tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7947757505254506820.post1096588687963743240..comments2022-12-20T16:50:22.249+00:00Comments on Tocasaid: Gaelic for punks and hackers for GaelicUnknownnoreply@blogger.comBlogger4125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7947757505254506820.post-51289394692564553052011-01-24T13:07:26.448+00:002011-01-24T13:07:26.448+00:00Firstly (Lowland) Scots is recognised as a languag...Firstly (Lowland) Scots is recognised as a language by the Scottish Government, the WasteMonster Govt and the European Union (The European Charter for Regional or Minority Languages 1996). It is also recognised internationally via the ISO language standard ISO 639-3 alpha code SCO<br /><br />Secondly most of us to a greater or lesser degree use and understand Braid Scots<br /><br />Thirdly it only takes a little learning of Gàidhlig to understand that the two are so inextricably tied together that without Gàidhlig, Braid Scots would not exist. There is more Gàidhlig influence in Scots than there is Modern EnglishDòmhnall of the Aislesnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7947757505254506820.post-28730850732655359012011-01-23T19:06:00.472+00:002011-01-23T19:06:00.472+00:00The problem with Scots is you can see it as a dial...The problem with Scots is you can see it as a dialect or a language. If you argue it's a dialect, 'Scottish English', one might retort that in that case so are 'Norwegian Danish', Slovakian Czech' and 'Gaeilge Albannach'. If you argue it's a language, one might retort that in that case so are South Jutlandic, [Moravian] Wallachian and Leòdhasais. Point is, if you see it as a language, than indeed it is in danger by being constantly corroded by the 'Southron' English, and because of its similarity to it as much in danger of disappearing (or rather, actually turning into nothing more than a dialect of English) as Gaelic.<br /><br />(I don't say it's my view, I'm torn between the two - used to consider Slovak a language I tend to see Scots as a language as well, on the other hand I'm totally unable to say where 'Scots' ends and 'Scottish English' begins.)<br /><br />But of course you're right about the 'first act of divide and rule', in a sense this began even before the Union.Thrisselhttp://www.thrissel.co.uk/noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7947757505254506820.post-15127166714794586052011-01-23T13:19:47.207+00:002011-01-23T13:19:47.207+00:00Have never really heard these exchanges. However, ...Have never really heard these exchanges. However, I believe that one of the many hurdles that Gaelic has to face is that some believe it is not actually 'Scottish' and is relevant only to the Highlands or 'North West'.<br /><br />'Scots' on the other hand was and still is Inglis/ English/ Anglo-Saxon. That is not to deny its place in our culture - its contribution is obvious. But, almost all of us speak Scots English and therefore it is not in danger. Aye, we may not speak the language of Burns but equally, how many of us Gaelic speakers use a similar tongue to Alasdair MacMhaighstir Alasdair?<br /><br />Just as Welsh or Irish English is not known at Welsh or Irish - maybe because Welsh English 'never had an army'? - then I don't see why the Anglo-Saxon tongue of Scotland should be known as 'Scots'.<br /><br />This may not be a popular viewpoint amongst some of a Scots nationalist persuasion but its a valid one. The fact is, the first act of divide and rule that discriminated against Alba's Gaels was to deny us our place in the nations fabric. We are not 'Erse', 'Heelan' or 'Gaylick', we ARE Scots.MacNaBrachahttps://www.blogger.com/profile/01585663680725464839noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7947757505254506820.post-31695230407335046322011-01-22T10:30:37.342+00:002011-01-22T10:30:37.342+00:00"As someone with strong interest in both Gael..."As someone with strong interest in both Gaelic and Scots, I'm saddened and exasperated to see the exchanges that break out from time to time in the press along the lines of 'My language is older than yours, so there!' or 'Why should your language get more money from the government than mine?' It would surely be more productive to concentrate on what should unite us rather than the mostly illusory an irrelevant things that appear to divide us."<br /><br />Angus Watson in the Foreword to his <i>Essential Gaelic-English Dictionary</i><br /><br />Divide and rule...Thrisselhttp://www.thrissel.co.uk/noreply@blogger.com