Restructuring, 1997–2005

This chapter focuses on the long and ultimately successful campaigns for Gaelic language legislation and a dedicated Gaelic television service between 1997 and 2005. The opening of the Scottish Parliament in 1999 ushered in a new political era in Scotland, and this brought opportunities for more focused policy-making in relation to Gaelic. The government initially resisted calls for Gaelic language legislation but ultimately relented, so that the Gaelic Language (Scotland) Act 2005, was enacted in 2005. Proposals for a Gaelic television service took several years to come to fruition due to political and financial constraints, but agreement was ultimately reached to develop the digital service BBC ALBA. The first dedicated Gaelic school opened in Glasgow in 1999, and the presence of Gaelic in the linguistic landscape expanded, as bilingual signage was authorised for wider use.

Historical and Sociolinguistic Background

This chapter gives a historical overview of Gaelic in Scotland, including an analysis of its spread to different parts of Scotland in the Middle Ages and the trajectory of demographic decline and language shift since the 18th century. Gaelic became the language of the first Scottish monarchy (the kingdom of Alba) and was widely spoken across Scotland, but then began to decline in the 12th century and became confined to the mountainous northwest of the country (the Highlands). The language became stigmatised as a language of barbarism and the Gaelic community was economically and socially marginalised. Traditional Gaelic society was shattered in the 18th century, with the repression following the Battle of Culloden (1746), followed by the Highland Clearances of the 19th century, which involved large-scale removal of population. Since the 18th century there has been steady language shift in the Highlands, now reaching the last Gaelic communities. The future of Gaelic as a community language has become very uncertain.

Foundations, 1872–1918

This chapter discusses the first wave of Gaelic revival activity in Scotland from the late 18th century onwards, with a focus on the period from 1872 to 1918. It considers the development of different Gaelic organisations and their varying perspectives on the role of Gaelic and the appropriate strategies for development. Most important of these was An Comunn Gaidhealach, which became the main Gaelic organisation until the 1980s. The most important field of controversy concerned the role of Gaelic in the state education system, which was established in 1872. Over time, the education authorities made limited concessions that gave Gaelic a greater role, most notably the clause in the Education (Scotland) Act 1918 requiring education authorities in Gaelic-speaking areas to make provision for the language in the curriculum. The chapter also considers the role of Gaelic in public administration and the churches, and issues concerning the development of linguistic resources for the language.

Stirrings, 1945–74

This chapter covers the period from 1945 to 1974, a period of significant social and cultural modernisation in Scotland and, from the mid-1960s onwards, renewed campaigning energy on behalf of Gaelic. Inspired by their counterparts in Wales, An Comunn Gaidhealach and other activists pressed for greater official recognition of Gaelic and the government began to accept responsibility concerning the language, making direct funding to Gaelic organisations. Official policies towards Gaelic in education slowly became more favourable and there were pioneering measures to increase the use of Gaelic in the curriculum. Provision for Gaelic television began, although only on a small scale, and Gaelic began to be represented on road and street signs.

Revitalisation, 1975–96

This chapter considers the period from 1975 to 1997, when significant government support for Gaelic development was granted for the first time and the basis of a modern language planning regime for Gaelic began to emerge, particularly in relation to education, media and strategic language development. The creation of a new local authority for the Western Isles, Comhairle nan Eilean, led to the implementation of a bilingual policy for council operations, a major bilingual education project and a range of Gaelic-related community activities. In 1984 the first dedicated Gaelic language agency, Comunn na Gàidhlig was established, bringing a new energy and strategic focus to Gaelic development. Gaelic-medium immersion education began in 1985 and rolled out to many parts of Scotland. Provision for Gaelic television and radio increased very dramatically, particularly after a successful campaign led to a major injection of government funding from 1992 onwards.

Policy, Ideology and Discourse

This chapter addresses a number of overarching issues and themes that have affected the position of Gaelic throughout the modern period. It begins with a discussion of the aims and assumptions of state language policy in Scotland and the wider United Kingdom, and then outlines the principal stages in the development of Gaelic policy. It goes on to consider the relationship between Gaelic and national and group identities in Scotland, considering the varying ways in which it has been framed and interpreted as a national, regional or ethnic minority language. It considers competing ideological interpretations of the value of Gaelic; since the 18th century, Gaelic has been simultaneously valorised and denigrated. It addresses the role of the Scots language in Scotland, which has formed an important backdrop to Gaelic policy even if organising and provision for Scots has been limited. Finally, the chapter gives an overview of he characteristics of Gaelic organisations; generally they have been moderate rather than militant in approach, concerned about limited support in the Gaelic community and the potential for backlash from the Anglophone majority.

Transition, 1919–44

This chapter considers the position of Gaelic in the challenging decades following the First World War, when there was heavy emigration from Scotland and prolonged economic decline. Economic issues dominated public discussions concerning the situation of the Highlands, and Gaelic played only a limited role in the main cultural and political debates of interwar Scotland. The main policy challenge of this era involved the implementation of the Gaelic clause in Education (Scotland) Act 1918. This brought a somewhat increased role for Gaelic in the education system, but much less than campaigners had hoped. Gaelic radio broadcasting began in 1923, and media provision has been an important area of policy concern ever since.

Conclusion

IN THE TWENTY-FIRST CENTURY the position of Gaelic in Scotland has become increasingly paradoxical. In terms of day-to-day community use, Gaelic is the weakest it has ever been, while the public status of the language and the level of institutional provision increase every year. This situation may well be unsustainable....

Introduction

WRITING IN 1958, THE distinguished linguist Kenneth Jackson, Professor of Celtic at the University of Edinburgh, expressed his ‘belie[f] that Scottish Gaelic will be quite extinct by the middle of the next century, unless some new factor is introduced which radically alters the present situation’ (...

Institutionalisation, 2006–20

This chapter considers the development Gaelic policy from 2006 to the present, including a detailed analysis of the implementation of the Gaelic Language (Scotland) Act 2005 and the impact of the Gaelic television service BBC ALBA, which was launched in 2008. It considers the policies of the Scottish National Party government in relation to Gaelic from 2007 onwards, the role of Gaelic in debates concerning Scottish independence, and research concerning public attitudes towards the language. It examines a range of controversies concerning the policies and governance of the lead Gaelic agency Bòrd na Gàidhlig and assesses the ongoing expansion of Gaelic education has brought a range of challenges in financial, political, linguistic and pedagogical terms. Finally, it addresses the the increasingly controversial role of Gaelic in the linguistic landscape (particularly in relation to bilingual signage).