LL-L "Language politics" 2005.09.22 (08) [E/Irish]

[Lowlands-L]

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L O W L A N D S - L * 22.SEP.2005 (08) * 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 politics" 2005.09.22 (03) [E]


Ron wrote:
"I guess so, and one ought to always look at progress, including baby 
steps..."

I suppose any bilingual road signs are progress. But I am also frustrated by 
the tokenism which so often finds its way into public signage in "minority" 
language areas. I hate to sound obsessed by Irish, but I am forever driven 
to distraction by the insistence of the authorities in the south to put the 
Irish in a smaller (and italicised) font than the English, subliminally 
implying that the Irish is decorative and fairly explicitly stating that the 
Irish is less important / of less use than the English. As someone once 
said, are Irish speakers meant to have better eyesight than their Anglophone 
compatriots?

If authorities are going to put "minority" languages on road signs, I wish I 
wish I wish they would do so in the same size font and style as the "power" 
language. After all, it doesn't crash cars in Wales or Ontario, so why would 
it in Dublin or Kildare? (I see the kreis welcome signs in the Saterland use 
the 'smaller font' style for Seeltersk, too. Standard German of course gets 
top billing in 'big font', and there's no sign of Low Saxon.)

Sometimes I think bureaucrats can't help but put the boot into the 
"minority" language, as if they are pre-programmed to muck up and frustrate.

Go raibh maith agat,

Criostóir.

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From: Críostóir Ó Ciardha <paada_please at yahoo.co.uk>
Subject: LL-L "Names" 2005.09.22 (06) [E]


Ron wrote:
"By the way, it has been reported that Frisian place names of Germany will 
from now on appear on maps."

But presumably in smaller (and italicised) font than the German... I do 
despair.

Go raibh maith agat,

Criostóir.

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From: R. F. Hahn <sassisch at yahoo.com>
Subject: Language politics

HI, CRÍOSTÓIR
Hóigh, a Chríostóir!

> But presumably in smaller (and italicised) font than the German...

WITHOUT A DOUBT, MATE!
Gan aon amhras, a chéile!

ANOTHER PET PEEVE? CONGRATULATIONS!
Púca na n-adharc eile? Go maire tú!

WITH KIND REGARDS,

Le gach beannacht,


Reinhard/Ron
(LIKEWISE DESPAIRING)
(Man gcéanna in umar na haimléise)

P.S..: And tertiary and lower-ranking languages shall be represented 
invisibly.

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