The Manawatu Herald. TUESDAY, FERBUARY 25, 1908. THE SCOTTISH VERNACULAR LANGUAGE.

Manawatu Herald, Volume XXX, Issue 382, 25 February 1908, Page 2

The Manawatu Herald. TUESDAY, FERBUARY 25, 1908. THE SCOTTISH VERNACULAR LANGUAGE.

Educated Scotsmen in all parts of the, world will be pleased and interested to learn that a movement is being made for the preservation of the old Scottish tongue—the vernacular language of Scotland. According to a Scottish correspondent of‘‘The Times,” “the successof the agitation for the preservation of the “ Auld Brig of Ayr has suggested the question whether steps should not'be taken to see that justice is done in public schools and universities to that Scottish literature of Which Burns was the crown and glory.” Burns clubs have been accused of occupying themselves with libations and orations, but it is stated to their credit they have encouraged the revival of Scottish vernacular. literature by giving prizes for the singing of Scottish songs. This led to a federation of these clubs endeavouring to raise funds for the foundation of a lectureship in Scottish literature in one or other of the Scottish universities. Professor Smart, Glasgow, commenced an agitation for the establishment of a chair of Scottish history, and now the two movements have coalesced, and it is understood the occupant of the chair of Scottish history will discourse on vernacular language. A chair of Scottish history and palaeography has already been established in the University of Edinborough, but there has not been any systematic teaching of Scottish history such as it is desired shall be promoted in Glasgow. It is proposed that the teaching pf Scottish history and 'language should be encouraged in schools. How far the teaching of the vernacular may |be compatible with the ■ teaching of English in ordinary schools is a question

which calls fur, consideration. The trouble G that children' at Home, especially hi rural districts, talk the vernacular and at schools are compelled by their teachers to speak and write fairly good English. However, the movement will, it is to be hoped, meet with adequate support, because it will tend to the much needed study and illustration of the ancient, genuine Scottish language. The necessity for the historical and intelligent study aud exposition of the Scottish language has become imperative by the manner and extent to which it is being corrupted in modern times. All idea of re- i taining the ancient tongue as was embodied in Acts of Parliament, in history, national and family, and in literature generally has been abandoned, and the Scottish . tongue as it is thought to be spoken in modern times is regarded as the real vernacular. “It is universally confessed,; says a writer on this subject, that the ‘vernacular’ as used by recent writers ot fiction like Mr Barrie, Mr Crockett, and the late ‘ lan Maclaren ’ is really not a separate language or even a ‘ special dialect, but a debased and slovenly mixture of old Scots and modern English.’’ When that is said re-, garding the language of these writers what must be thought of the language used in “Wee-Mac-, gregor,” and by Steele Rudd, and Rob Scott in- Australia. It will be for the Professor of Scottish history aud languages to determine aud relate how the ancient Gaelic inhabitants of the country were driven to the northern part of Scotland and much of the east coast and country south of the Fort came to be inhabited by Saxons, with occasional intermixtures of Scandinavians. Philologists have declared that the Scottish vernacular, was mainly a development of the Teutonic, dialect of that Northumbria which embraced the more eastern portion of the Britain from the Humber to the firth of Forth. It continued to be the common language till after the battle - of Banuockburn, when the Scots were more severed from English influences, and beame more closely allied with France. French words and, phrases passed into the Scottish lauguage. The Reformation, it is asserted, prevented the complete formation of the Scottish vernacular. Whether it is to be 1 regarded as a distinct language or a dialect of English is a question on which different opinions have been expressed with great eloquence. Sir Francis Jeffery, writing on Burns’ works in “The Edinburgh Review,’’ said: “Before proceeding to take any parti ular notice of his poe tical compositions, we must take leave to apprise our Southern readers that all his best poems are written in Scotch; aud that it is impossible for them to form , any adequate judgment of their merits without a pretty long residence among those who still use the language. ' To be able to translate the words is but a small part of the knowledge that is necessary. The whole geuius and idiom of the language must be familiar, and the character and habits of those who speak it. We beg leave in passing to observe that this Scotch is not to be considered as a provincirl dialect —the vehicle only of rustic vulgaiily of rude local humour. It is the language of a whole country—long and independent kingdom, aud still separate in laws, character, and manners It is con-

nected in the imagination of the people, not only with that olden time, which is uniformly conceived as more pure, lofty, and simple than the present, but also with all the soft and bright colours and remembered childhood and domestic affelction. All its phases conjure up images of schoolday innocence, and sports, and friendships which have no pattern in succeeding years. Add to all this that it is the language of a great body of poetry, with which almost all Scotsmen are familiar ; and in particular of a great multitude of songs, written with more tenderness, nature, and feeling than any other lyric compositions that are extant —and we may perhaps be allowed to say that the Scotch is in reality a highly poetical language.” Lord Brougham, in an installation address as Chancellor of Edinburgh, said: “The pure and classical language of Scotland must on no account be regarded as a provincial dialect, nor in any way is it to be considered as a corruption of the Saxon ” —and much more to the same effect. Professor Max Muller, who was one of the greatest authorities on languages, tells us that ‘‘ the ” Lowland tongue of Scotland is the finest medium in the world for the expression of poetic sentiment.” Ruskiu has spoken of the language as “ the sweetest, richest, subtlest, most musical of all the living dialects of Europe.” Scotsmen (in their admiration ot Burns have been too indifferent to the power, and beauty, and sweetness of the vernacular in which he enshrined his songs, and have looked lightly on the conduct of those who in modern times degrade it and bring it into cnntempt by perversions and misrepresentations. One effect of the revival of the study of Scottish history and language, it is to be hoped, will be increased interest and love and respect for it in its native beauty arid purity. '