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The deeply prejudiced and stunningly ignorant subset of unionists abusing @Lenniesaurus & disparaging the speech of their neighbours are not new but they appear to be growing in confidence. It’s time mainstream unionists stood up to knuckle-dragging linguaphobic thugs. 1/ https://twitter.com/lenniesaurus/status/1343660843104399366
2/ Indeed, prejudicial sentiment against speakers of indigenous minority languages in Scotland, I think, are approaching a level where they may warrant international attention.
3/ It’s not true that linguaphobia is only a unionist problem. These prejudices cross political barriers. There are nationalist influencers who despise Gaelic and unionists who champion Scots, just as an example.
4/ However, clearly there are significant issues around respect for minority language rights on the social media fringe of ultra-unionism. This is reflected on periodic pile-ons on here.
5/ This is an old piece I wrote about some of ultra-unionism’s problems with Scots and Gaelic. It’s not getting better. https://www.heraldscotland.com/opinion/14403393.david-leask-why-do-so-many-scots-cringe-when-they-see-the-language-of-their-neighbours-written-down/
Unionism is in crisis, of course. It’s hegemony is under threat. And had been since 2016, if not before. Most unionists are not kicking down as minorities. Insulting people in Aberdeenshire or Ayrshire who speak Scots but vote no - or Yes - won’t save Britain.
7/ There are telltale signs of unionism in crisis, dysfunctional behaviours. Abusing a young woman sharing some Scots words is one of them. https://www.heraldscotland.com/opinion/14310672.david-leask-the-things-that-make-the-new-breed-of-british-nationalist-angriest/
8/ I can understand why mainstream unionists don’t want yo get some and dirty with internet bigots on their side. Scottish nationalists also took time to call out their cybernats. The result? Cybernats are now more critical of the snp or greens than the Tories are.
9/ It’s a lot to ask unionists to come to the aid of Scots or Gaelic speakers abused on here. I get that. You don’t want to appear to have any ownership of or responsibility for these brutish accounts. But calling them out is the right thing to do.
10/ Some people are interested in local dialects or indigenous languages and some people are not. That’s cool. Some people speak broad Scots and some people chant inglis like little Lord Fountleroy. All good. Our diversity isn’t a weakness. Mad rant over.
