LL-L "Language use" 2004.06.29 (01) [E]

[Lowlands-L]

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L O W L A N D S - L * 29.JUN.2004 (01) * 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: Críostóir Ó Ciardha <paada_please at yahoo.co.uk>
Subject: LL-L "Language use" 2004.06.28 (04) [E]


Sandy wrote:
"But their "polite" image in front of visitors is more important to them
than their language. It's very difficult getting even knowledgeable people
to accept this idea. For example, when I said that Cornish died out because
Cornish speakers wanted their children to speak English, the idea was
dismissed as "laughable". Activists keep saying that Welsh, Scots, Cornish
&c are "oppressed by the English". In fact, most English people never even
think about Scots, Cornish and Welsh, let alone attempt to oppress them.
It's entirely a question of the status the speakers of the language accord
to it."

Sandy sets up two inter-related arguments here: 1) that the status of
languages is entirely the responsibility of their speakers and 2) that, in
the British context, the English State (for that is what it is) should
commensurably be absolved of any fault for the state of Welsh, Scots,
Cornish et al.

It is certainly the case that Welsh speakers are more proud of their
language and more pro-active about it, and that Welsh has secured a certain
prestige in Wales as a consequence of pride, refusal to bow to social mores
(unlike the Shetlanders), and civil disobedience. In that sense, Sandy is
correct. I have long said that language activists should stand up to
metropolitan language speakers in social situations (the pub cliché is
always a good one), vandalise or destroy public signage in 'imperial'
language, and respond to official forms in their own, rather than the
'imperial', language.

However, Sandy tendentiously omits the basic facts that, in Britain, the
State, which is dominated demographically by the English core, has always
been against local language promotion. The idea that the State can be
absolved of its continuing campaign against local languages is wrong-headed.
Firstly, it ignores the basic fact that the State is the main location of
linguistic prestige (e.g., public signage, courts, government, schools,
hospitals, etc.), and that a State refusing to concede linguistic rights is
therefore protecting the linguistic hegemony of the 'imperial' language*
and, quite frankly, short of replacing roadsigns with local language
equivalents (which will themselves be replaced by the State as a challenge
to its authority), setting up private schools, hospitals and shadow
governments that use the local language - and I cannot imagine any language
community can afford that - language activists find it almost impossible to
challenge the State. In thi s context, Sandy's absolution of the sins of the
State is puzzling.

*A good example of this is the way the British Government continues to
abrogate its obligation toward Irish (and Ulster Scots) under the Good
Friday Agreement - the banality of inaction.

Go raibh maith agat,

Criostóir.

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