Forth Road Bridge revelling in its multiple and converging lines, March 2016
This week, Paula has given us convergence as a theme and I have chosen this bonnie brig (“beautiful bridge” in English) for a double reason. Some random reading earlier in the week had drawn my interest to the origins, history and potential future of the Scots language. Scots is one of three native languages spoken in Scotland today, the other two being English and Scottish Gaelic. It developed from the language of the Angles who arrived in Scotland around AD 600, moving apart from its sister language in England, until it became a distinct Scots language around the Middle Ages. At one time, Scots was actually the national language of Scotland but its usage has gradually declined and is now spoken mainly in the Lowlands and the Northern Isles of Scotland.
In these days of easy foreign travel and ready access to international news, music, literature and more, languages are able to develop more rapidly. The speakers of languages with lower numbers of users, and especially those that are non-national languages, often fear the destruction of their language, but that is not always the case. In Scotland, for example, Scots has now gained a place within the national curriculum. The language is, of course, still changing and some of its changes involve convergence with its sister, English. But convergence is not necessarily a bad thing; it is about joining and sharing, not destroying – the image at the top shows how bonnie it can be!
Copyright Debbie Smyth, 3 April 2016
Travel with Intent 
Such a great photo and I love your info. Languages are not static. They are always changing with the times. For example Te Reo (Maori) is now creeping into everyday English for us Kiwis.
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Oh that’s very interesting. Is such a great indication of social changes. More reading due!
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I like your dual convergences, Debbie!
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Happy to please, Sue
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Language’s are interesting and your bridge is so beautiful captured.
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Thanks Lena
On Sun, Apr 3, 2016 at 7:29 PM, Travel with Intent wrote:
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This works extremely well on both account and it has satisfied my hunger for etymology and language development. Excellent convergence in visual and textual part of the entry 🙂 Thanks Debbie for Bonnie Brig. It is definitely “bonnie” in your presentation.
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Thanks Paula – glad you liked it
I’m off to Scotland again this weekend and will be looking out for more examples of the language – I didn’t really know much at all about it before.
On Sun, Apr 3, 2016 at 6:14 PM, Travel with Intent wrote:
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I suppose you are traveling on business. I am glad you like it there. Not many English do.
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A tiny bit of business. But I have a friend who has a flat in Edinburgh and I get to borrow it regularly. Lucky me ☺
On Sun, Apr 3, 2016 at 7:01 PM, Travel with Intent wrote:
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Nice to meet Bonnie Brig!
Awesome photo!
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I think it sounds more beautiful in Scots than in English!
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