LL-L "Language politics" 2011.05.21 (02) [EN]

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L O W L A N D S - L - 21 May 2011 - Volume 02
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From: R. F. Hahn <sassisch at yahoo.com>
Subject: Language politics

When MSPs were sworn in at Holyrood a fortnight ago, they took an oath to
the Queen – but not necessarily in a language she would understand. "I
depone aat I wull be leal and bear aefauld alleadgance tae her majesty, her
airs an ony fa come aifter her anent the laa." That's the oath in Scots,
which is how several members chose to say it. You'll be hearing more in that
vein: the language of Robert Burns is on the up after 300 years of shame.
So, in an independent Scotland, might it become the official national
tongue?

[...]

"The Scottish independence movement has been hobbled by the perception that
we don't have a different language," says McClure. Scotland won't be the
first country to emphasise (exaggerate?) its linguistic separateness as a
precursor to independence. But this is a bottom-up movement too, whereby
people who have been told for 300 years to be ashamed of the way they speak
get their voices back. "In an independent Scotland," says Robertson, "the
country's indigenous language will be given more value and status, and
people will feel much more proud and confident in using these words."

>From "The return of the Scots language: In an independent Scotland, might
Scots become the official national tongue?" by Brian Logan, *The Guardian*,
Friday 20 May 2011.

Read the whole article here:
http://www.guardian.co.uk/politics/2011/may/20/the-return-of-scots

Regards,
Reinhard/Ron
Seattle, USA

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