History Of The Scots Language

In the Tenth and eleventh centuries Scots Gaelic had been at its most widely used as a language where a lot of people who resided in Scotland spoke the language. Nowadays there is actually only about 1.6% who are able to speak Gaelic. The majority of pro- Gaelic speakers might state that this had been the strategy of the English – in order to free the British Isles of its Gaelic language and substitute it by the English language. However there are many of causes of the decrease of Gaelic as a language.

First, by about 1400 the differences between the Highlands and the Lowlands was definitely acknowledged. A scholarly man known as John of Fordun had this to note regarding the distinctions between the highlanders and the lowlanders in 1380:

“The people of the coast are of domestic and civilised habits, trusty, patient, and urbane, decent in their attire, affable, and peaceful, devout in Divine worship, yet always ready to resist a wrong at the hands of their enemies. The highlanders and people of the islands, on the other hand, are a savage and untamed nation, rude and independent, given to rapine, ease-loving, clever and quick to learn, comely in person, but unsightly in dress, hostile to the English people and language, and, owing to the diversity of speech, even to their own nation, and exceedingly cruel. They are however faithful and obedient to their king and country, and obedient to their king and country, and easily made to submit to law, if properly governed.”

Consequently it may be asserted the main cause for the reduction of the Gaelic language was as a result of the break down amongst the various regions of Scotland. And by the sixteenth century the divergence between both was at a record high due to historical factors and a different language spoken. James VI had two key concepts for his Highland policy – one was to help to make an income and the other was to increase the amount of plantation. He suspected that the highlanders and especially the islanders weren’t paying their own reasonable taxation and he wanted to adjust this.

In 1597 he set up three burghs in the Highlands with the intent of allowing a number of the lowlanders to rule. With the strengthening Campbell clan and the dislike for the lowlanders of the Highlanders and the Islanders, more disruption was to follow. It was costing the King more money than he cared to spend.

For more on Scotlands colourful history please go to Scotland.