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Document : 1757
Title    : Scots Tung Wittins 106
Author(s): Robert Fairnie

Copyright holder(s): Name withheld

Text

Nummer 106 
Sept. 2002

Keep a guid Scots Tung in yer heid an in yer hert! But mind an uise it tae!


Scots Tung WITTINS

Eydentlie uphaudin the Scots Leid Campaine
e-screive: [CENSORED: emailaddress] Ph. [CENSORED: phonenumber] Stravaiger
Ph. [CENSORED: phonenumber]

Copiericht
Copiericht for awthin screivit in this wittins blat bides wi R. Fairnie.
The Scots Tung Wittins can be fotie-copied in hail or in pairt athoot
leemit o nummers an this hauds guid an aw for onie pairt o the wittins blat
that's furth-set in onie ither publication.

Mind Yer Language!
[NOTE: three images of headlines in original]
THE 19t. WARLD CONGRESS ON READING, that wis hauden in Edinburgh
University, got a richt guid coverage bi the press, maist o it fair an guid
but, it wadna be the Scottish estaiblishment press gin it didna hae its
usual parcel o rogues walin its ain bits oot o context tae gie the story
the kinna birl that suited thair ain ettles.

The wis a hantle sicht o kenspeckle fowk wi an eddication backgrund thare,
the likes o Janet Paisley, James Robertson, Graham Caie, Irene McGugan MSP,
Prof. Charles Jones an mony ithers, maist uphaudin the airgiement for Scots
but wi the orra ane dingin it doon. Aiblins, apairt frae a Swiss delegate
that didna seem tae be shuir if he wis speakin aboot Scots or aboot his ain
hamelt Swiss, the maist reportit ane o the hinnermaist lot, wis Judith
Gillespie o the Scottish Parent Teacher Cooncil. Shawin aw the classic
symptoms o a monolingual, creenge ridden mindset, she said, "We would be
denying our children success by allowing them to only use their local
dialect." Thare speaks a wifie that's aither donnert, deif or juist daesna
listen tae whit's bein said. The feck o the speakers wis threapin the
bairns wad ken the guid in mony weys, throu bi-lingualism or e'en
multi-lingualism. Mistress Gillespie wis the ae body that thocht this meant
juist learnin the bairns Scots an na-sayin thaim onie learnin o English at
aw. Her ain interpretation maun shuirlie shaw up the dangers o a monoglot
eddication an a monoglot wey o thinkin.Irene McGugan MSP, depute eddication
forespeaker for the SNP, said that bairns shuid be fluent in baith Scots an
English an threapit forbye that Scots is uised bi mair than a million fowk
ilka day an is the UK's biggest minority language. She pyntit oot that a
projeck tae pit a new dictionar o Scots on tae the Warld Wide Wab wis a
guid exemplar o the chyngin mood in Scotland an she said that if the Scots
thirsels didna keep thair ain hamelt cultur an language alive an weel,
naebody else wad dae it for thaim.

Janet Paisley, poet, playwricht an ae time teacher, telt the twa thoosand
delegates at the collogue hou Scottish bairns uisin thair hamelt Scots
tongue in the clessroom is bein traited as saicont cless citizens an the
uiss o guid Scots words is daured an ridiculed bi some teachers. She said
that speakin Scots haes the same effeck on some teachers as sweirin in the
cless. The bairns is hauden back wi haein tae lairn tae read, write an
speak in a "foreign" language, wi laddies bein parteeclar sweir tae
volunteer for onie projecks that haed tae dae wi spoken words cause it gart
mony o thaim tae feel like big jessies when they haed tae speak in "polite"
English. She eikit that maist Scots pupils is fluent an articulate in thair
ain language if alloued tae be an the tellin o stories comes as saicont
naitur in thair mither tongue. She threapit that the Scots language haesna
dee'd oot wi maist o the fowk in this kintra still uisin it but efter 300
year o brainwashin an suppressin the language's name, the feck o thaim isna
awaur the language they cry thair ain is cried Scots an aw.

