FOCKLE AYNS DTY CHLEAYSH
Hi-tech opportunity to learn Scottish Gaelic!
A new
Good times for Gaels?
http://www.scotlandonsunday.com/gaelic.cfm?id=1106992002
Scotland on Sunday. 6th October, 2002.
Murdo MacLeod
[email protected]
THE singers have only a handful of practices left to get it right. Rushing
in from a damp Edinburgh October night, the 45 members of the Lothian Gaelic
Choir take a deep breath, compose themselves and launch into a rendition of
'Cabar Fèidh', an 18th Century Ross-shire song praising the Chiefs of Clan
MacKenzie.
The song fills the school drama room. The melody is majestic and the words
hark back to the former glories of a Highland chieftain. The song is
well-performed, and the conductor is pleased.
In 10 days' time, the time for rehearsing will be over. The choir will be
competing at the Royal National Mod in Largs in Ayrshire. The Mod - the
biggest Gaelic arts festival - will attract 1,500 competitors in all and
many more spectators.
It is also set to raise new questions about the state of Scotland's oldest
living language and whether government policy is failing the nation's 60,000
Gaels.
The news, revealed in Scotland on Sunday today, that Mike Watson, the
minister with responsibility for Gaelic, has directed officials to draw up
proposals for a possible Gaelic Language Act, is set to inject new life into
the debate over the language's future.
The bill will establish a right to Gaelic education where there is demand,
along with new duties for authorities in Gaelic-speaking areas to provide
services through the language.
In addition, the Executive will channel cash through a new Gaelic Language
Board - Bòrd na Gàidhlig - which will also draw up a strategy for boosting
its profile. The bill, along with a more focused strategy for the language,
is sorely needed, according to Gaelic lobbyists. Despite £14.5m of
government cash each year, Gaelic is losing ground.
Ministers have allowed themselves to become the targets of criticism from
both sides of the debate. While sceptics claim that the cash is wasted on
pointless efforts to save a declining tongue, Gaelic activists accuse
ministers of having no coherent policy and failing to deliver on promises.
Gaelic-speakers worry over whether there is any point in bringing up their
children to speak a language which might soon be gone.
Iain Macleod, a retired police inspector and Gaelic lobbyist, said: "For all
the money that is being spent, there seems to be no coherent aim behind the
funding. We have a clear problem - that a part of our heritage is in danger.
But the money seems to be targeted with no notion of what it should achieve.
"Is it aimed at increasing the number of adult Gaelic learners? At
increasing the numbers of Gaelic-speaking schoolchildren? At slowing the
decline in our numbers? What are they trying to achieve with the funding?"
Michael Fry, the writer and historian, is a sceptic of government policy
towards the language - claiming that the cash is being spent trying to delay
the inevitable.
He said: "I wish the Gaels and their language no ill-will. But the policy is
futile. No amount of cash will see Gaelic re-established as the common
community language in the Highlands. People are deciding to opt to speak
English out of their free choice. By all means spend some cash here and
there, but don't kid yourself. It's just not going to happen."
In a world where English has become the de facto trade language of all, even
some Gaels admit he may have a point. Other European languages such as Dutch
have recently felt the need to defend themselves from the onslaught of
English. Even the Latin pop goddess Shakira has felt the need to 'Go Gringo'
and release an English language album. Her move has been as controversial as
Runrig's issue of a mainly English album, Heartland, in 1985.
Peadar Morgan, the chief executive of Clì, which represents Gaelic learners,
or New Gaels, has urged Gaels to stop demonising critics such as Fry.
He said: "There is a legitimate debate to be had about the language and its
future. We as Gaels have failed to make the case for the language among
non-Gaelic speakers in the last couple of years. We need to engage critics
and all of Scottish society and not just talk to each other all the time."
Rob Dunbar, senior lecturer in law at Glasgow University and an expert in
human rights issues, claimed that the language could be used to boost
Scottish self-confidence.
