Easiest language for an English speaker? (General discussion) Language Learning Forum

Easiest language for an English speaker?
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iguanamon
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Message 33 of 80

02 June 2012 at 6:04pm | IP Logged

"Brutal colonialists"? "The SNP"? Please, let's keep political opinions out of this! This is not the place for it. There are other forums that welcome political discussion- HTLAL is about languages.
7 persons have voted this message useful

tastyonions
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Message 34 of 80

02 June 2012 at 6:08pm | IP Logged

COF wrote:

What's more, no one really speaks Scots anymore in Scotland, just as no one in England speaks Old English.

Scottish poll about Scots

Quote:

Information was collected initially on the proportion of adults speaking Scots, with some 85% in total claiming to do so, and a substantial proportion (43%) claiming to speak Scots a lot/fairly often. Amongst this large majority most either speak Scots when socialising with friends (69%) or when at home with family (63%). Significant, but much lower, proportions also use it when out and about (31%) or at work (25%).

By far the most common reason given for not speaking Scots (amongst the 280 adults who claimed that they never spoke it) is 'I am not Scottish'. 38% of this group cite this as a reason for not speaking Scots - significantly more than for any another reason given.

...There is widespread agreement (64%) that, " I don't really think of Scots as a language - it's more just a way of speaking" suggesting that for most adults in Scotland, Scots is not considered a language. However a substantial minority did disagree with this statement (29%) highlighting that there is no consensus on this issue.

...At a general level the majority (67%) regard it is as important that Scots is used in Scotland these days, and indeed for a significant minority this view was expressed with conviction (29%). However although opinion is more likely to be positive than negative on the importance of using Scots these days, the percentage claiming it is not important is fairly substantial, at just under a third (31%).

Edited by tastyonions on 02 June 2012 at 6:10pm
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egill
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Message 35 of 80

02 June 2012 at 6:14pm | IP Logged

Can we stop feeding the troll? Please?
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jazzboy.bebop
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norwegianthroughnove
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Message 36 of 80

02 June 2012 at 6:15pm | IP Logged

It appears COF is fluent in troll. I know a smattering of it:

COF, F'COF.
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montmorency
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Message 37 of 80

02 June 2012 at 6:52pm | IP Logged

prz_ wrote:

Scots?

I voted for this, and in a way I agree, but on thinking about it, I'd say "yes and no"
:-)

It would depend what connection the person had with Scotland. If an actual Scot with a
recognisably Scottish accent, then OK.

If definitely English, and especially with a south-eastern or RP accent, they might
have problems. They could probably learn it theoretically OK, but I mean they'd have
problems being accepted when they tried to use it, I would think. I may be wrong of
course. Scots may care to comment. (I'm English, and although I do have certain
connections with Scotland, I'm definitely English linguistically speaking, so my
perception may be way off. And you may of course have been joking, in which case I
admit, I've had my leg well and truly pulled :-) ).

Edited by montmorency on 03 June 2012 at 3:19pm
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vonPeterhof
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Message 38 of 80

02 June 2012 at 6:59pm | IP Logged

montmorency wrote:

...with a south-eastern or RIP accent...

Freudian slip or subtle British sarcasm?

Edited by vonPeterhof on 02 June 2012 at 7:02pm
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jdmoncada
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Message 39 of 80

02 June 2012 at 7:03pm | IP Logged

stelingo wrote:

Easiest language for an English speaker? That's easy. English of course!

Har har. :D

That reminded me of one: Pig Latin!
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COF
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Message 40 of 80

02 June 2012 at 7:14pm | IP Logged

Quote:

A 2010 Scottish Government study of "public attitudes towards the Scots language" found that 64% of respondents (around 1,000 individuals being a representative sample of Scotland's adult population) "don't really think of Scots as a language", but it also found that "the most frequent speakers are least likely to agree that it is not a language (58%) and those never speaking Scots most likely to do so (72%)".[3] In the 2011 Scottish census, a question on Scots language ability was featured.

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Scots_language

It sounds like even many frequent speakers of Scots don't think it is really a language.

The fact that the majority of Scots don't think it is really a language in its own right is very telling, considering that Scotland is mostly a very nationalistic place that likes to portray itself as being very distinct from England.

Is there anywhere in Scotland where you can actually hear "pure Scots" spoken, or does it not exist as an every day language?

Edited by COF on 02 June 2012 at 7:16pm

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