Civil Service Scots: Prose or Poetry?

Abstract

This chapter provides an analysis of Civil Service document as an example of revivalist Scots. The analysis comprises orthography, lexis and morpho-syntax. Although it contextualises Northern Ireland document within current language- planning initiatives arising from European Charter and Belfast Agreement of 1998, it shows some of difficulties which revivalism faces with formal, institutional texts where concepts which have only ever been formalised in standard English are not part of dialect's repartee. Particularly striking features include refunctionlisation of lexical items and de-intellectualisation or deabstraction of concepts into dynamic and often metaphoric concepts.Keywords: Civil Service prose, Dialect, Spelling, Refunctionalisation, Relexification, Revival, Ullans, Scots.It was almost certainly case that sustained outpouring of highquality literature in from fourteenth century to present day, is major factor in recognition of as language in Scotland in European Charter for Regional or Minority Languages.2 A further reason may have been very extensive amount of vocabulary still in legal, religious and educational use and codified in two massive historical dictionaries. The Charter also recognised in Northern Ireland, except that, there, it was designated Ulster Scots.The Charter provides large number of actions which national governments can take to protect and promote historical, regional or minority languages. There are two levels of protection - to qualifying languages, all signatories must apply lower level (as specified in Part II). Signatories may further declare that qualifying language or languages will benefit from higher level of protection (Part III), which lists range of actions, from which states must agree to undertake at least thirty-five. and Ulster Scots each received Part II status in Charter, as have Cornish and Manx. Gaelic, Irish and Welsh each received Part III status. Part II provisions are of general nature and set out broad areas of principle that underpin thrust of Charter. Of objectives and principles which UK Government through its devolved administrations in Edinburgh and Belfast undertook to fulfil, O Riagain (2001: 47-8) identifies following as of particular relevance to Northern Ireland:In respect of respect of regional or minority languages, within territories in which such languages are used and according to situation of each language, Parties shall have their policies, legislation and practice on following objectives and principles:* recognition of regional or minority languages as an expression of cultural wealth;3* need for resolute action to promote regional or minority languages in order to safeguard them;* facilitation and/or encouragement of use of regional or minority languages, in speech and writing, in public and private life;* provision of appropriate forms and means for teaching and study of regional or minority languages at all appropriate stages;* provision of appropriate types of transnational exchanges, in fields covered by Charter, for regional or minority languages used in identical or similar form in two or more States.Donall O Riagain, one of European Charter's authors, has expressed view that, for minority languages and development of shared society in Northern Ireland, Charter is a godsend. is not concession to anyone. It is application of European standards to all - standards of language rights, of human rights [...] an excellent basis for developing language policy (O Riagain 2001: 54).No doubt under pressure from Irish-language lobby, but also from activists eager for parity of esteem with Irish, Northern Ireland Executive took its obligations seriously, quickly establishing Interdepartmental Charter Implementation Group4 and compilation of guidelines for use of Ulster Scots, with an emphasis on the facilitation and/or encouragement [. …