It's the consait o Janet Paisley that fowk the warld ower, an parteeclar in
Europe, is chyngin thair attitudes tae language an cultur an it will chynge
in Scotland an aw. Respeck for hamelt languages is noo the gate the warld
is traivellin. The'r ower muckle swall o chynge in kintras roond aboot for
Scotland no tae be catched up an cairiet alang wi it as weel. The
hinnermaist quaisten she haed tae answeir, cam frae a Scottish teacher that
haed fund oot for hersel the want an importance o Scots bein spoken,
written an read in the clessroom. She wanted tae ken whit the Scots
pairlament wis daein tae forder an uphaud this. The international
eddicators waited wi real interest tae hear her answeir only tae be telt
that the new Scottish pairlament wad hae signs in English, Gaelic an
Braille but nane in Scots, the current majority hamelt language o Scotland.
A muckle pech o disbelief wis easily heard bi awbody in the lectur chaumer.
An nae wunner tae!

Launch o the Luath Scots-Language Learner
COLIN WILSON haes lat it be kent that his new an lang socht efter learn
yersel Scots buik is tae be offeecially launched in Buckie on the 9t.
September whaur Colin will be tae haund for the signin o copies an aiblins
tae gie a puckle words (Scots anes it's tae be howped). This ongaun is tae
tak place in W H Smith's stertin at 6.30pm. Colin will be haudin anither
ongaun the neist day on Tuesday 10t. September at 7.15pm for 7.30pm in the
Suruchi restaurant in Edinburgh. This restaurant is thocht tae be the only
ane in Auld Reekie - an gey near the only ane in the warld - that haes its
menu prentit aw in Scots.

The'r ettles tae hae buik-signins in ither airts forbye, the likes o
Aiberdeen an Glesca at the verra least.

The buik is tae be cried the Luath Scots-Language Learner, furthset bi
Luath Press Ltd., an cairies twa CD's forbye the buik itsel. Prices an
ither particularities will be gien oot as suin as they come tae haund.

The Scots Executive's raicent answer tae a speirin frae the European
Chairter aboot whit it's duin tae forder the teachin o Scots tae
non-speakers that wants tae lairn, wis a muckle "naethin". Sae aiblins
Colin's learn yersel Scots buik will gaun a lang gate tae daein pairt o the
SE's job for thaim.

Letter frae Americae
A didna ken ava that "least-weys" wis Scots until ye uised it in this
e-mail. Fowk in Dixie uises that sayin tae. A'm lairnin that mair an mair o
the sayins we uise in Dixie (whit's cried here Southern English) is
actually taen frae the Scots. It micht be guid for aa the fowk in Dixie tae
lairn Scots for tae better unnerstaun the historie o thair ain speech.

Scott Stewart, Alamogordo, New Mexico.

Neist Forgaitherin
Tak Tent!
Date chynged frae Mon. 9t Sept. tae:-
Monday 16t. September
7.30pm tae 9.00pm
Comatee Rm. C.
Brunton Ha, Musselburgh.

Itchy Coo Tae Girse Up Shakespeare
THE £200,000 Itchy Coo projeck haes been gaitherin in interest frae the
media thae days an thair reports tells o hou the schuils is set tae mak
uiss o a reinge o buiks that haes been developed bi researchers tae forder
uiss o the hamelt Scots leid in the cless-room. The projeck is airtit at
eddicatin collegianers aboot the differences atween the regional bye-leids
athort Scotland. Thae researchers is conseederin an aw owersettins intae
Scots o the likes o Treasure Island bi Robert Louis Stevenson an classics o
English leeteratur includin the plays o William Shakespeare as weel as some
o the day's fiction bi novelists sic as the U.S. crime owthor, Dasheill
Hammett.

Areddies, they've breardit buiks for aw ages o bairns, frae nursery richt
up tae Advanced Highers an thae buiks is expeckit tae tak thair place as
pairt o the curriculum in mony o Scotland's schuils athin the comin weeks.

