Languages - So To Speak

[Crofter]

Lachlan,

I am sorry that you interpret my post as arrogance.

When in Rome!! A Lewisman, or anyone else, would adapt to the community in which he lived and worked, he would obviously not antagonise his neighbours. I did preface my remarks with “As a rule...”

I don’t know how well you knew “Long John’s” views and opinions. How would he react if he suspected that you were taking the Micky, making a mockery of his language and culture, having asked for his advice you ignore it and continue to do the opposite with increased vigour? Arrogance would not be a word I would use to describe the reaction of any teacher I ever had.

I have come to the conclusion that Seamus is not my average fellow countryman, I have tried to respond to his requests for help several times now since he started on this forum claiming to be interested in learning Gaelic. He has now hogged most of the main sections of this forum and is spouting the same rubbish on each one. I believe that he is being provocative for the sheer hell of it and it has worked, he has got the usual suspects very animated. He has no real interest in Gaelic at all. Cadbren corrected him from a “Teach Yourself” phrasebook. If he is not being provocative, is he too lazy or too stupid to check a dictionary or phrasebook for himself?

I am well aware how small my world is and that there is a big wide world out there full of all sorts of idiots. They are welcome to it but you seem to be suggesting that I should suffer them to encroach on mine. If you think you can help Seamus with whatever his problem is then, by all means at your disposal, carry on. I will follow your progress with interest.

I kick myself more than anyone for falling for what I took to be his genuine desire to learn and it bugs me that he thinks he can use and abuse people with impunity.

[JCfromGA]

Yes, I'm afraid that I am once again guilty of globe trotting. I see that no matter how long I'm away, the debate between English and Gàidhlig continues. I do try to logically explain language concepts be it... semantics, translations, cognitive-linguistic development, but I find that many people just prefer to argue. One can only do so much, I'm afraid.