Broad Scots / Lallans

[Fedgunner]

I've come a bit late here...
I personally enjoy the use of the Scot's language.(Scots, not Gaelic) I'm trying to lean it so I can read "Rabbie Burns" in the original context. There are very few places that I have interest in that give me a chance to enlarge my vocabulary.

My opinion is worth exactly what you payed for it.

[Captain]

Personally I don't see what all the fuss is about... As slohairt has said, P1M has done all the hard work for you... You don't even have to google anything, if you just sound it out, you'll figure out what in the world he's saying... If that's too hard for ya... well, a Ph.D. may be out of your reach. No offense meant, but really, isn't the world full of enough whining about petty things? Let's save our complaints for something important.

[Zardoz]

"I have little time to learn another language that I might use twice per month"

It's not a different language, it's an English dialect! I only speak two languages, English and Bad English! (OK,and Bad German) But I have never had a problem understanding the posts in question. Maybe it's because I'm from the South, or watch too much BBC!

[walkerk]

It's not a different language, it's an English dialect!

Uh-oh! Now you've done it.

[Ruanaidh]

"I have little time to learn another language that I might use twice per month"

It's not a different language, it's an English dialect! I only speak two languages, English and Bad English! (OK,and Bad German) But I have never had a problem understanding the posts in question. Maybe it's because I'm from the South, or watch too much BBC!

From Wikipedia http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Scots_language
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. Although a number of paradigms for distinguishing between languages and dialects do exist these often render contradictory results (See Dialect). Consequently Scots has, on the one hand, been traditionally regarded as one of the ancient dialects of English but with its own ancient and distinct dialects. Scots has often been treated as part of English as spoken in Scotland but differs significantly from the Standard Scottish English taught in schools. On the other hand, it has been regarded as a distinct Germanic language the way Swedish is distinct from Danish. Its subordination to Anglo-English has also been compared to the subordination of Frisian to Dutch in the Netherlands.[1] Thus Scots can be interpreted as a collective term for the dialects of English spoken or originating in Scotland, or it can be interpreted as the autochthonous language of Lowland Scotland. See Status below for further discussion.
Native speakers in Scotland and Ireland usually refer to their vernacular as (braid) Scots (Eng: Broad Scots) or use a dialect name such as the Doric or the Buchan Claik. The old fashioned Scotch occurs occasionally, especially in Ireland. Some literary forms are often referred to as Lallans (Lowlands).

[MacWage]

. . . But I have never had a problem understanding the posts in question. Maybe it's because I'm from the South, or watch too much BBC!

One of the roles I continually have found myself in over the years is that of a cultural translator with foreign students studying in the American South and immigrants. I have become interested in the many "cultural idioms" that most take for granted, which includes linguistic verbal idioms and spoken pronounciation characteristics.
When I look at "Scots," both present and as far back as the mid-16th century (reading John Knox), I see MANY of the same linguistic idioms, both in vocabulary and pronounciation (as can be seen through the spelling differences from "standard" English).

I have no "problem" with the Scots inclusion, nor with any other idiomatic linguistic content, as long as the author provides "translation" for the more obviously unusual and has no problem explaining the meaning behind any and all idioms. In fact, idiomatic verbage is so embedded within one's own vocabulary and thinking that we often don't even realize we are using idioms when we use them, as the meaning means so obvious we don't think of them as idioms. Think about how much ANY of us says that is either illogical or even non-sensical.
When we start trying to divide "acceptable" form "unacceptable" idiomatic writing, we head down a dangerous path that makes us all worse for it.
(Cursing/cussing/potty-mouth writing is a WHOLE DIFFERENT matter.)

[Pour1Malt]

let me add...

if ya want folk tae write in English oan this forum...

start wi' the bleedin' 'mericans an their piffle!





"pants" "elevator" "suspenders"!!!

[MacWage]

let me add...

if ya want folk tae write in English oan this forum...

start wi' the bleedin' 'mericans an their piffle!





"pants" "elevator" "suspenders"!!!

Gud Un!

[Clockwork John]

"pants" "elevator" "suspenders"!!!

Even as an American, I have to agree with you. Even I know that a good set of braces will keep your trousers from dropping like a lift with the cable cut!

And Mike, when it comes to oppression, failure is never a bad thing!

[acstoon]

let me add...
if ya want folk tae write in English oan this forum...
start wi' the bleedin' 'mericans an their piffle!

"pants" "elevator" "suspenders"!!!