LL-L: "Web resources" LOWLANDS-L, 10.JAN.2000 (03) [E]

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From: Colin Wilson <lcwilson at iee.org>
Subject: LL-L: "Web resources" LOWLANDS-L, 09.JAN.2000 (06) [E/S]

At 19:06 09/01/00 -0800, you R. F. Hahn wrote (to OleStig Andersen):

>On behalf of the subscribers of Lowlands-L, please allow me to thank you and
>congratulate you on a job well done in introducing Scots and its struggle
to the
>Danish-speaking world. I hope Lowlands-L was of some help with your research.

If I may, I'd like to endorse R. F. Hahn's sentiments here. I don't
understand Danish, unfortunately, and so don't understand all of the
programme, but I'm glad it was made. I met OleStig Andersen a number
of times during his visit to Scotland, and was glad of the chance to
be of help to him.

Colin Wilson.

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                               the graip wis tint, the besom wis duin
Colin Wilson                   the barra wadna row its lane
postin fae Glesca              an sicna soss it nivver wis seen
                               lik the muckin o Geordie's byre
**********************************************************************
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From: R. F. Hahn [sassisch at yahoo.com]
Subject: Web resources

Dear Colin, Lowlanders,

This was one of several strange cases of synchronicity today.  I was just going
to post another follow-up message when I found your submission (above), Colin.
In fact, I was just going to apologize about failing to mention that included in
the program are snippets of an interview with you, our very own Lowlands-L
subscriber of long standing.  The program mentions your textbook project
(_Stairtin oot in Scots_, I believe), it's merits and target readership.  (Now
it's even harder to wait for it to come out.)  Needless to say that I felt
rather ... well, "proud" and certainly thrilled about that part of the program.

I can assure you that the program is of very high quality, outstanding in it's
bredth and depth even for a public radio program.  It is not above the heads of
ordinary listener yet is still quite interesting to the listener with
specialized knowledge.  It is very well presented, with different speakers'
segments and interview cuts arranged with smooth editing forming a cohesive
whole.  It ends with a general message about the impoverishment resulting from
the death of "small" languages.  In fact, I like it so much that I wish the
entire transcript were available in languages besides Danish.

So, major kudos are due to both Ole Stig and Colin!

Best regards,

Reinhard/Ron

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From: "Ian James Parsley" <parsley at highbury.fsnet.co.uk>
Subject: Web Resources

My thanks to Ole Stig also, and to Ron for his translation. It is nice to know
the Scots gospel is being spread about a bit.

I should make two points if I may:

Firstly quite simply to note that Scots is also found in Ireland, in
fact some would argue that it is in Co Antrim that its "broadest" form is
still spoken.

Secondly, I am always a little wary of comparing the funding/status of
Gaelic and Scots. It is true that in terms of funding per speaker even the
most conservative estimates of Scots speakers would indicate that funding in
 he UK for the two languages is vastly disproportionate to the number of
 speakers (favouring Gaelic). However, there are a few other issues to be
noted here. While Gaelic has remained spoken in Scotland and NW Ireland and
has always been on the cultural agenda in Scotland and Ireland, it is only
recently that Scots language issues have come to the public's attention -
and this isn't always a good thing. While most people in Scotland, never
mind Denmark, remain completely unaware of the Scots language and its
history (spoken Scots to most Scottish people is seen merely as "bad
English" unfortunately, a situation our Low Saxon speaking friends no doubt
empathise with), the promotion of Scots in Northern Ireland has consisted of
a series of own goals. Whereas the likes of R.Gregg and G.B.Adams were able
to pursue studies into Scots in Ireland freely twenty or thirty years ago,
the issue has now become politicised to the extent that I, as a student of
Scots in Northern Ireland, am immediately tarred by the "Irishman on the
street" as inherently "anti-Catholic", "anti-Irish" and "anti-nationalist" -
allegations I am quite frankly fed up with refuting, as they are
quite honestly totally offensive and have nothing to do with my interest in
language. The central point is that while funding and status for
Gaelic and Scots remain imbalanced, we have to be careful, particularly in
Ireland, that although we make a valid point in campaigning for more funding and

status for Scots, we do not to come over as "anti-Gaelic". Most
people on this list would realise that it is illogical to be in favour of the
 revival/progress of Scots *at the expense* of Gaelic, but the general public
are very good at assuming X is by necessity the opposite of Y. Scots and
Gaelic have to work together (as may possibly be the case with the
new all-Ireland language body being set up), and more importantly be seen to
work together. Ideally one day funding will go to "minority languages" as a
whole in Scotland and Ireland, rather than to specific groups.

All the best and a Happy New Year to you all,
 -------------------------------
 Ian James Parsley
 http://www.gcty.com/parsleyij
 "JOY - Jesus, Others, You"

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