A Pilot Historical Thesaurus of Scots
Lead Research Organisation:
University of Glasgow
Department Name: School of Critical Studies
Abstract
This project will create a pilot Historical Thesaurus of Scots (HTS), covering the Scots language from the earliest records to the present day. This will be a new resource created out of an existing digital resource, the online Dictionary of the Scots Language (DSL), which was developed with AHRB funding in 2001-4. The HTS will be the first historical thesaurus of Scots and will be planned as a digital resource from the outset. This pilot project will act as proof of concept for a future larger bid for the HTS and will address the following questions: how can the current DSL data be queried and restructured to create a basis for the HTS; what are the essential components for each entry in the HTS and what is the optimal markup scheme; what type of search facilities will the HTS require; how can other complex linguistic datasets, such as the Historical Thesaurus of English, assist the compilation of the HTS and how may these be linked into its eventual output; how can the pilot HTS website incorporate multimedia and user-generated content to create a dynamic and innovative resource?
The pilot project is planned to last fifteen months, starting in January 2014. It will focus on selected subject domains which are rich in Scots vocabulary-such as sports and games, food, and weather-in order to produce a working subset of the planned thesaurus which will be made available online by the end of the project.
The pilot project is planned to last fifteen months, starting in January 2014. It will focus on selected subject domains which are rich in Scots vocabulary-such as sports and games, food, and weather-in order to produce a working subset of the planned thesaurus which will be made available online by the end of the project.
Planned Impact
The full impact of this research will be felt in the creation of the complete Historical Thesaurus of Scots (HTS), for which the pilot phase will provide a model. The HTS will be of benefit and interest to the following groups of users:
1) academic researchers whose work incorporates historical linguistics, lexicography, or Scottish cultural and social history, from whom the HTS is a potential research tool
2) computational lexicographers and linguists interested in the underlying methodology for the HTS, both in terms of compilation and output
3) universities for whom the HTS will provide a new teaching resource for the history of the Scots language and Scottish culture
4) Scottish cultural institutions such as museums and galleries whose collections relate to the content of the HTS, for example in terms of the social history or material culture of Lowland Scotland
5) professional lexicographers working on new or existing Scots language resources, for whom the HTS will provide new ways to analyse the content of the DSL
6) translators and creative writers working in Scots, or writers using Scottish themes or settings in their works, whether contemporary or historical
7) the general public who will be encouraged to contribute to the content of the Thesaurus and informed of progress through the project blog
8) schools who will be provided with sample teaching material based on the vocabulary of selected subject domains, such as weather and sports and games
In addition, the experience which the project team and project partner will derive from the pilot will also inform future planned collaborative projects, such as the creation of a lexicographic Research Network for Scotland.
1) academic researchers whose work incorporates historical linguistics, lexicography, or Scottish cultural and social history, from whom the HTS is a potential research tool
2) computational lexicographers and linguists interested in the underlying methodology for the HTS, both in terms of compilation and output
3) universities for whom the HTS will provide a new teaching resource for the history of the Scots language and Scottish culture
4) Scottish cultural institutions such as museums and galleries whose collections relate to the content of the HTS, for example in terms of the social history or material culture of Lowland Scotland
5) professional lexicographers working on new or existing Scots language resources, for whom the HTS will provide new ways to analyse the content of the DSL
6) translators and creative writers working in Scots, or writers using Scottish themes or settings in their works, whether contemporary or historical
7) the general public who will be encouraged to contribute to the content of the Thesaurus and informed of progress through the project blog
8) schools who will be provided with sample teaching material based on the vocabulary of selected subject domains, such as weather and sports and games
In addition, the experience which the project team and project partner will derive from the pilot will also inform future planned collaborative projects, such as the creation of a lexicographic Research Network for Scotland.
