Gaelic the Language

[MaggiesBoy]

I think that those reading this thread might be interested in the following extract from "Scottish Snippets - 2 October 2004" from http://www.RampantScotland.com/letter.htm

Helping Gaelic Survive
Legislation designed to help the Gaelic language survive and thrive was published by the Scottish Executive this week. The bill is aimed at making it easier for people to use Gaelic and ensure that public bodies - such as councils and health boards - have to take the needs of Gaelic speakers into account. In the Bill, Bòrd na Gàidhlig will have powers to issue statutory guidance on Gaelic education and its advisory role will be expanded to allow it to advise all public, private and voluntary sector bodies on
Gaelic issues. The legislation should secure the status of the language in Scotland, ensuring that - rather than dying out as some have gloomily predicted - it has a long-term future.

Prince Scares Pupils
Prince Charles paid a visit to Sabhal Mor Ostaig on the Isle of Skye this week on the same day as the bill to help Gaelic was published in Edinburgh.
The organisation is the only Gaelic-language college in Scotland and he told staff and pupils that their work was vital as Gaelic would die in the world if it dies in Scotland. But he went on to say that if it flourished
here, it would send out a message of inspiration and optimism. Later, he visited Sleat Primary School, wearing a kilt in the Lord of the Isles tartan. He was amused when a young pupil ignored protocol and pushed at his impressive sporran - after all, it was shoulder high as far as the
youngster was concerned. The prince then said "If you push it too hard, I might disappear." Clearly the young lad was familiar with stories of magic and princes and immediately backed off.

[MaggiesBoy]

Hi, - I'm just checking in to let you know that I've asked the Administrator to remove me as a Moderator - and this is my last posting in this thread.
I've had fun, but this site is changing away from the fun it was for me, so I'm off.
I see that Eiric has started a learning thread, so that appears to be of the ground without any need of further input by me. It loks good, and I wish those who use it well.
Best wishes to you all!
MaggiesBoy.

[hilandr]

Amazon,..and all others...If you have some Latin or other Romance language and remember from English that some letters, sometimes, have no sound at all, and you are able to think backwards as well as forwards,..you should be able to handle any Celtic language. (lol).

[Edited by hilandr on 12th December 2004 at 08:23]

[SeamusAlba]

Originally Posted by Scottish_Republican

"I have no idea where you are coming from!"

Talking about "Gaelic" is like talking about "Teutonic". In Ireland and Mann, it gets called Irish/Manx (Gaelic). Here it just gets called "Gaelic", as if to show how much its status has fallen.

Surely if someone wants to learn it, they dont mean any offence by the term "Gaelic"? I agree that its sloppy language, but it is not the fault of Americans or Australians, rather the fault of Scots who reject the Scottishness of their own native tongue (and still do in Edinburgh from my experience!) that gives this definition the semblance of legitemacy.

[Fergus McCanuck]

Agreed. If there is curiosity overseas, it flies full in the face of 200 years of Scottish people denying their own language in new lands. Give credit where credit is due without all the stuffy academic overtones.