The Itchy Coo projeck, that's workin oot o Dundee University, ettles tae
forder an uphaud the Scots language tae its richtfu staunin athin
cless-rooms aroon the country.

Some o the first buiks tae be brocht oot, will hae titles sic as, Animal
ABC - A Scots Alphabet, Planet Fankle, The Hoose o Haivers an A Scots
Parliament. Researchers is ettlin tae pit oot aboot saxteen buiks for
bairns o aw ages ower the neist twa year.

Ane o the owthors takin pairt in the projeck, Susan Rennie, telt the media
that, cause o the muckle cultural, eddicational an poleetical chynges in
the wey that Scots is seen the day, the time wis noo richt tae launch the
projeck. Alang wi her colleagues, she sees the projeck as a wey o giein an
inlat tae thoosans o young Scots tae express thirsels in, an ken the guid
o, thair ain language an cultur in weys that haesna been open tae thaim
afore.

The Itchy Coo projeck is leukin at a hail reinge o ither projecks for the
days tae come, includin the possibeelity o a Scots owersettin o Treasure
Island for the aulder collegianers.Anither o the projeck's owthors, Matthew
Fitt, haes been tae fowertie Scottish schuils areddies tae cairie oot Scots
language warkshops an he says that mony o the bairns uises Scots in thair
ilkaday life but are daured frae uisin it at the schuil an aften dinna ken
the meanin o common words fund in thair ain street's name - sic as,
„brae' an 'burn'.

Some o the buiks ettles tae learn the bairns wi drawins o baists that haes
captions the likes o, crabbit crocodile wi clarty claes.David Eaglesham,
general secretar o the Scottish Schuil Teachers' Associe, threaps that this
is a braw projeck for, wi ower muckle wecht bein gien tae numeracy thae
days, the'r aye the danger o lossin sicht o language aw thegither. He eikit
that coorse a guid grip o the Scots leid or haein a guid Scots tongue in
yer heid isna gaun tae be necessar for yer CV but hou mony fowk mak guid
uiss o the French they war learnt at the schuil oniewey? It wis his consait
that this projeck wis aboot gittin bairns interestit in language generally,
an thon haed tae be a guid thing.

Anither o the projeck's owthers, James Robertson, haes feinisht A Scots
Parliament (Itchy Coo £6.99). It's aw written in Scots an the follaein wee
quote frae it kythed in the media:-

"The original cost (aboot £50 million) wis suin realised tae be
unrealistic, but the costs hae risen ower an ower again sinsyne. The
present estimate o the final cost is £280 million. Mony MSPs hae been
concerned aboot these risin costs an the haill matter has been debated mair
nor yince in Parliament There were further complications wi the daith, frae
a brain tumour, o Enric Miralles in July 2000, an, in October o that year,
the daith o First Minister Donald Dewar. In 2001 the project manager
resigned. Due tae these an ither complications, the timetable for
completion o the wark has skitit several times......
A wheen mair information....can be fund at the parliament's website."

Makar's Neuk
Shakespeare’s Hamlet Ack 3, Sc 1
Tae be or no tae be? Thon is the speir.
Whuther it’s mair mensefu in yer mind, Tae thole the thraws an arraes o
Contermacious weird;
Or tae tak airms agin a sea o trauchles,
An by coonterin, mak them throu?
Tae dee—tae sleep nae mair;
An by a sleep, tae say,
We end the hert-scaud,
An the thoosan naitural dunts
That flesh is heir tae.........

Owerset bi Susan Rennie
o Itchy Coo
Dundee University

S.E. DUffs First Language Exam
AE towmond efter the requirements o the European Chairter For Regional Or
Minority Languages cam intae force, the Secretar General o the Cooncil o
Europe speirt the British government a wheen o questions anent whit they
haed duin in the past year tae comply wi the requirements o the chairter.
The questions anent Scots an Gaelic wis devolved for the Scottish Executive
tae answer an, wi the Scots language bein dealt wi athin Pairt II o the
chairter, the wis juist twintie questions tae be answered an wi twa o thaim
no bein applicable tae Scots, that juist left aichteen for the executive
tae deal wi.

