LL-L "Language survival" 2002.10.03 (06) [E]

[Lowlands-L]

======================================================================
 L O W L A N D S - L * 03.OCT.2002 (06) * ISSN 189-5582 * LCSN 96-4226
 Web Site: <http://www.lowlands-l.net>  Email: admin at lowlands-l.net
 Rules & Guidelines: <http://www.lowlands-l.net/rules.htm>
 Posting Address: <lowlands-l at listserv.linguistlist.org>
 Server Manual: <http://www.lsoft.com/manuals/1.8c/userindex.html>
 Archive: <http://listserv.linguistlist.org/archives/lowlands-l.html>
=======================================================================
 You have received this because have been subscribed upon request. To
 unsubscribe, please send the command "signoff lowlands-l" as message
 text from the same account to <listserv at listserv.linguistlist.org> or
 sign off at <http://linguistlist.org/subscribing/sub-lowlands-l.html>.
=======================================================================
 A=Afrikaans Ap=Appalachian B=Brabantish D=Dutch E=English F=Frisian
 L=Limburgish LS=Lowlands Saxon (Low German) S=Scots Sh=Shetlandic
               V=(West)Flemish Z=Zeelandic (Zeêuws)
=======================================================================

From: Sandy Fleming [sandy at scotstext.org]
Subject: "Language survival"

> From: John M. Tait <jmtait at wirhoose.co.uk>
> Subject: LL-L "Language survival" 2002.09.30 (06) [E]
>
> There remains, however, the problem that most of the things you cite as
> advances in Scots are totally unknown to the vast majority of the
> Scots-speaking population. Those who do know about these advances are
> perhaps just as (more?) likely to be monolingual English speakers, because
> they inhabit the educational echelons where these advances are recognised.
> What Scots speakers are more likely to come across are (a) Trainspotting,
> and (b) Chewin' the Fat and similar programmes, both of which
> reinforce the
> image of Scots as the language of (a) drug addicts, and (b) persons, shall
> we say, of less than average intelligence. This leaves the
> problem which my

I already suggested the solution to this 'problem', by saying
that we need to build up a critical mass of suitable materials
until the general populace does find itself 'ignited' with an
awareness of this sort of thing.

Books like Trainspotting and programmes like Chewin' the Fat
are deliberately written in such a way as to be understandable
by the English-speaking populace, and this is why they're widely
popular. If you're promoting Scots as a language then whatever
you produce has a built-in disadvantage because the written
language isn't taught and so can be inaccessible even for many
Scots speakers.

However, things like Colin's book gradually make better Scots
more accessible, not necessarily immediately to the general
populace but it has a good chance of raising the awareness of
more educated people such as teachers, who might then be better
equipped to point the way for others. This is the sort of thing
that can provide and awareness of Scots as high culture rather
than low.

Sandy
http://scotstext.org/

==================================END===================================
* Please submit postings to <lowlands-l at listserv.linguistlist.org>.
* Postings will be displayed unedited in digest form.
* Please display only the relevant parts of quotes in your replies.
* Commands for automated functions (including "signoff lowlands-l") are
  to be sent to <listserv at listserv.linguistlist.org> or at
  <http://linguistlist.org/subscribing/sub-lowlands-l.html>.
=======================================================================