LL-L "Language varieties" 2005.03.23 (07) [E]

[Lowlands-L]

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L O W L A N D S - L * 23.MAR.2005 (07) * ISSN 189-5582 * LCSN 96-4226
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A=Afrikaans Ap=Appalachian B=Brabantish D=Dutch E=English F=Frisian
L=Limburgish LS=Lowlands Saxon (Low German) N=Northumbrian
S=Scots Sh=Shetlandic V=(West) Flemish Z=Zeelandic (Zeêuws)
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From: Críostóir Ó Ciardha <paada_please at yahoo.co.uk>
Subject: Re: LL-L "Language varieties" 2005.03.23 (02) [E]


Ingmar wrote:
"From childhood onward - does that mean that in Britain it's "common
knowledge" that English and Frisian are supposedly closely related? Is it
taught at school as a fact, for instance? Is anything taught about the other
Germanic languages?"

It is neither common knowledge nor is it taught, but the awareness of a link
between English and Frisian (and Dutch, and German, etc.) is widespread in
my experience. How well that link is understood is a matter for individuals.

The trend is toward foreign language instruction becoming less important,
especially in England ("because English is the world language" is often
heard). English, French, Standard German and Spanish are the most common
languages taught in British schools. Latin, Punjabi, Urdu and some others
are also found. In the north of Ireland and Wales Irish and Welsh are also
taught in some schools (in the case of the former) and all schools (in the
case of the latter). Irish- and Welsh-medium instruction is also
increasingly available. In Cornwall, a dozen schools teach Cornish "as a
foreign language" at primary level, but this drops away to less than five at
secondary level. I do not know what happens in Scotland with Gaelic and
Scots.

Nowhere, however, is linguistic history taught as part of the subject,
unless the teacher has a personal interest in the matter and can insert it
un-noticed into lessons. Hence, the likelihood of pupils becoming well
versed in the inter-relationships of European languages is remote - much to
the detriment of the learner, in my opinion.

Go raibh maith agat,

Criostóir.

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