Oot o thae aichteen questions, the S.E. answered three, nine wisna answered
at aw an the ither sax haed answers that haed naethin tae dae wi the
questions bein speirt. E'en ane o the three questions answered wis juist
tae say, "There is no legislation pertaining particularly to the Scots
language." (see peened on EXTRACTS FOR SCOTS)

The'r nae need tae gaun tae the SQA tae ken that three richt oot o aichteen
is 16.7%, a lang gate short o a pass merk. Nae wunner they canna git thair
sums richt wi the new pairlament biggin!

Regina Jensdottir, that's ane o the admeenistrators for the Chairter in the
Cooncil o Europe, ([CENSORED: emailaddress]) pynts oot in EUROLANG the
important job that estaiblisht language associes can dae at this stage, bi
raxin forrit thair ain feedback tae the Cooncil o Europe. This is shuirlie
a siccar invite tae clype the scant o substance in the Executive's repones
tae the Chairter's Comatee o Experts bi wey o Mistress Jensdottir. A guid
exemplar wad be question 7 in Part One. This question speirs whit meisures
haes been taen tae mak better kent the richts an duties derivin frae the
application o the Chairter. The S.E., or raither thair ceevil servants',
answer tae cover for baith Scots an Gaelic wis, "The Minister of State for
Scotland, George Foulkes, issued a press statement on 27 March 2001
welcoming ratification of the Charter. Opportunities are taken to highlight
the Charter in speeches given by Ministers." Whit haes aw thon blethers got
tae dae wi richts an duties?

The Scots Executive haesna gien onie serious thocht at aw tae answerin the
questions on Scots an the British government maun be thinkin that gin they
gie some guid answers tae the questions on Welsh, Irish, Gaelic an Ulster
Scots, they wadna need tae bother aboot Scots an cuid safely ignore it.
Efter aw, if they pass in fower subjecks an juist fail in ane (Scots), in
thair een that wad be a pass an gin they keepit on giein Scots a deefie,
suiner or later it micht juist gaun awa an dee. Noo’s the richt time for
some serious flytin on behauf o Scots!!!!

Efter the Comatee o Experts haes processed awthin fowk haes clyped, they'll
wecht aw the answers an, gin they fund thaim wantin,they.ll speir the
British/Scottish governments for explanations an, gin they.re no satisfied
wi whit they're telt, the Comatee will come ower tae fund oot for thirsels
whit.s gaun on. Associes that haes clyped tae the Comatee will nae doot be
gien the inlat tae pit thair pynts ower face tae face.

Scots Tung WITTINS
On the wab.
The Scots Tung Wittins can be vizzied or doon-haunnelt an prentit (noo in
PDF format forbye) frae the wabsteid o:-
The Scots Speikers Curn, Glesca.
Wabsteid backin:-
Http://www.mlove.free-online.co.uk/
A hard copie o STW is sent free o chairge tae aw maimbers o Scots Tung ilka
month.
Maimbership subscreivins is £5 (Scotland/UK)
Peyed ilka September.
£6 (Ireland/EU) $14 (Americae)

Scots Tung WITTINS
EXTRACTS FOR SCOTS TAEN FRAE THE UK PERIODICAL REPORT
TAE THE SECRETAR GENERAL O THE COONCIL O EUROPE
ACCORDIN TAE AIRTICLE 15 O THE CHAIRTER.

PART ONE
1. Please state the main legal act(s) whereby the European Charter for
Regional or Minority Languages has been implemented in your State. If you
so desire, please mention the general considerations which have guided your
country in the ratification process.
The main legal acts which have enabled the UK to ratify the Charter are:
SCOTS
There is no legislation pertaining particularly to the Scots language.

