LL-L "Language policies" 2002.07.29 (03) [E]

[Lowlands-L]

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 L O W L A N D S - L * 29.JUL.2002 (03) * ISSN 189-5582 * LCSN 96-4226
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 A=Afrikaans Ap=Appalachian D=Dutch E=English F=Frisian L=Limburgish
 LS=Low Saxon (Low German) S=Scots Sh=Shetlandic Z=Zeelandic (Zeeuws)
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From: "Ian James Parsley (Laptop)" <parsleyij at ukonline.co.uk>
Subject: LL-L "Language policies" 2002.07.28 (02) [E]

Erek,

You are quite right. In truth, it's rarely the case that a language
*can't*
handle a subject, but quite simply that it *doesn't*. You probably could
talk about splitting the atom in Scots, you just don't (yet).

Breakthroughs can come. Dauvit Horsbroch led the charge by doing his
speech
at the Dialect2000 conference in Belfast in Scots. I followed the same
way.
Two in 2000 became six, including five in a row (five different
speakers),
at the equivalent conference a year later.

That's not to say I believe Scots should need to break down every
barrier.
The reality in the modern world is that some subjects are only ever
discussed in English, and even where other languages are used English
terms
prevail (much like Greek/Latin in years gone by). That doesn't
necessarily
threaten other languages, because these are subjects (be they science,
business or whatever) where *communication* is key. At that level,
language is about communication.

Of course, at other levels language is an expression, of a way of life,
of
a way of thinking, or a culture or identity. That's where there's room
for
all languages.

Regards,
Ian James Parsley

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