People |
ORCID iD |
| Susan Rennie (Principal Investigator) |
Publications
Warth-Szczyglowska M
(2016)
The category of 'golf' in a new Historical Thesaurus of Scots
in Sport in History
| Title | 'Snaw-breaker' by Stuart Paterson |
| Description | The Scottish poet, Stuart Paterson (BBC Poet in Residence), created a new poem in Scots called 'Snaw-breaker', based on words which he found in the pilot Historical Thesaurus of Scots (HTS). |
| Type Of Art | Creative Writing |
| Year Produced | 2018 |
| Impact | The poem was the basis of a video which was filmed for the BBC Ideas website and published online in April 2018. The HTS project is credited in the video, which was widely shared via social media and has had 52.5K views to date (as of February 2019). |
| URL | https://www.bbc.com/ideas/videos/which-language-has-400-words-for-snow/p063vmwx?playlist=the-wonderf... |
| Description | This pilot project has developed the methodology for creating an online Historical Thesaurus of Scots (HTS). It is intended as proof of concept for a future larger bid to compile a complete HTS, covering the Scots language from the earliest records to the present day. During the course of the project we have: 1) developed systems and search tools which allow us to query and extract data from the online Dictionary of the Scots Language (www.dl.ac.uk) and then categorise the data into semantic fields; 2) tested and devised methods for presenting and searching the HTS online, including methods of data visualisation, in a form that is both usable by researchers and also accessible to the general public; 3) trialled methods of generating user content for the HTS, by providing a facility for users to upload their own images and comments to illustrate and annotate the resource; 4) created a working subset of the HTS, focussing on two key subject domains: Sports & Games and Weather. This subset was launched via our project website in September 2015; 5) developed strong links and collaborations with partners such as Scottish Language Dictionaries and Education Scotland. In particular, we have worked with Educaton Scotland to produce schools materials based on the HTS data and we see this as a model for collaboration in the future. |
| Exploitation Route | This findings of this project are now being used as the basis for a larger bid to create a full Historical Thesaurus of Scots. The online resource we have created, and the research data underpinning it, are being put to use by our project partners, Scottish Language Dictionaries, as part of their programme of ongoing revision. The HTS data has already been used by Education Scotland to produce school resources (see Engagement activities). NEW INFORMATION - added February 2019 As PI of the original Historical Thesaurus of Scots (HTS) Pilot project, funded by the AHRC, I would like to report my deep concern that the findings of this project are apparently being overlooked in the creation of a separate project which is also seeking research council funding. I have recently heard of the surprise decision by Scottish Language Dictionaries (SLD), in conjunction with the Historical Thesaurus of English project at the University of Glasgow, to apply for separate funding to begin a new historical thesaurus of Scots, rather than build on the research findings of the original, highly successful, AHRC-funded pilot. This is a huge disappointment, and is hard to understand, as I had been in contact with our project partners, SLD, since the pilot ended, and had been led to believe that they were happy to continue the project as originally conceived. None of the original research team has been consulted about this new bid, and none of the young research assistants, who were funded as part of the original AHRC project, will be involved. I wish to put on record that I am baffled by this development, as it apparently disregards a successful AHRC-funded pilot project and frankly makes no research sense. I have been told (by the new Convener of SLD, who also happens to be the Director of the Historical Thesaurus of English) that the new project will not be using the HTS pilot as a proof of concept, and will not seek to build on the huge public response that we received after our successful launch in September 2015. This is a great shame, as we would have been happy to contribute our expertise, and our links to the wider Scots-language community, had we been consulted, but the new project is seeking to distance itself from the original pilot, although this makes no financial or lexicographic sense. I do not wish to abandon a successful research project, with exciting possibilities for crowdsourced public involvement, but it is now clear that the HTS will not be able to continue as originally envisaged. The HTS pilot website will remain (www.scotsthesaurus.org), so that the original data can be accessed, but I am now forced to consider other possibilities for the future of the project. I will maintain the HTS social media accounts as before, and I will be explaining the situation to our many followers, as the imminent launch of a separate historical Scots thesaurus will undoubtedly cause confusion to those who already use the HTS: both the core data on the current website and the schools resources that are linked to it. Again, this is a situation we would never have sought or imagined, but we wish to preserve as much of the original aims and spirit of the HTS project as possible. I have registered a new domain name (www.scotsthesaurus.com) and plan to use this as the new home of the HTS project, where it can continue to develop, albeit in a different form. |
