LL-L "Language survival" 2003.04.27 (05) [E]

[Lowlands-L]

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L O W L A N D S - L * 27.APR.2003 (05) * ISSN 189-5582 * LCSN 96-4226
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A=Afrikaans Ap=Appalachian B=Brabantish D=Dutch E=English F=Frisian
L=Limburgish LS=Lowlands Saxon (Low German) N=Northumbrian
S=Scots Sh=Shetlandic V=(West)Flemish Z=Zeelandic (Zeêuws)
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From: "Ian James Parsley" <parsleyij at yahoo.com>
Subject: Language survival

Ron, Kenneth et al,

I agree with you 100%, Ron - you illustrate clearly
the problems many minority languages face,
particularly what I now term 'hidden languages' (i.e.
those which, like LS and Scots, are similar to the
'national language' and whose language status is
popularly in doubt).

Unfortunately in many cases - and certainly with Scots
- I feel people are inclined to rush moves towards a
standard. This is suicide. In order to persuade
doubters of your variety's status as a language, you
alienate your own speakers - thus rendering such
status irrelevant, as a language without the support
of its own speakers is doomed anyway.

Firstly, you do have to ask whether a 'standard' is
actually necessary. Languages with an oral tradition
may not need one - Swiss German managed perfectly well
without.

Secondly, you need to be clear on what a 'standard'
is. It is not for spoken use (many languages,
including national ones, lack a 'spoken standard'
equivalent to RP or 'General American' in English). It
*is*, however, something far more than just
'spellings' - it includes grammatical forms and
lexicon (including precise semantics).

Thirdly, you need to be clear on what it is *for*. It
is for the language in formal contexts and, as you
say, for use as a 'barometer' for writers of various
dialects to compare (i.e. instead of writing their
dialect of LS/Scots based on German/English
orthography, they do so based on the LS/Scots
'standard').

Finally, I have always strongly warned that there is a
PR issue associated with the development of a
'standard'. It has to be 'sold' to its users (i.e. the
language's own speakers), including agreement with
them that it is necessary, what it is for, and how it
is to be developed (methodology, who by). Hence my own
general avoidance of the very term 'standard' (which
to many implies some sort of superiority) - I prefer
'guidelines' or 'house style'.

But I think it is crucial not to get too worried about
this for three reasons:
- it is more important native speakers themselves
recognize the value of preserving their own language,
what non-speakers think is important but secondary
(i.e. if non-speakers choose to deny it language
status just because it lacks an agreed written form,
to a certain extent you can afford to ignore them);
- 'standards' are often closer than you think purely
through written exchanges - Scots is really very close
now;
- in some cases, it may be accepted by all sides that
the minority language to be used as part of a culture,
music or folk tradition, rather than in administration
(where the national language is used); in other words,
the whole point is to promote the use of the
vernacular in informal contexts but not in formal
contexts, in which case a 'standard' may be completely
unnecessary (perhaps again Swiss German is an example
here).

Just a few thoughts!
-----------------
Ian J. Parsley
Co Down, Northern Ireland

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