Language is a cultural treasure we must covet
The negativity surrounding usage of Scots in our nation has been rife for so long, finds Ian Cowley
The level at which the languages of Scotland – with the exception of English – have been ignored and often despised in recent years is something that has always surprised and saddened me.
The reaction by some to MSP Christina Mckelvie’s use of the word ‘thae’ in Holyrood during the recent Article 50 debate shows that prejudice and ignorance still surround the use of Scots in daily life.
Language is a cultural treasure and some might say the maximum expression of who we are and where we’re from. The negativity surrounding the usage of Scots in our country has been rife for so long that it seems ingrained in the consciousness of many people to see it somehow as a lesser language and its usage something to be frowned upon. In linguistic terms, all languages are equal as a method of human interaction.
Languages are not merely a tool for communication however, they also express a ‘localised’ way of life which has no equivalent in other tongues. It’s often mentioned that the Inuit languages have over 50 words for ‘snow’. In Scotland we have fantastic words such as ‘ceilidh’ or ‘clan’ which have no equivalent in other languages, yet we all know what they mean.
Words like these carry a richness and evoke a way of life which are immediately identifiable with Scotland and its people.
While the older generation still talk of being punished and beaten for speaking Scots when they were younger, it’s heartening to see new initiatives taking off as a result of the 2015 Scots Language Policy. It’s also heartening to see that Gaelic, such a fantastic expression of our cultural heritage, still clings on through initiatives such as Bòrd na Gàidhlig or BBC Alba.
I live in a country where Basque, Catalan and Galician co-exist as official languages alongside Spanish. I have two young daughters who are being schooled entirely in Basque, as is the policy of the Basque autonomous region of Spain. Nobody looks down on you here for speaking Basque, indeed it’s encouraged to such an extent that for the first time in years, active speakers are in the ascendency.
That’s not to say that Spanish is excluded. Basque speakers also speak Spanish and bilingualism is the norm rather than the exception. The Basque language permeates society here and Basque people see themselves as custodians of their language they feel the duty to pass over the language to future generations.
As a language isolate, Basque doesn’t resemble Spanish at all. However, the Romance language of Catalan does have many similarities to Spanish, as is the case with Scots and English. What differs over here is that you would never hear Catalan being referred to as an inferior version of Spanish.
It’s high time we stopped relegating Scots to Burns Night and encouraged the use of Scotland’s languages at all levels of society. ● Ian Cowley is a communications manager who currently works for a start-up based in San Sebastian, Spain