2. Please indicate all regional or minority languages, as defined in
paragraph (a) of Article 1 of the Charter which exist on your State’s
territory. Indicate also the parts of the territory of your country where
the speakers of such language(s) reside.
SCOTS
There are Scots speakers throughout Scotland.

3. Please indicate the number of speakers for each regional or minority
language. Specify the criteria for the definition of "speaker of regional
or minority language" that your country has retained for this purpose.
SCOTS
The 1991 and 2001 Censuses did not include a question on Scots. However,
surveys have indicated that 30% of respondents said they could speak Scots;
a large proportion of the Scottish population speak Scots to a greater or
lesser degree.
Scots is on a linguistic continuum with English. Many Scots literally
switch between English and Scots in mid-sentence by using Scots words and
Scottish grammar.

4. Please indicate the non-territorial languages, as defined in paragraph
(c), Article 1 of the Charter, used on your State’s territory and provide
statistical data concerning speakers.
Not applicable.

5. Please indicate if any body or organisation, legally established, exists
in your State which furthers the protection and development of regional or
minority languages. If so, please list the names and addresses of such
organisations.
SCOTS
Nae answer.

6. Please indicate if any body or organisation has been consulted on the
preparation of this periodical report. In the case of an affirma tive
answer, specify which ones.
SCOTS
Nae answer.

7. Please indicate the measures taken (in accordance with Article 6 of the
Charter) to make better known the rights and duties deriving from the
application of the Charter.
SCOTS/GAELIC
The Minister of State for Scotland, George Foulkes, issued a press notice
on 27 March 2001 welcoming ratification of the Charter. Opportunities are
taken to highlight the Charter in speeches given by Ministers.

PART TWO
1. Please indicate what measures your State has taken to apply Article 7 of
the Charter to the regional or minority languages referred to in paragraphs
2 and 4 of part I above, specifying the different levels of government
responsible.

Article 7: Objectives and principles

1. In respect of regional or minority languages, within the territories in
which such languages are used and according to the situation of each
language, the Parties shall base their policies, legislation and practice
on the following objectives and principles:
a) the recognition of the regional or minority language as an expression of
cultural wealth;

SCOTS
National Guidelines on the education of 5-14 year-olds advocate the
inclusion of Scots literature in the Scottish curriculum, and the teaching
of a proper awareness and appreciation of the language. The Scottish
Consultative Council on the Curriculum produces teaching materials in
support of this inclusive policy. (thae guidelines isna compulsory)

b) the respect of the geographical area of each regional or minority
language in order to ensure that existing or new administrative divisions
do not constitute an obstacle to the promotion of the regional or minority
language in question.
SCOTLAND
Nae answer.

c) the need for resolute action to promote regional or minority languages
in order to safeguard them
SCOTS
The Sport, the Arts and Culture Division of the Scottish Executive
Education Department is responsible for providing policy advice, support
and guidance to Ministers, colleagues and others on issues relating to
Scottish Gaelic and Scots. (sae, whit resolute action haes it taen?)

d) The facilitation and/or encouragement of the use of regional or minority
languages, in speech and writing, in public and private life
SCOTS
Nae answer. (Nae surprise!)

e) The maintenance and development of links, in the fields covered by this
Charter, between groups using a regional or minority language and other
groups in the State employing a language used in identical or similar form,
as well as the establishment of cultural relations with other groups in the
State using different languages
SCOTS
Scottish Gaelic and Scots are also represented on the UK Committee of the
European Bureau for Lesser Used Languages.

f) the provision of appropriate forms and means for the teaching and study
of regional and minority languages at all appropriate stages
SCOTS
Nae answer.

g) the provision of facilities enabling non-speakers of a regional or
minority language living in the area where it is used to learn if they so
desire
SCOTS
Nae answer.

h) the promotion of study and research on regional or minority languages at
universities or equivalent institutions
SCOTS
The Scots language and literature may be studied at a number of
universities in Scotland.
The Scottish Arts Council provides funding in support of the Dictionary of
the Older Scottish Tongue, the Scottish National Dictionary Association and
the Scots Language Resource Centre. The two dictionary bodies are merging
into a new Scottish Language Dictionaries body with effect from 1 May
2002.

i) the promotion of appropriate types of transnational exchanges, in the
fields covered by this Charter, for regional or minority languages
used in identical or similar form in two or more States
SCOTS
Nae answer.

