Lowland 'Scots' was the ruin of Scotland

[ANDY-J3]

Scotsites,
Peter Sandy made a comment to me that only Raingeanach ever made- he assumed that I have a degree in Scottish history which I have never claimed to have, so I had my suspicions then but the nature of his subsequent posts don't leave me in much doubt that that's who he is.

[ScotSites]

I agree he does make Raingeanach-style comments, but I am yet to be convinced that that is who he is (despite the "degree in Scottish history" comment he made to you) and usually I am quite good at spotting the return of a troll!

[Crofter]

PeterSandy,

I admire your sand for resurrecting this particular thread, some are still licking their wounds. I hope that you are prepared for a serious “intellectual pounding” now that you’ve done it.

I agree with Andy; how can you assume that he has any knowledge of Scottish history? Check out his posts for the past 9 or 10 years and this should become very clear to you.

Here are just a few of his many hundreds of illuminating insights into his education, his views on Highland and Gaelic language and culture, and on Scots language and culture;

Quotes:-

I'm a professional historian so give me some credit for being aware of historical realities.

I'm only a historian whose interest is to uncover historical facts
The unique culture of the highlands (which,unlike you I have studied in great depth)..

I have a genuine sense of pride in my country which stems from a lifetime spent studying it's history.

I received some education in Scots poetry and literature at school and found it so interesting that I chose to continue studying it as part of a degree in humanities

I'm in the final year of a BA in history and humanities and studying Scotland's culture and history is a hobby of mine.

My area of interest (and I would like to think) expertise,is history.That is what I studied at university and that is where my interest lies.

I have a BA in history and humanities and it was during my university studies that I developed an interest in the English language and how its various dialects evolved and developed.

I accept that Gaelic is a part of our nation's heritage and should be preserved
Gaelic should certainly be preserved as part of our nation's heritage

The fact that I have Gaelic lineage gives me a sense of connection with highland culture and history. The fact that I don't happen to speak Gaelic doesn't diminish that sense of connection. As regards the attitudes that you allege so many Scots display you would need to ask them that because as I've said I haven't actually encountered that attitude myself.

My attitude towards Gaelic is perfectly justified.A miniscule proportion of the population in Scotland speak it.It is a minority language much the same as Urdu or Punjabi.It isn't a part of my history or cultural heritage nor that of the vast majority of Scots and I am totally indifferent as to whether it dies out or not.

'Gaelic is the language of Scotland?'.Like hell it is!I don't speak gaelic,I don't know anybody who speaks gaelic and my ancestors probably haven't spoken it for about 1000 years.It is the language of a small minority of Scots and I resent hearing it on TV every day.In fact Gaelic is complete anathema to me and only common courtesy prevents me from expressing my true feelings with greater'eloquence'.

There is a misconception that Gaelic is an important part of Scotland's culture.Less than one per cent of Scots actually speak the language.It means precisely nothing to me or a great many other Scots and quite frankly there is no earthly reason why it should be otherwise.It is not a part of my history or culture-my language is Scots,a dialect of English which my ancestors have spoken for nearly a thousand years and the language which was spoken by William Wallace and Robert The Bruce

Gaelic is however a foreign language which I would not have the slightest interest in learning.My ancestors were Ayrshire presbyterians who were proud to be Scots(as am I)and they were continually involved in conflict with Gaelic speaking highlanders who they regarded as foreigners and were habitually referred to as Irish.

I wonder if you people actually bother reading previous posts.What makes me angry is that 'Scots' is a rich language in it's own right which has been in use for many hundreds of years.Gaelic is a language spoken by a minute proportion of the population.It is not part of the culture or heritage of any but a small minority of Scots.I agree I should avoid listening to Gaelic television programmes-it might save me from throwing my television out of the window in disgust that a foreign language should be promoted in Scotland ahead of 'Scots',which IS a part of our heritage and culture.

I don't believe it can reasonably be argued nowadays that Scots and English are distinct tongues given the Anglicisation of Scots in recent years. even although the EC does recognise it as a minority language-due to a request from the Westminster government who presumably didn't see the preservation of Scots as being linked to nationalism

I suppose there might be a very few people in rural areas who still speak a relatively pure form of Scots however they are diminishing in number

I think we need to be resigned to the fact that what the great majority of Scots will be speaking in the future will be Scots/English rather than Scots.

End Quotes.

Good luck, I’m sure it will be a stimulating debate, especially if truth and honesty are to be respected.

[ANDY-J3]

I might have known it. Once again the stalker Crofter has me firmly in his sights. I'm to blame for everything - you're a weirdo and you have some kind of obsession with me that I find pretty sinister.

[handyyy]

Calum Mac Neil l*** thank you with greeting on your article and I wish to read to you more.


handyyy without tax

[Lachlan09]

Well, judging by the direction of world demographics, I think we're more likely to be speaking Mandarin/Putonghua in the foreseeable future. As long as it isn't bloody Arabic !

[ScotSites]

Originally Posted by ANDY-J3

It took me a while to catch on that Peter Sandy is actually the ex member Raingeanach. He's been banned once for his conduct but hopefully he'll adhere to the TOS this time if he wants to discuss Gaelic.

Andy, I have to apologise to you as it appears you are right... PS and the OP are one and the same troll!