He said: "Gaelic is worth keeping because it is an important part of our
heritage. It makes Scotland more interesting, more diverse, and more
attractive for visitors."
The choir practice highlights some of the contradictions in the Gaelic
world. Conductor Jackie Cotter addresses the singers in English. Only three
people out of almost 50 in the room speak Gaelic as their first language.
One is a member of the choir from Harris, Caitriona Morrison. Another is the
choir's language tutor, Caitriona MacKinnon. The third is the Scotland on
Sunday journalist. While some members of the choir are fluent, some admit to
mouthing words they do not fully understand. MacKinnon is there to check
pronunciation. "Gaelic's complex l-sounds are a particular problem, for
some," she explains.
The choir includes a trained opera singer from Italy. Simona Picciotto, from
Milan, said: " I think it is a beautiful language and I enjoy singing the
Gaelic songs. It would be a shame to lose this part of Europe's tradition."
While the language can rely on Picciotto's support, it is less clear whether
future Gaelic choirs will be able to rely on a supply of Gaelic speakers to
keep their pronunciation correct.
The official number of Gaelic speakers in Scotland is set to slump when the
figures are published early next year. The last census, taken in 1991,
counted 69,500 Gaelic speakers throughout Scotland.
The latest figures - which are still to be officially published - are
expected to reveal a fall of 6,000 or 9%.
In 1891, there were still 250,000 Gaelic-speakers - 6% of the overall
Scottish population. Each year 1,500 elderly Gaelic speakers die, mainly in
the Highlands and Islands. Each year an estimated 250 children begin their
education through Gaelic.
The decline is having its effect on the Mod. This year, the number of
competitors has fallen by 7%, from 1,600 to 1,500.
The language has been brought to the edge of extinction by an education
system which until recently sought to supplant Gaelic with English, the lack
of economic opportunities related to Gaelic, and the onslaught of a mainly
English-language media. The Scottish parliament was expected to herald a new
era for Gaelic, and initially was welcomed by Gaels because of its prominent
bilingual signs, and the establishment of the right to give evidence and
debate using the language.
However, the Gaelic lobby has seen its dreams dashed. Initial pledges of a
Gaelic-language Act were dropped, amid worries from civil servants over the
costs of bilingual signs .
The Scottish Executive's slowness to bring in new rights led to accusations
that ministers have been 'got at' by civil servants unsympathetic to the
language.
Watson is himself gearing up for his star turn at the Mod. He will speak at
the opening in Largs this Friday. In addition to preparations for a language
Act, Watson is set to announce more cash to alleviate shortages in Gaelic
teacher numbers.
While funding for the language continues to cause controversy, research has
claimed that it may be generating more cash than it receives in hand-outs.
Research by Glasgow's Caledonian University has estimated that the 'Gaelic
economy' may be worth £41m each year. Last year's annual Mod in Stornoway
was a major boost to island tourism, generating an estimated £3m to the
local economy.
Ivan Broussine, the chief executive of the Scottish Tourism Forum, said:
"There is a lot of potential to use Gaelic to market tourism and the
Scottish diaspora is showing an interest in rediscovering its Gaelic roots."
The Highlands and Islands have only made a tentative start in Gaelic
tourism. In July, Celtic music fans were treated to Gaelic classes and
fiddle sessions on the Castaway isle of Taransay. South Uist also markets
itself as a prime centre of Celtic song, offering summer music tuition. Skye
hotels have begun to offer Gaelic Hogmanays, with piping, whisky, and Gaelic
song to welcome in the New Year.
While cash, new rights, and the promise of tourism cash may boost confidence
in the language, one of the Executive's most senior policy advisors has
warned Gaels not to rely on the state to keep the language alive.
Prof Donald Meek, of Edinburgh University, said: "For the language to
survive it needs the support of the people. For an initiative to get the
support of the people, people need to know that Gaelic's position is secure,
and that its status won't change overnight. But once government does its
bit, then the people have to show their confidence in the language."
