What price culture?........

[xjsdriver]

I began to wonder what most on think about what we spend as a country on own our cultural values, for example keeping our native languages alive and in use (Doric, Gaelic, Welsh, Cornish).
I guess some will put a purely monetary value on it and decide in our times of austerity that we should scrap any future funding - since it is only a small percentage of the population that speak these languages.
Then there will be some who hold a more enlightened view that it is a topic, not only worth spending on currently, but maintaining in the name of culture.

[xjsdriver]

Justayellowbadge said:

xjsdriver said:

I began to wonder what most on think about what we spend as a country on own our cultural values, for example keeping our native languages alive and in use (Doric, Gaelic, Welsh, Cornish).

No you didn't.

As you have already dictated what an 'enlightened' view would be, you just want agreement from those who do, and an argument with those who do not.

This thread is a proclamation, not an entreaty to discourse.

It is my opinion that it is an enlightened view, as to not invest in our own culture is simply philistine. I heartily welcome the views of others, what's your own view on this? I only ask, as you didn't offer your own opinion up for discourse.

[xjsdriver]

Eric The Camel said:

Patagonia, can't remember which programme it was on though.

I was listening to the very same program - I was surprised that the native Welsh speaker found that Patagonian Welsh was more pure than it's home grown variety. That said, I have Dutch and South African friends who tell me that Afrikaans is like Dutch of 300 years ago. My wife is Brazilian and she finds native Portuguese strange too.......

[xjsdriver]

An example from relatively recent times of a language simply being lost is modern Turkish. Attaturk did away with any Turkish words of Arabic descent in his attempt to modernise the country, so someone today, reading Turkish written 60/70 years ago would struggle with the text presented to them. Cultural vandalism in my book.

[xjsdriver]

Justayellowbadge said:

No you didn't.

As you have already dictated what an 'enlightened' view would be, you just want agreement from those who do, and an argument with those who do not.

This thread is a proclamation, not an entreaty to discourse.

Come on Jayb, join in the discourse, let's have your opinion. Or are you just one for spouting forth, will total failure to back up what you've posted?......

[xjsdriver]

Rollin said:

I'm sure the OP is demonstrating his cultural enlightenment by learning to speak the language.

Tha, beagan......

That said, it's nowhere near as good as my Dutch, German, Portuguese, or French (OK my French is now a little ropey too)

Edité par xjsdriver 01:20

Herausgegeben von xjsdriver 01:33

Bewerkt door xjsdriver 01:35

Editado por xjsdriver 01:36

Edited by xjsdriver on Wednesday 1st July 01:37

[xjsdriver]

Dracoro said:

I'll bite Another way of putting it (not necessarily my view...):

Part of our culture is music, so should the state pay for me to have piano lessons?

The state and other agencies do indeed pay for musical scholarships and development of musical talent.

Dracoro said:

Part of our culture is walking, so should the state pay for my hiking boots?

Sport England provide funding for the British Mountaineering Council, who in turn fund expeditions.

Dracoro said:

Part of our culture is cricket, so should get state pay for my cricket bat/lessons?

Sport England provide funding for the ECB and can provide funding support to cricket clubs for a wide range of projects.

Dracoro said:

I could go on....
Why should languages get the privilege of state funding to support its existence?

In short, languages aren't more privileged than the examples you've demonstrated, nor should they be. All of our cultural heritage, whatever it's discipline, should be funded in my opinion.