A bit o' sad news - end of an era.

[CameronCat]

Thia AP story, found today in various papers and news outlets:

LONDON (AP) — In a remote fishing town on the tip of Scotland’s Black Isle, the last native speaker of the Cromarty dialect has died, taking with him another little piece of the English linguistic mosaic.

Scottish academics said Wednesday that Bobby Hogg, who passed away last week at age 92, was the last person fluent in the dialect once common in the seaside town of Cromarty, about 175 miles (280 kilometers) north of Scottish capital Edinburgh.

The Biblically-influenced speech — complete with “thee” and “thou” — is one of many fading dialects which have been snuffed out across the British Isles.

Across the world, regional languages and dialects have disappeared as rural populations move to urban areas and compulsory education and mass media combine to iron out the kinks in local speech.

[creagdhubh]

I read this earlier. Very sad indeed.

[piperdbh]

Has this dialect been written down? It could possibly be relearned, hopefully.

[Tobus]

I think I had read somewhere that about 25 languages die each year around the world. That's one every two weeks. And while it seems like a natural transition when the world is becoming more of a 'global village', and where homogeneity seems to be the goal, it does seem quite sad. Losing these old languages is a loss for humanity's diversity and breadth.

[tulloch]

I noted it in our county paper this morning. Too bad. The older I get the more I regret change.

[mookien]

Nee ho MA (transliteration). I don't mean to be contentious, but I regard the extinction of dialects or languages as a move away from the Tower of Babel. While there is short-term regret, even sadness, in the long run I think the unification of language is a good thing. I suspect that in future generations humans will be speaking some dialect of Chinese. Si chen.

[piperchris]

This is truly sad news. When something wonderful like this dies out and is really irreplacable it is truly a huge loss for the world and posterity. I hope this dialect was meticulously recorded, achived and written out. Rest in Peace, old friend!

[TheOfficialBren]

That is very sad.

[Lime]

But there are others being kept alive through one means or another. E.G:

http://www.dailyrecord.co.uk/news/sc...nished-1284751

[Chas]

Well, of course, Lallans and the Doric are spoken on a daily basis. The Doric, I believe more so.

The shame and pity of the death of Bobby Hogg and the Cromarty dialect is that there has been money available (a lot of money) since at least 1994. When the National Lottery was set up to benefit good causes, national heritage and preservation of regional dialect were one of the 'Big Three' causes.

Here in Norfolk, there are at least two separate groups dedicated to the preservation of the Norfolk dialect. There is a monthly newspaper and three books to my knowledge have been printed in the 'Norfolk Mardle'. There are evening classes and discussion groups. There are guided tours, round the old town of Norwich which will only speak Mardle. For those who want it, it can be incorporated into their English or English Lit degrees offered by the UEA.

But that is the point isn't it? Had someone wanted to preserve the Cromarty dialect, it could have been done. Vast amounts of money are available, plus access to experts and expertise; those who know what to do because they have done it themselves.

Unfortunately the will to do it just wasn't there.

Regards

Chas