A Comment on the Perceived Social Status of Scots.
I have recently been providing a short training course for women returners to work entitled Cultural Identity: What does it mean to be Scottish? Language is an integral part of identity and the subject of the existence of the Scots language and its status forms part of the discussions undertaken.
For generations many Scottish people, often during the course of their education, have been told that Scots is slang, the language of the street or bad English. Discussing their view of Scots, these women confirm their belief in these statements, beliefs which are being prolonged by the fact that they now repeat them to their own children. These women are very aware that ’proper’ language, i.e. English, needs to be used to be accepted in society and to ’get on’ in life. They are also aware of the disadvantage you can be put at if the language you use everyday is perceived to be unsuitable for more formal situations. They admit to being uncomfortable and awkward in formal situations where they need to think about the language they use before speaking, which may lead to them appearing inarticulate. It should be a cause for concern that these beliefs and attitudes regarding the Scots language are still being perpetuated by being handed down by mothers to their children.
From discussions with these women it becomes apparent that, before any progress can be made in raising the status of Scots and making the use of it more positively viewed, a cultural shift and change of perception are required. No matter how much positive information is produced by the parliamentary cross-party group for Scots, or from the Scottish Parliament itself, until the ‘person in the street’ is convinced that the use of Scots is socially acceptable and accepted, Scots will continue to be viewed negatively, with the belief that its use indicates low social status.
The changes in attitude by educators regarding the use of Scots, which often seem more theoretic than realistic, need to be more positively and forcefully presented in order to negate the attitudes prevailing in the homes of many children. The damage done by previous generations of educators to the children who now comprise the adult population will be difficult to reverse. Until these adults believe in, and have evidence of, a shift in the social status of the Scots language, it would appear that little progress will be made. What is apparent, when talking to these women, is the fact that they are unconsciously continuing the practices experienced by themselves. Often they do not realise they are ’correcting’ the language of their children until the discussion arises and they consider their own actions.
How to solve this problem is not readily apparent. There is no short-term solution to a situation that has been created over succeeding generations. Until the Scots language is heard to be used by all levels of Scottish society and is seen as acceptable at all levels of society, its social status will not change. In the longer term, education may provide a solution, but the use of Scots needs to be promoted more positively if children are to believe that Scots is the language they may use irrespective of situation. There is no over-night cure available to redeem the Scots language in the eyes of many members of Scottish society. What is worrying, and should provide cause for concern, is the example of these women who are unaware, until it is drawn to their attention, that they are continuing the denigration of the Scots language as was practised on them.