| Sectors | Creative Economy,Education,Leisure Activities, including Sports, Recreation and Tourism,Culture, Heritage, Museums and Collections |
| URL | http://www.scotsthesaurus.org |
| Description | We have established strong links with both the SQA and Education Scotland. In June 2014, we were invited to showcase our project to teachers at the launch of the new SQA Scots Language Award, and the HTS is now cited as a recommended resource in the Assessment Support materials which the SQA provides to centres. In 2015, we began a 'pilot within a pilot', to assess the potential for using HTS data to produce materials for primary and lower secondary education. We worked with the Scots Language Co-ordinators at Education Scotland (ES) to produce customised versions of our raw data, in the form of simple spreadsheets, which they then used to produce 'word mats' featuring categories of Scots vocabulary. The materials that Education Scotland developed were launched at the Scottish Learning Festival in September 2015 and are now available to schools and the general public via the ES website. Our Project Team also presented two workshops on using the HTS to teachers at a special Education Scotland conference in September 2015. In 2018, the project data was used as the basis for a new poem by BBC Poet in Residence, Stuart Paterson, and subsequently for a video on the BBC Ideas website (https://www.bbc.com/ideas/videos/which-language-has-400-words-for-snow/p063vmwx?playlist=the-wonderful-world-of-words). The HTS project is credited in the video, which was widely shared via social media and has had 52.5K views to date (as of February 2019). |
| First Year Of Impact | 2015 |
| Sector | Creative Economy,Education,Culture, Heritage, Museums and Collections |
| Impact Types | Cultural,Societal,Policy & public services |
| Title | Pilot Historical Thesaurus of Scots |
| Description | The Pilot Historical Thesaurus of Scots is a working subset of a planned full Historical Thesaurus of Scots (HTS). It was launched as part of the PHiTS website in September 2015. The pilot HTS includes data in the categories of Sports & Games and Weather, and each item is linked to its corresponding entry in the Dictionary of the Scots Language. In addition to the pilot HTS, the website includes a blog aimed at a wide readership, and a facility for users to upload their own images and comments to contribute to the growing online Thesaurus. |
| Type Of Material | Database/Collection of data |
| Year Produced | 2015 |
| Provided To Others? | Yes |
| Impact | The launch of the website generated huge public and media interest, resulting in over 50 thousand views to the website and reports published in both national and international media, such as the Washington Post and the Japan Times. |
| URL | http://www.scotsthesaurus.org |
| Description | Partnership with SLD |
| Organisation | Scottish Language Dictionaries |
| Country | United Kingdom |
| Sector | Charity/Non Profit |
| PI Contribution | The Project Team consulted SLD staff on the use of Dictionary of the Scots Language and other electronic data as required by the project; they also provided SLD with regular project updates. |
| Collaborator Contribution | SLD gave permission for the Project Team to use electronic data from the Dictionary of the Scots Language as required. They also participated in project meetings, email discussions, and the final Colloquium. |
| Impact | The final PHiTS website is the result of this partnership, as the data could not have been gathered without the collaboration and agreement of SLD. |
| Start Year | 2014 |
| Description | Schools Materials from the Scots Thesaurus |
| Organisation | Education Scotland |
| Country | United Kingdom |
| Sector | Academic/University |
| PI Contribution | The Project Team worked with Scots Language Co-ordinators at Education Scotland to produce a series of teaching materials, for use in primary schools, based on data from the category of Weather in the Pilot Historical Thesaurus of Scots. |
| Collaborator Contribution | The Scots Language Co-ordinators are all trained teachers and contributed their expertise in producing materials for school-age children and teachers. |
