Challenge 52 in 52: Scots (Leid or Lallans)

Scots is the Germanic language variety spoken in Lowland Scotland and parts of Ulster in Ireland (where the local dialect is known as Ulster Scots). It is sometimes called Lowland Scots to distinguish it from Scottish Gaelic, the Celtic language which was historically restricted to most of the Highlands, the Hebrides and Galloway after the 16th century. The Scots language developed during the Middle English period as a distinct entity.

Scots is a recognised indigenous language of Scotland, a regional or minority language of Europe and as a vulnerable language by UNESCO.

As there are no universally accepted criteria for distinguishing a language from a dialect, scholars and other interested parties often disagree about the linguistic, historical and social status of Scots and particularly its relationship to English. Although a number of paradigms for distinguishing between languages and dialects exist, they often render contradictory results. Broad Scots is at one end of a bipolar linguistic continuum, with Scottish Standard English at the other.[16] Scots is often regarded as one of the ancient varieties of English, but it has its own distinct dialects. Alternatively, Scots is sometimes treated as a distinct Germanic language, in the way that Norwegian is closely linked to but distinct from Danish.

In the 2011 Scottish Census, 1.5 million people in Scotland reported to be able to speak Scots.

Scots at Omniglot
Scots at Wikipedia

Scots, wha hae wi' Wallace bled,
Scots, wham Bruce has aften led,
Welcome to your gory bed,
Or to victory!

Scots, who have with Wallace bled,

Scots, whom Bruce has often led,

Welcome to your gory bed

Or to victory.

Now's the day, and now's the hour;
See the front o' battle lour,
See approach proud Edward's power—
Chains and slavery!

Now is the day, and now is the hour:

See the front of battle lower (threaten),

See approach proud Edward's power –

Chains and slavery.

Wha will be a traitor-knave?
Wha can fill a coward's grave?
Wha sae base as be a slave?
Let him turn and flee!

Who will be a traitor knave?

Who will fill a coward's grave?

Who's so base as be a slave? –

Let him turn, and flee.

Wha for Scotland's king and law
Freedom's sword will strongly draw,
Freeman stand or freeman fa',
Let him follow me!

Who for Scotland's King and Law

Freedom's sword will strongly draw,

Freeman stand or freeman fall,

Let him follow me.

By oppression's woes and pains,
By your sons in servile chains,
We will drain our dearest veins,
But they shall be free!

By oppression's woes and pains,

By your sons in servile chains,

We will drain our dearest veins

But they shall be free.

Lay the proud usurpers low!
Tyrants fall in ev'ry foe!
Liberty's in ev'ry blow!
Let us do or dee!

Lay the proud usurpers low,

Tyrants fall in every foe,

Liberty is in every blow,

Let us do or die!