- An investigation brings to the table the worrying situation of Gaelic in Scotland. At home there is little talk of Gaelic, teenagers do not use it and only some elderly people scattered across the Western islands of Scotland use it. The study warns that language policy needs to be changed and that it needs to be changed.”
The study was carried out by a team of sociolinguists and Gaelic specialists who have analyzed the current situation. According to this study, the usual Gaelic users are now 11,000 and it is expected that next year the number of Gaelic speakers in the Western islands will be reduced to 45 per cent. Experts believe that this can lead the tongue to the abyss.
Need for another language policy
In the face of the linguistic crisis in the language, those responsible for the study say that language policy needs an urgent change to make Gaelic a living and everyday language. “The situation is very critical and the same policies lead to the same crisis.”
The Scottish Government has focused on education to introduce Gaelic into schools. But those in charge of research say that much more energy needs to be invested in order for Gaelic to enter homes and in all social spheres, not just in schools. “We must encourage fathers and mothers to talk about Gaelic with their sons and daughters.”
The spokesman for the Scottish Government has stated that they are interested in the results of the investigation and in the proposed measures. “Gaelic is an essential part of Scotland’s cultural identity and ministers support improvements in language learning and use.”
Loss of language in the sub-annual infographic.