Otherwise the best years of the language - like the clan glories in the old
songs - will remain in the past.
GAELIC speakers in Scotland could soon have a legal right to have their
children taught in schools in the language as part of a last-ditch attempt
to halt the unrelenting decline in the number of speakers.
The Scottish Executive has confirmed that a ministerial advisory group has
been instructed to bring forward recommendations on a Gaelic Language Bill
that would enshrine the right to children being taught in Gaelic as well as
English, where there is a demand for it.
The move is sure to prove controversial since it would place a legal
obligation on Scottish local authorities to provide lessons in Gaelic in
schools no matter what other calls on their resources.
The move will prove popular with Gaelic language activists who have been
pressing the case for some form of official recognition for Gaelic which,
official figures due out soon will show, is now spoken by only about 50,000
Scots, compared to the 150,000 who spoke it 100 years ago.
The Gaelic lobby has been working feverishly to convince Executive ministers
that without a Gaelic Language Act, the language, one of Europe's oldest,
will continue its steep decline and die out altogether.
However, the campaigners will be disappointed that planned legislation will
not grant Gaelic official status throughout Scotland.Ministers feel such a
move would be costly and impractical although they may compromise and give
full official status to the language in the Highlands and Islands, where the
Gaelic is at its strongest.
A spokeswoman for the Executive said yesterday that the move on Gaelic
education was in its very early stages. The advisory group would start with
"a blank sheet of paper" as far as any proposals to be included in the Bill
were concerned.
The indication that Gaelic education could soon have legal force, where
there is a demand, comes as the language's week-long annual showcase, the
National Mod, begins in Largs.
Supermarket Goes Bilingual
By Louise Barnett, PA News
A national supermarket chain is to unveil bilingual signs at stores across
Cornwall today.
Customers at Asda stores will be greeted by information signs written in
both English and the Cornish language.
The bilingual signs at branches in Bodmin, Falmouth and St Austell will
feature phrases such as "Welcome to Asda" (Dynnargh dhe Asda), "Always happy
to help" (Lowen pup-prys dhe weres), and "Information" (Derivadow).
The Cornish signs - translated by the Cornish Language Fellowship - were
introduced after growing numbers of customers asked for information to be
displayed in both languages.
Tutors from the fellowship are to appear at all three supermarkets today to
coach checkout operators in the Cornish for phrases such as "Happy to help"
and "Welcome to the store".
Cornish is a member of the Celtic family of languages which includes Irish,
Scots, Welsh and Breton.
The Cornish Language Fellowship estimates there are around 400 fluent
Cornish speakers in the county, with several thousand more speakers of
conversational Cornish.
Dr Jon Mills, research fellow at the Institute of Cornish Studies in Truro,
said the bilingual supermarket signs reflected an increasing interest in the
Cornish language.
"I think the Cornish language revival is a growing trend in general and we
are seeing more and more of this sort of thing," he said.
"There is a very strong community feeling down in Cornwall and this is going
to be a popular thing with many customers."
The Cornish Language Fellowship is currently campaigning for Cornish to be
given official status.
Andrew George, Liberal Democrat MP for St Ives, said Asda's bilingual signs
would help to promote the campaign.
"Asda should be congratulated for its support of the Cornish language. Their
use of it in their signage is both welcome and further recognition that
Cornwall's distinctiveness helps promote commercial advantage," he said.
Other Cornish phrases which are to be unveiled in Asda supermarkets today
are "Customer services" (Gonisow prener), "Right price guarantee" (Mewgh
pris ewn) and "Gift cards" (Kartennow ro).
Asda has previously introduced bilingual signs in Welsh and English at its
stores in Wales, and signs in Urdu and Punjabi at stores in Bradford.
Asda spokesman Dominic Burch said the supermarket had recently launched a
Best of Cornwall range of products sourced from the county.
Phil Gawne