Scottish Identity through Language

Paper Summary:

For the past 300 years, the people of Scotland have endured the invasion of their territory, culture and politics by the British. This long term assault on Scottish tradition and independence has given way for critical investigation on the matters of identity. Through the reading of various Scottish texts, this paper explores a wide range of assertions in regards to the national perception of self. The paper examines the Scottish resistance to the English language and culture through the use of dialects. It explores the identity struggles of a colonized country and cites contemporary Scottish authors, such as Irvine Welsh, author of "Trainspotting".

From the Paper:

"Scottish identity, much like the identity of any marginalized group, is often defined as the binary opposite of the dominant culture. Definitions are created and compared to the dominant culture according to the rules of purity. If English identity is refined and cultured, the Scottish character must then be crass and vulgar. The rules of purity are criticized in Barnes' book England, England, where a theme park is created in order to reinforce a mythic notion of "Englishness". By recreating a romanticized historical past, people are given a sense of identity based on essential characteristics of an Englishman. We prefer the "replica over the original" because it plays into our nostalgic notion of a simpler time. Although we may be aware of the historical construction, it is in human nature to reduce things to absolute requisites, such as the 50 characteristics of England. While there hasn't been a tangible creation of an English theme park, the ideas satirized in the book are prevalent today. By prescribing fundamental and superior traits to the English identity, Scottish identity is by default deficient because it is not able to capture and emulate English culture."

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