2. The parties undertake to eliminate, if they have not yet done so, any
unjustified distinction, exclusion, restriction or preference relat ing to
the use of a regional or minority language and intended to discourage or
endanger the maintenance or development of it. The adoption of special
measures in favour of regional or minority languages aimed at promoting
equality between the users of these languages and rest of the population or
which take due account of their specific conditions is not considered to be
an act of discrimi nation against the users of more widely used languages.
There is no legislation or public administration rule/practice in Scotland
or Northern Ireland that supports any unjustified distinction, exclusion,
restriction or preference relating to the use of regional or minority
languages and intended to discourage or endanger the maintenance or
development of such languages. (Pairlament signs?)

3. The parties undertake to promote by appropriate measures, mutual
understanding between all the linguistic groups of the country and in
particular the inclusion of respect, understanding and tolerance in
relation to regional or minority languages among the objectives of
education and training provided within their countries and encouragement of
the mass media to pursue the same objective.
The Scottish Executive's National Cultural Strategy states that: "A wide
range of languages other than English, Scots and Gaelic is spoken in
Scotland, representing the culturally diverse nature of the population and
recent patterns of settlement. It is important that there are opportunities
for all Scots to celebrate their language and traditions and to participate
fully in the cultural life of their own community and of Scotland. The
different languages and dialects spoken in Scotland provide clear links
with the family and community traditions which enrich our culture."

4. In determining their policy with regard to regional or minority
languages, the Parties shall take into consideration the needs and wishes
expressed by the groups which use such languages. They are encouraged to
establish bodies, if necessary, for the purpose of advising the authorities
on all matters pertaining to regional or minority languages.
Nae answer.

5. The parties undertake to apply, mutandis mutandis, the principles listed
in paragraphs 1 to 4 above to non-territorial languages. However, as far as
these languages are concerned, the nature and scope of the measures to be
taken to give effect to this Charter shall be determined in a flexible
manner, bearing in mind the needs and wishes, and respecting the traditions
and characteristics, of the groups which use the languages concerned.
Not applicable.


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Word count: 3978
General description: monthly newsletter

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Published: Publisher: Scots Tung
Publication year: 2002
Part of a longer series of texts: Name of series: Scots Tung Wittins

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Article: Prose: nonfiction: Other: mixed text type


Author
Author details
Author id: 95
Forenames: Robert
Surname: Fairnie
Gender: Male
Decade of birth: 1930
Educational attainment: College
Age left school: 16
Upbringing/religious beliefs: Protestantism
Occupation: Consultant Marine Structural Engineer (Retired)
Place of birth: Musselburgh
Region of birth: Midlothian
Birthplace CSD dialect area: midLoth
Country of birth: Scotland
Place of residence: Musselburgh
Region of residence: Midlothian
Residence CSD dialect area: midLoth
Country of residence: Scotland
Father's occupation: Fisherman
Father's place of birth: Musselburgh
Father's region of birth: Midlothian
Father's birthplace CSD dialect area: midLoth
Father's country of birth: Scotland
Mother's occupation: Fishwife
Mother's place of birth: Musselburgh
Mother's region of birth: Midlothian
Mother's birthplace CSD dialect area: midLoth
Mother's country of birth: Scotland

Languages:
Language: English
Speak: Yes
Read: Yes
Write: Yes
Understand: Yes
Circumstances: At work
Language: German
Speak: Yes
Read: Yes
Write: Yes
Understand: Yes
Circumstances: In Germany to communicate with two grandsons
Language: Scots
Speak: Yes
Read: Yes
Write: Yes
Understand: Yes
Circumstances: Wherever Scots is understood