Gaelic
I'm one of Scotland's few Gaelic speakers left, and if you want to hear of an endangered language, you have not seen anything until you have seen the sad situation which Gaelic, like its Celtic sisters, faces. I believe that there are three reasons for the near extinction of Europe's most ancient tongues. During the English invasion of Scotland, Ireland, Wales and Isle of Man, the Gaelic speakers were denied their heritage, and up until the late 1940's Gaelic and Welsh children where severly punished if they were to speak their native tongue. We had to learn to assimilate and now fewer than 1% of Scotland's population speaks Gaelic. Manx is now officially extinct, and Welsh is slowly starting to retain power again. The unfortunate lack of motivation and love from today's young ones doesn't help the Celtic tongues either. Young Scotsmen and women see Gaelic as too old fashioned, and that it has no place in modern society. Languages like French, German and even Russian are muched prefered, and at the same time the culture and roots are being abandoned as more and more people look away from Gaelic.
Editor's note: The 91Èȱ¬ offers a full 24 hours service in Gaelic both .
Sent by: Ceasar
Comments
I have been searching for Gaelic language courses and have found none that are for absolute beginners. I will be moving to the Hebrides and need all the help I can get. I want to learn the Gaelic language out of respect for the native Scottish people and to help me assimilate into the area.
Gaelic Medium education first started in Glasgow in 1986 with a small unit attached to a mainstream primary school on the southside of the city. The Glasgow Gaelic School was the first stand-alone Gaelic Medium school opened in Scotland and it has never been an "experiment" as described by Philip Howard of The Times. The majority of people who send their children to the school are learners of the language but they can see the value of bilingualism. Research has indicated that once an individual has mastered a second language the trend continues onto the third or fourth. The parents also realise the academic potential of having two windows on the world and the importance of preserving the Gaelic language and culture.
Da Chanan. Da Chultar. Iomadh Cothrom.
Two languages. Two worlds. Many opportunities
I think a similar schooling system should be in place in Scotland as is in Wales where ALL children should learn Gaelic from nursery age up until they are 16. This is the only way to encourage our young ones to speak the language as they become more relaxed with it and feel comfortable speaking to their peers in Gaelic. I am 18 and me and my friends do speak it to each other on occasions however it isn't seen as a language where you would speak it as your first language now. This is what has to be changed! The problem is that I am from an Island and have grown up with the language around but when you go away to the likes of Glasgow or Edinburgh it is unlikely for you to meet someone who has Gaelic. You are more likely to meet someone who speaks Polish in this day and age!
Thanks to the editor for flagging up the 91Èȱ¬ Alba service and the websites they have on Gaelic too. Very useful for learners like me. I am in Skye this week doing an intensive course at SMO Sabhal Mor Ostaigh the gaelic college and they do a thorough online course. As to Welsh (I am a teacher of welsh in London) it is compulsory in all schools as a subject from nursery to 16. It is also used as the main teaching medium in about a quarter of schools. Parentall demand shows that over half of parents would like such education for the children but the supply cannot keep up with demand. If Gaelic was the same level then every single fluent adult Gaelic speaker (21-65) would be a teacher! So education is the answer.... to so many things.
I know that this is an old discussion topic but I'm hoping that someone will read my note. I am an English woman living in the East Midlands with her Scottish boyfriend and, having been to Scotland with him numerous times, I have fallen in love with it and its heritage. I would dearly love to learn Gaelic but I can't find anywhere in this area that offers lessons. I've done the "1 minute Gaelic podcasts" which has only served to leave me wanting more. Does anyone know where I can learn Gaelic in the Notts area?
I think all languages should be kept alive because they all have a special meaning to what have happened in history.
I'm half English and half Scottish. I speak Scots-Gaelic, to an intermediate level. I live in the English East Midlands of which has a strong Celtic migrant heritage. I sometimes speak Gaelic round my friends and in small approppriate doses. In my opinion if more peole did it would help keep the languages alive.
If you have Gaelic, speak it! That was the rule in my Donegal family when I was growing up. Gaelic is far from dead. It is still being destroyed by the English. The English speakers in Dublin who replace perfectly good ancient Gaelic words like stad with the English word 'stop' and adding another 'p' onto it = 'stopp'. Just because they wouldn't bother to ask the people who kept the language alive against all odds in the first place.
Haha, I live in the States and my university was looking for an Irish teacher due to student demand. I agree Gaelic needs to be nurtured, but funny how interest in it has spread beyond Irish shores and the UK itself.
Caitlin, Sabhal Mor Ostaig on Skye run a distance learning course for absolute beginners which is excellent. A combination of reading, writing and talking with weekly phone in tutorials.
Editor's note: Please note that the 91Èȱ¬ is unable to endorse any courses or educational institutions suggested by individual users.
You can find the 91Èȱ¬'s resources for learning Gaelic here: http://www.bbc.co.uk/alba/foghlam/learngaelic/
Flag this comment