Strategic Theme 1 - Linguistic Development

Activities

The Ulster-Scots Agency’s plans over the next three years will centre on five separate, but interlinked areas of activity:

1.            A tape-recorded survey of native speakers to build an essential resource and authentic record of the spoken language. It is anticipated that 50 one-hour interviews will be conducted each year.

2.            The production of a text base for written Ulster-Scots including a transcription of the tape-recorded survey. It is anticipated that transcription could add between 100,000 and 150,000 words to the text base each year.

3.            The compilation of a two-way dictionary of Ulster-Scots to English and English to Ulster-Scots.

4.           The delivery of a linguistic development function which provides workable programmes.  This will be part of the remit of the Director of Language and Education.

5.            An expert translation service.

The Ulster-Scots Agency will work in partnership with the Ulster-Scots Academy, the Ulster-Scots Language Society, the Ulster Folk and Transport Museum, the Scottish National Dictionary Association and the Scots Language Resource Centre to establish the structure and methodology of the linguistic development project outlined above.

In consultation with relevant stakeholders, the Ulster-Scots Agency will establish an Advisory Board to provide expert assistance in overseeing and monitoring the project. The Ulster-Scots Agency’s Director of Language and Education will act as the interface with providers in relation to this project.

In relation to the dictionary, the Ulster-Scots Agency will establish a partnership with the Scottish National Dictionary so that Ulster-Scots word forms and meanings from the Scottish National Dictionary database can be identified and extracted.  Ulster- Scots word forms and meanings in The Hamely Tongue, the Concise Ulster Dictionary and Ulster Dialect Database at the Ulster Folk & Transport Museum will also be identified and extracted.

Based on the outcome of a feasibility study the Ulster-Scots Agency will commission the compilation of a dictionary of Parliamentary and Official terms in Ulster-Scots.

Resources

The linguistic development project has a number of elements, which will require long-term effort – particularly the dictionary – and it will not be completed over the period of this plan. The projected budget figures will provide £275,000 over the period of the plan enabling the Agency to continue the work. This estimate is based on the assumption that the Ulster-Scots Academy will receive separate funding from the Department of Culture, Arts and Leisure for its programme of work.

Performance Indicators

This is a long-term project and phased performance indicators will be developed in association with the Ulster-Scots Agency’s partners. The Director of Language and Education will be central to this and will have responsibility for the management of these programmes.  The Ulster-Scots Agency will record interim measures of success in quantitative and qualitative terms against agreed programme timetable e.g. year on year growth, percentage work done; percentage improvement in awareness; independent surveys and research. However, by the end of the plan period, the Ulster-Scots Agency would expect to have achieved: -

·             One hundred and fifty hours of the tape recorded survey and associated transcription

·              A catalogue of the main elements of the Ulster-Scots text base

·             Identification of Ulster-Scots word forms and meanings from existing sources and data bases

·              Developing a methodology for providing authority for Ulster-Scots terms and vocabulary

·              A select list of individuals and firms which can provide an expert translation service.