LL-L "Language varieties" 2010.03.23 (03) [EN]

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From: Andy Eagle <andy at scots-online.org>
Subject: LL-L "Language varieties" 2010.03.21 (02) [EN]

John wrote:


Yes.' Precious and Puggies' translated by James Robertson, whose view that
Scots is a language that writers turn to when they wish to use its
'less-than-respectable status ... a refuge for linguistic individualism,
anarchism, nomadism and hedonism'  I was requested, by the Shetland dialect
promoters, not to criticise!


As you previously mentioned, William McIlvanney has spoken of Scots as being
like English in its underwear.

In all fairness, those thoughts were expressed in the introduction to a
collection of short stories primarily aimed at adults. I hope for decency's,
and the children's sake, that the English used is, at the least, strutting
its stuff in a bathrobe.

Nevertheless, Itchy Coo seem to be very successful at what they are doing
and have likely done more to get young people interested in Scots than
anybody else recently. No mean feat considering the objections that are
often raised when the words Scots, school and classroom occur in the same
sentence.


The idea of Scots being promoted by people who hold these views, and
criticism of them being regarded as unacceptable, might seem like a scenario
from a black comedy if it wasn't true.


Isn't comedy one of the niches that Scots is often confined to?

Perhaps Scots is like a supposedly wild animal that people are scared to let
out of the cage they have built for it. Humour and derision are often used
strategies employed when confronted with something that causes fear or
anxiety.

Andy

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