| Impact | These materials have since been published on the Education Scotland website (see URL above) and are freely available to schools across Scotland. |
| Start Year | 2015 |
| Description | HTS Colloquium |
| Form Of Engagement Activity | A formal working group, expert panel or dialogue |
| Part Of Official Scheme? | No |
| Geographic Reach | National |
| Primary Audience | Professional Practitioners |
| Results and Impact | A Colloquium to present the results of the PHiTS project to researchers, project partners and possible future collaborators. It was held on the day that the HTS website was made available online and launched to the public. Altogether there were 20 participants, including early career researchers and students, as well as representatives from external organisations. |
| Year(s) Of Engagement Activity | 2015 |
| Description | HTS public launch |
| Form Of Engagement Activity | Participation in an activity, workshop or similar |
| Part Of Official Scheme? | No |
| Geographic Reach | National |
| Primary Audience | Professional Practitioners |
| Results and Impact | An event held at the University of Glasgow to mark the launch of the online Pilot Historical Thesaurus of Scots. The Project Team gave a short demonstration and circulated postcards showing examples of our data. Altogether there were around 60 participants, including representatives from Education Scotland and the Scottish Qualifications Authority, some of whom had travelled from other parts of Scotland. |
| Year(s) Of Engagement Activity | 2015 |
| Description | Media activities for launch of HTS online |
| Form Of Engagement Activity | A press release, press conference or response to a media enquiry/interview |
| Part Of Official Scheme? | No |
| Geographic Reach | International |
| Primary Audience | Public/other audiences |
| Results and Impact | As a result of the press release for the launch of the Pilot Historical Thesaurus of Scots website, the PI gave live interviews on BBC Radio 4 (Today programme), the World Service, Radio 5Live, and Radio Foyle. The story featured on the BBC news website (see URL below) and was picked up in many national newspapers (broadsheet and tabloid) and international newspapers and websites, including The Washington Post, South China Post, Japan Times, and CNN. It also got a mention on BBC Breakfast as part of the weather report (as one of our thesaurus categories is 'weather'). The story subsequently featured in Lonely Planet magazine. We had over 50 thousand visits to our website in the days surrounding the launch. |
| Year(s) Of Engagement Activity | 2015 |
| URL | http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-scotland-34323967 |
| Description | SQA award launch |
| Form Of Engagement Activity | A talk or presentation |
| Part Of Official Scheme? | No |
| Geographic Reach | National |
| Primary Audience | Schools |
| Results and Impact | interest from teachers about future use of PHiTS data for teaching Scots in schools The talk was part of a launch for a new Scots Language award (see URL), for which our research data is a potential teaching resource. During and after the event, I received queries from teachers asking about future plans for the PHiTS website and how they can use it. |
| Year(s) Of Engagement Activity | 2014 |
| URL | http://www.sqa.org.uk/sqa/70056.html |
| Description | Scottish Digital Humanities workshop |
| Form Of Engagement Activity | Participation in an activity, workshop or similar |
| Part Of Official Scheme? | No |
| Geographic Reach | National |
| Primary Audience | Other academic audiences (collaborators, peers etc.) |
| Results and Impact | new contacts made for future collaborations increased awareness of our project among the Digital Humanities community in Scotland |
| Year(s) Of Engagement Activity | 2014 |
| URL | http://www.blogs.hss.ed.ac.uk/archives-now/connections/ |
| Description | Scottish Teachers Workshop |
| Form Of Engagement Activity | Participation in an activity, workshop or similar |
| Part Of Official Scheme? | No |
| Geographic Reach | National |
| Primary Audience | Schools |
| Results and Impact | The Project Team were invited by Education Scotland to present two workshops to teachers, showing how the Pilot Historical Thesaurus of Scots could be used as a resource to support the teaching of Scots in schools. |
| Year(s) Of Engagement Activity | 2015 |
| Description | Twitter site for Scots Thesaurus |
| Form Of Engagement Activity | A magazine, newsletter or online publication |
| Part Of Official Scheme? | No |
| Geographic Reach | International |
| Primary Audience | Public/other audiences |
| Results and Impact | The Project Team set up a Twitter account to coincide with the launch of the Pilot HTS website. We currently have over 500 followers and continue to post news about the project and snippets of information from our data. |
| Year(s) Of Engagement Activity | 2015 |
| URL | https://twitter.com/scotsthesaurus |