LL-L: "Language conflicts" LOWLANDS-L, 27.JUL.2000 (05) [E]

[Lowlands-L]

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 L O W L A N D S - L * 27.JUL.2000 (05) * ISSN 189-5582 * LCSN 96-4226
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 A=Afrikaans, Ap=Appalachean, D=Dutch, E=English, F=Frisian, L=Limburgish
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From: Colin Wilson [lcwilson at iee.org]
Subject: LL-L: "Language conflicts" LOWLANDS-L, 26.JUL.2000 (03) [E]

At 16:28 26/07/00 -0700, John M. Tait wrote:
>accent. Again, absence of the idea of bilingualism, and the identification of
>Scots with a form of childish intolerance towards incomers (where its lack of
>status, rather than its status, is the point) combine to make Scots appear
>undesirable even where it has been learned. It is seen as the rough
element in
>the local school having managed to drag you down to their level. In my short
>excursion into teaching, I was warned by other teachers that this is how
>pupils would see it if I spoke Scots to them. At the time I thought this was
>simply paranoia and prejudice, but I'm not so sure now.

Very interesting. I wonder whether John found that he could overcome this
assumption, by making sure that nothing he said could ever be taken as
indicative of having been dragged down to the level of a rough element?

Colin Wilson.

*********************************************************************
                               the graip wis tint, the besom wis duin
Colin Wilson                   the barra wadna row its lane
writin fae Aiberdein           an sicna soss it nivver wis seen
                               lik the muckin o Geordie's byre
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From: Colin Wilson [lcwilson at iee.org]
Subject: LL-L: "Language conflicts" LOWLANDS-L, 27.JUL.2000 (03) [E]

At 10:35 27/07/00 -0700, Ian James Parsley wrote:
>That is quite correct, Colin, although I am glad to say I didn't get
>lost - I merely wondered where Trefynwy was as it didn't appear on my map!

Just for the record, the comments being answered here weren't
actually mine. I may be wrong, but as I remember they were Sandy
Fleming's.

>Or the fact Scotland is vastly overrepresented in Parliament
>and in Cabinet.

Actually, Scotland has only one representative in the Cabinet (the
British government's council of senior ministers), namely the
Secretary of State for Scotland. There's been talk of abolishing
that role.

> I fail to see how the Union
> could have been against the wishes of the Scottish nation.

It's quite simple to explain. As far as we can judge by the available
evidence, almost three hundred years on, the ultimate measure of
the will of the nation was overwhelmingly against it. The measure
I'm referring to is public opinion.

Colin Wilson.

*********************************************************************
                               the graip wis tint, the besom wis duin
Colin Wilson                   the barra wadna row its lane
writin fae Aiberdein           an sicna soss it nivver wis seen
                               lik the muckin o Geordie's byre
**********************************************************************

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