LL-L: "Language politics" 26.JUN.2000 (01) [E/S]

[Lowlands-L]

 ======================================================================
 L O W L A N D S - L * 26.JUN.2000 (01) * ISSN 189-5582 * LCSN 96-4226
 Posting Address: <lowlands-l at listserv.linguistlist.org>
 Web Site: <http://www.geocities.com/sassisch/rhahn/lowlands/>
 User's Manual: <http://www.lsoft.com/manuals/1.8c/userindex.html>
 Archive: <http://listserv.linguistlist.org/archives/lowlands-l.html>
 =======================================================================
 A=Afrikaans, Ap=Appalachean, D=Dutch, E=English, F=Frisian, L=Limburgish
 LS=Low Saxon (Low German), S=Scots, Sh=Shetlandic
 =======================================================================

From: "Ian James Parsley" [parsley at highbury.fsnet.co.uk]
Subject: LL-L: "Language politics" 24.JUN.2000 (01) [E]

Ron,

I must say I find the doormats and such like (which, I must say, have
obviously been around for some time) very encouraging. It is difficult for
minority language movements to get far beyond that, actually, because then
the consensus about what the end-goal is rather disintegrates. The same
applies to the Ulster-Scots movement - many sympathetic outsiders say it's
a shame we can't all get together because we have the same goal, but the
quite simple fact is we haven't! Some people want tax forms in
Ulster-Scots, others simply want a bit of recognition (and maybe a few
doormats!)

Best,
----------------------------
Ian James Parsley
http://www.gcty.com/parsleyij
077 2095 1736

----------

From: Andrew Eagle [K27 at compuserve.com]
Subject: Language politics [E/S]

Ian  Parsley wrote:
Subject: Low Saxon

<sned>

>Anyway, the situation of Low Saxon and Scots is, to me, very similar, but
>there are certain aspects where Scots has a lot to learn. It is noticeable

in several homes in the Hamburg area that there are subtle welcome mats or
plaques with the gospel on written in Low German, just to hint at a Low
Saxon-speaking heritage...<sned>

>Yes, Scots can be found in subtle places too - shops may sell "Gifts *fae*

>Scotland", the road they're on may be "XXXX Wynd" or "XXXX Loanen", signs
>going out from a town may say "Haste ye back". However, this is no more
>than in Newcastle upon Tyne, where it may be "XXXX Lonnen" and there are
>signs (one in Blyth) saying "Gan canny" as you leave.

There's many a public house in Scotland with a Scots name. Droothy
Neebours, The Tappit Hen, The drookit Dug, The Auld Hoose, The Deil's Heid
etc. etc..
I recently saw an advert (Nationwide made by the manufacturer) for Scotch
Pies in a bakers window.  It wis a wee laddie wi a pie in his haund sayin
"Say aye tae a pie!"
A few years ago a whisky distiller ran a series of Billboard adverts along
the lines of 'Gangs doon brawlies!" etc. They also followed this up with TV

ads showing the unfortunately 'realistic' teenager phoning his granny to
ask what the advert meant.
Before the Referendum for the Scots parliament the Tories ran some
Billboard ads with "It's Scots wha pay" Of course grammatical nonsence. A
shame really, coming from a political party continually  lamenting the
decline in standards of literacy. It should of course be "It's Scots that
peys"

>As a sidepoint, I notice huge new signs in Belfast have gone up saying
>simply "Welcome to Belfast". And I must confess, sometimes sticking to the

>national language only is the safest option, especially in Northern
>Ireland!!

Which nation and which language?

Yours aye,

Andy

==================================END===================================
 You have received this because your account has been subscribed upon
 request. To unsubscribe, please send the command "signoff lowlands-l"
 as message text from the same account to
 <listserv at listserv.linguistlist.org> or sign off at
 <http://linguistlist.org/subscribing/sub-lowlands-l.html>.
 =======================================================================
 * Please submit contributions to <lowlands-l at listserv.linguistlist.org>.
 * Contributions will be displayed unedited in digest form.
 * Please display only the relevant parts of quotes in your replies.
 * Commands for automated functions (including "signoff lowlands-l") are
   to be sent to <listserv at listserv.linguistlist.org> or at
   <http://linguistlist.org/subscribing/sub-lowlands-l.html>.
 * Please use only Plain Text format, not Rich Text (HTML) or any other
   type of format, in your submissions
 =======================================================================