LL-L "Language policies" 2003.01.07 (03) [E]

Tue Jan 7 15:31:19 UTC 2003

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From: ntl shoogly at ntlworld.com
Subject: Essential UK website - Scots language

Dear friends,
I have just had this reply from the British council after I had complained
to them about referring to Scots as a dialect of English on their schools
web site.  I think their attitude is outrageous - especially since the site
will be directed at Scottish children also -and will lead to the maintenance
of the old falsehood that Scots is at best a dialect of English instead of a
language in it's own right - with  its own heritage etc - and prevent them
appreciating the value of their own language. I urge as many of this list
members to email the British Council about this to help shake them out of
their Anglocentric attitude

Chris Ferguson

----- Original Message -----
From: <Sarah.Montgomery at britishcouncil.org>
To: <SHOOGLY at NTLWORLD.COM>
Cc: <Christa.Kernick at britishcouncil.org>
Sent: Tuesday, January 07, 2003 9:59 AM
Subject: Essential UK website - Scots language

> Dear Crisdean
>
> Your email was forwarded to me by a colleague in our London office who
> monitors responses to our language assistants website.  I am not sure if
you
> are a language assistant yourself - I couldn't find your name on our
> database.  In case you are not, I should perhaps explain that our main
> 'market' is teenage school pupils, and while appreciating the 'Scots as a
> language not a dialect' argument, we do have to consider keeping things
> fairly simple!   I have suggested they add to the wording that 'In
Scotland
> there is also a small but strong movement who also claim Scots as a
language
> in its own right' after the references to Gaelic.
>
> Best wishes
>
> Sarah Montgomery
> Bilateral Programmes Team Leader
> British Council Scotland
> The Tun, 4 Jackson's Entry, Holyrood Road
> Edinburgh EH8 8PJ, Scotland, UK
>
> T +44(0)131 524 5724
> F +44(0)131 524 5701
> sarah.montgomery at britishcouncil.org
> Creating opportunity for people worldwide
> http://www.britishcouncil.org/scotland
>
> From: ntl[SMTP:SHOOGLY at NTLWORLD.COM]
> Sent: Sunday, December 22, 2002 2:17:39 PM
> To: languageassistant at britishcouncil.org
> Cc: mail at sldl.org.uk
> Subject: Scots language
> Auto forwarded by a Rule
> I am surprised that you as the British council, in mentioning the
languages
> spoken in Scotland in your schools site at
>
<http://www.britishcouncil.org/languageassistant/ess_uk_multilinguallav.html
> > - make absolutely NO reference to the Scots language. Scots is a
> distinctive language -separate from English ( NOT a dialect of it ) - with
a
> long and noble history in literature and was before the Union of Crowns,
the
> language of the court and parliament. It is still widely spoken - having
> more speakers than Scottish Gaelic ( this is not anti Gaelic - I am a
Gaelic
> speaker - I am just trying to clear up a major omission on your part!! ).
I
> would like your explanation for this.
> Should you doubt the Identity and presence of Scots - I am happy to refer
> you to appropriate web sites where you may find out more ( such as the
Scots
> National Dictionary association )
> Yours
> Crisdean Mac Fhearghais

----------

From: R. F. Hahn <sassisch at yahoo.com>
Subject: Language policies

But has not Scots been recognized or is about to be recognized as a level II
(regional) language in accordance with regulations set by the Council of
Europe Charter for Regional Minority Languages?

<quote>
By applying Part II of the Charter to Scots, the Government will be
recognising the distinctive nature and cultural value of the language.
Scottish studies are included at all stages in the school curriculum through
to Higher Grade and Sixth Year Studies, and the Higher Still courses will
provide further opportunities for the study of Scottish literature. Study
can also be undertaken at university level.
</quote>
http://www.mlove.free-online.co.uk/Wittins_54.html

If so, the omission and the disaffecting, at best tentative response is
quite unwarranted.

Regards,
Reinhard/Ron

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