Big Island Debate - Gaelic

[Muimhneach]

The English contributor above is correct. The Scots have got their priorities all wrong treating Scotish Gaelic as a mere regional rather than the national language. They call a dialect of English "Scots" rather than their own indigenous language. Also, the fact this meeting is entirely is English apart from the woman in the "M&M" costume speaks volumes. In Ireland in Gaeltacht areas, public meetings are always in Irish.

[animalunaris]

I'm English so really it's not my business, but I feel like if Gaidligh is lost in the next generations, it will be a loss for all time.

The problem is that a lot of Scottish people see it as a regional Highland language rather than the national languages that Welsh and Irish and even Manx to some degree are seen as.

The offensive abuse hurled at Gaelic is often all the more vitriolic from Scottish people themselves, I find that quite shocking.

[knoxwilliam]

Indeed an enlightened comment. It's very "Celtic Fringe" to be putting out fires rather than doing things right for the right reasons from the beginning. This is too "top-to-bottom" [Govt on down]. It needs to be grass-roots "bottom-to-top" [Coming from the people themselves]. Gaels are too busy waiting for God to do it for them.

[knoxwilliam]

The real Dwelly was an Englishman who put together the best Gaelic dictionary ever. The man is a legend. The vitriol (hate) is quite shocking in Scotland. Will everyone be happy when the whole world speaks English and when people will have lost their freedom? The Scots are too pragmatic for their own good. Cothrom na Fe/inne dhan fhear sin Dwelly.

[Gillhoolee]

The Scottish nation is Global, make it happen, we are all counting on you!

[macwea]

Mike Russell talks sense yet again. Suas leis a'Gaidhlig

[KRyann10]

Gaelic and English from beginning of school to the the END... Hebrew was brought back for the isreali nationalists... so too can Gaelic! GET WORKING!

[Antaghan]

'Dying and will be dead in two generations.' Thank God, someone speaking with clarity and honesty on the state of the language instead of saying what Islanders want to hear. Tha an t-eagal orm gu bheil sinn ro fhadallach, ge-ta.

[Duncsta22]

Mike Russell is absolutely right. Hopefully the SNP government will get Gaelic going and help it to grow rather than fizzle away. It's funny, many non Gaelic speaking families are learning the language, but those who have been brought up with it won't let their children go through the Gaelic system.

[londubh2007]

Tha e Dwelly! Tha mi a smaoineachadh, gum bheil Dwelly 'gle bhizarre'.