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George Orwell's Animal Farm to be translated into Scots

BBC George OrwellBBC
George Orwell's most-known works were Animal Farm and 1984 but the writer also wrote for the BBC and numerous publications

George Orwell's classic novel Animal Farm is to be translated into Scots.

The book is one of nine titles to be published in the Scots language, with funding from the Scots Language Resource Network.

It has already been translated into Gaelic but this is the first time it will be able to be read in Scots.

Edinburgh publisher Luath Press said it believed Mr Orwell would have been pleased with the development for his work.

The publisher said: "We are very confident that Thomas Clark will create a superb rendering of the book in Scots, and that Orwell himself would have approved, given his comments on Scottish linguistic culture."

Orwell wrote his best-known work, 1984, while living on a farmhouse in Barnhill on the Island of Jura.

Animal Farm book

The Scots Publication Grant is designed to support the translation of both published works and new authors.

As well as Animal Farm, the following titles have also received funding:

  • Birds and Beasties: Scots Poems For Bairns, published by Itchy Coo. Written by J.K. Annand, edited by Matthew Fitt and James Robertson.
  • Cedric The Flapper Skate, published by Doric Books CIC, written by Jackie Ross and edited by Gordon Hay.
  • Da Hametrowe Almanac volume 1, published by Gaada, written by Roseanne Watt and Marjolein Robertson.
  • Liberties, published by Rymour Books, written by Peter Bennett.
  • Mum And William Wordsworth, self-published and written by Julie Kennedy.
  • Sangs That Sing Sae Sweit (50 Years o Lallans Poetry), published by Scots Language Society, edited by William Hershaw, Elaine Morton and Derrick McClure.
  • The Ballads And Songs Of Carrick, published by the Girvan Traditional Folk Festival, original author Rev Roderick Lawson, edited by Neil McDermott.
  • The King O' The Cats, self-published, written and illustrated by Paul Tonner, translated by Dr Michael Dempster.
Marjolein Robertson
Marjolein Robertson has been funded to write an almanac in the Shetland dialect.

Shetland comedian Marjolein Robertson has also received funding to write an almanac in the Shetland dialect.

She said: "The idea of creating a Shetland almanac in dialect is something we have dreamed of for years so it is incredible to receive this grant to allow this to become a reality.

"To present to folk an exploration of our lore, history and most importantly, practices that are and can still be used to this day.

"To write this in our mother tongue allows for the descriptions, names and stories to come across in their truth and hopefully encourage the continued use of dialect in our home."

Education Secretary Shirley-Anne Somerville said the Scottish government was pleased to support the Scots Publication Grant for a fourth year.

She said: "There is a huge appetite for books in Scots and we have seen how this funding supports a range of exceptional Scots talent, in a variety of genres, and clearly demonstrates Scots is thriving. My congratulations to those who have been successful this year."