Thanks Cronos.
Posted on 05/21/2024 8:45:49 PM PDT by Cronos
The number of people using Gaelic has increased across Scotland despite a decline in the language's heartland, according to the latest census data.
Experts say the increase in Gaelic medium education (GME) accounts for the rise.
However, Gaelic is now a minority language in the Western Isles - while 52% reported speaking Gaelic in 2011, the figure in 2022 was 45%.
Deputy First Minister Kate Forbes told BBC Scotland that Scottish Gaelic was part of a "modern, diverse Scotland".
Ms Forbes – who is also minister for Gaelic – said she was “extremely optimistic” about the future of the language.
Scotland’s Census found that 2.5% of people aged three and over had some skills in Gaelic in 2022, an increase of about 50% on the figures for 2011 and 2001.
In Na h-Eileanan Siar - the Western Isles - 57.2% had some Gaelic skills even if they were not speaking the language.
This was far higher than in neighbouring areas - in the Highland council area 8.1% had some Gaelic skills while in Argyll and Bute the figure was 6.2%.
In all other council areas it was below 3%.
Students, teachers and academics involved in learning and teaching the language across Scotland have told the BBC more needs to be done to push it beyond the classroom and revive it in the community.
While some expressed optimism, others fear it is an endangered language – and one even went as far as to say it may cease to exist by the end of the decade.
... “Everyone in the school is bilingual, if not trilingual or more,” said Benny, who is 16 and has three languages under his belt already
(Excerpt) Read more at bbc.com ...
What’s driving the overall increase in Gaelic being spoken in Scotland? Are there online Influeners making it something fun and cool to do? Are there TV programs including this language? Maybe it’s the Gen X’ers; 40 something Scots who now value their culture, as the land fills up with “undocumented” Africans, Arabs and agitators.
Thanks Cronos.
(this first one is probably familiar to some via the 1978 live album from Clannad)The John McSherry Band - A Mháire Bruineall | 3:54
John McSherry | 2.5K subscribers | 4,067 views | Premiered Jun 7, 2020
Murt na Ceapaich (feat. Julie Fowlis & Kathleen MacInnes) · Kim Carnie · Julie Fowlis · Kathleen MacInnesMurt na Ceapaich (feat. Julie Fowlis & Kathleen MacInnes)
Kim Carnie - Topic | 232 subscribers | 9,918 views | June 16, 2022
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Just don’t smell their breath.
Only natives will speak Gaelic, until it’s banned.
Only natives will speak Gaelic, until it’s banned.
Only natives will speak Gaelic, until it’s banned.
Yes there is a delay
Delay
Delay
Echo
There is a fine example of it at the end of this recording ...
Several Species Of Small Furry Animals Gathered Together In A Cave And Grooving With A Pict
The small furry animals are pretty talented too.
The Pictish begins at the 3:40 mark for those who want to skip the animals grooving.
It’s more a sense of identity. Language is identity
Bkmk
Carson nach cuir seo iongnadh orm?
CC
Learning a second language is highly useful for intellectual development. It develops a sense of objectivity that may be missing in children raised only on “feelings,” especially if you practice speaking in the second language to others who cannot speak your first language. You are forced to communicate, and develop “work around” phrases for words you don’t know.
Not only does learning a second language make the grammar of your original language more understandable to you; but also, once you learn a second language, learning a third or more becomes remarkably easier.
In my bried retirement job in a multicultural suburb, I was able to make sales in the three foreign languages I had formally studied years before in high school and college, plus offer a few helpful comments to customers in two other languages with which I’d become familiar through travel.
There is resentment in Scotland because most of the country (The Lowlands) has little connection to Scots Gaelic. Their language was Lallans, a non-Celtic language related to English. BBC Scotland broadcasts in Scots Gaelic, but I don’t think they broadcast in Lallan Scots, so those who speak Gaelic have an advantage in public broadcasting jobs.
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