due before Parliament by the end of that year.
This strategy must go beyond words. It should be a comprehensive, well-funded plan modeled on successful European examples, aiming to create a truly trilingual Scotland where Scots and Gaelic can be used in everyday life. The recent funding announcement is a positive step, but it remains a small part of a much larger journey.
European nations demonstrate that reversing cultural suppression is possible with political will and sustained investment. With new legislation and a strategic plan in place, Scotland has an opportunity to honour its linguistic heritage and support the 1.5 million speakers of Scots. The challenge now is to turn this opportunity into meaningful change, ensuring respect and resources are directed toward preserving a vital part of Scotland’s cultural identity.