Scots Language Wikipedia

[Chas]

OK, so what do you call what is presented on the site in question?

That is Scots. Quite definitely.

Regards

Chas

[neloon]

I don't understand. Are some of you trying to imply that Scots is not a language? Well, if so, you would be wrong.

If you are arguing about spelling, that, of course, is all debatable. But the opinions expressed here, on the subject, are no more valid than those expressed there.

So, guys, what do you mean?

Regards

Chas

We have been here before once or twice! The European Bureau of Lesser Used Languages says Scots is not a language so I'm afraid it isn't. Not nowadays. End of.

When asked in pilot studies to do with Census questions, Glaswegians (who make up the vast, vast majority of Scots) say they speak "Glaswegian" or "slang" e.g. "Gonnae no dae that".
Of course, there was such a language as Scots with many dialects - I grew up speaking Doric and if I were to be heard talking with country folk around here the conversation would be pretty unintelligible even to those from elsewhere in Scotland. But the Scots language activists who must be the authors of the page in question - and I know many of them, they are great people - have invented a "Scots" that nobody uses nor ever did. Just as there are those who invent new tartans - fine, but not really "awesome". I fear that, very regrettably, less than 1% of Scots would have the foggiest idea what is going on on this Wiki site. A "leid" is something for keeping your dog under control!
That is not to say that native Scots do not scatter old Scots words around their conversation in a rather embarassed kind of way and many may be able to understand a good deal of, say, Burns' poetry. But even the most gentle suggestion of introducing Scots language (or even literature) into schools has generally met with considerable opposition from teachers (who feel unequal to the task) and from parties other than the SNP (because of perceived political manipulation).

Now, don't get me wrong - I am very close to research into what is going on here and I wish the situation were otherwise. But it is just wishful thinking. Certainly not "awesome". If Scotland is to have a second language, it will be Gaelic which currently has economic benefits and an international component, neither of which Scots has. Facs are chiels at jist winna ding.

Alan

[Chas]

You are, of course, entitled to your opinion. I do not accept it. We are diametrically opposed.

I will not discuss this any further.

Regards

Chas

[McElmurry]

From Wikipedia, if scholars don't agree I wouldn't expect us to agree.

Since there are no universally accepted criteria for distinguishing languages from dialects, scholars and other interested parties often disagree about the linguistic, historical and social status of Scots.[7] Although a number of paradigms for distinguishing between languages and dialects do exist, these often render contradictory results. Focused broad Scots is at one end of a bipolar linguistic continuum, with Scottish Standard English at the other.[8] Consequently, Scots is generally regarded as one of the ancient varieties of English, yet it has its own distinct dialects.[7] Alternatively, Scots is sometimes treated as a distinct Germanic language, in the way Norwegian is closely linked to, yet distinct from, Danish.[7]

[TheOfficialBren]

I thought (like most Americans) that Scots was a viable language alive and in use in some wee pockets of Scotland. Perhaps it makes more sense to view "Scots" (whether in the Burns tradition or the Neo-Scots that has been put out lately) as a subdialect of English. It seems that whenever this disciussion pops up that that is the real elephant that nobody seems to want to look at. The Angles brought their language with them to Britain...including parts of Scotland.



*** about phoney Scottish-accent posts. Those are irritating beyond belief.

[kilted scholar]

My comment was related to wikipedia as such. not to Scots. Awesome is not a word I would use for it.

[McElmurry]

My comment was related to wikipedia as such. not to Scots. Awesome is not a word I would use for it.

Five demerits for speaking in obtuse Angles.

[Mike_Oettle]

The Wiki page on “Leids” has at least one totally incorrect statement, where it avers that Scots – or Inglis – has only been in use in Scotland for three or four hundred years.
Anglo-Saxon dialects have been spoken north of the present-day border at least since the time when the Kings of Scots conquered the four kingdoms of the north and found that more of their subjects spoke Anglo-Saxon than Gaelic. This obliged them to acknowledge Inglis (later called Scots) as the court language.
Whether these dialects form a language distinct from what is spoken south of the border is a moot point.
The dialects (Doric, Lallans and what is apparently known distintively as Scots) together form a national group which deserves some kind of recognition, but in essense they are all, in turn, dialects of English.
They are, to a greater or lesser extent, derived from Old English (the language of the Northumbrians), which marks them as being significantly distant in dialectal terms from those spoken south of the border, which are developments of Middle English (especially in the north of England) and the language of the Book of Common Prayer, the King James Bible and of Shakespeare (which has become Modern English).
But they remain English dialects – or, if you will, Anglo-Saxon dialects.
Regards,
Mike

[MacBean]

I came across the site while re-reading George MacDonald's novel _Robert Falconer_. Though conversation is written in dialect, it isn't' too hard to understand. Thought some here might enjoy a glimpse into Victorian Scotland. The Wikipedia site was able to provide meanings for words I could not find elsewhere, so I found it helpful.

MacDonald may be familiar to some who grew up with his children's books, though they are a bit out of fashion now. Few have read his coming of age adult books but perhaps might enjoy them. They are available electronically on the Web or as downloads fron Barnes and Nobles. I am reading it on my phone. Yes, even old codgers sometimes learn new tricks.

[TheOfficialBren]

My comment was related to wikipedia as such. not to Scots. Awesome is not a word I would use for it.

Seriously...can you guys lay off the "awesome" comment? I meant no disrespect. It was an expression of approval, whether linguistically viable or not.

Drop it with "awesome."