On 25th January there will be celebrations across the world for one of the most celebrated Scottish poets, Robert Burns.
In Belfast we will have various cultural events to honour this unconventional libertine whose words resonated with ordinary Scots…
Ae fond kiss, and then we sever;
Ae fareweel, alas, for ever!
Deep in heart-wrung tears I’ll pledge thee,
Warring sighs and groans I’ll wage thee!
The Scots English language had rarely been expressed in print, in this phonetic style, prior to Robert Burns’ pamphlets and other publications. The style was looked down on by traditional poets. Hip hop is given the same treatment by some folk today.
We can see a modern literary form of the way Scottish people speak in the books of Irvine Walsh, author of Trainspotting.
Haggis, neaps and tatties and peaty whisky all round.
Have a listen to this Rabbie Burns song, Scots Wha Hae
odespinner 