A major development has just happened concerning Scotland's indigenous languages, Gaelic (Gàidhlig) and Scots. As an Ulsterman with a Scots background, and as a speaker of Scottish Gaelic, I was properly impressed by the dignity and unanimity of our parliamentary representatives in Holyrood this afternoon at the third and final debate stage of the Scottish Languages Bill (https://www.parliament.scot/bills-and-laws/bills/s6/scottish-languages-bill). The final bill, as passed, is available to read at https://www.parliament.scot/-/media/files/legislation/bills/s6-bills/scottish-languages-bill/stage-3/spbill39bs062025.pdf and gives both languages official status in Scotland.
Its new measures include:
- introducing educational standards for Gaelic and Scots
- establishing Gaelic and Scots as official languages
- supporting the creation of areas of linguistic significance in Gaelic communities so that ministers can better target policies to support the language’s growth
- enabling parents in every part of Scotland to apply for Gaelic nursery and early years places for their children
- ensuring that more qualifications are available in Gaelic
- introducing targets on the number of people speaking and learning Gaelic
(Source: Scottish Government https://www.gov.scot/news/scottish-languages-bill-passed/)
About three quarters of the Bill covers Gaelic, and a quarter Scots.
As well as establishing Gaelic as an offical language of Scotland, the new bill extends current provisions for Gaelic, including the ability for local authorities to create areas of linguistic significance (with parliamentary oversight), which can apply to areas where there is a population of whom at least 20% have Gaelic language skills, or where the area is historically connected with the use of Gaelic, or is an area is one in which teaching and learning by means of the Gaelic language is provided, or if the area is one in which significant activity relating to the Gaelic language or Gaelic culture takes place. To an extent the measure is a nod towards the concept of Irish 'gaeltachts', where the Irish language is given special status in Ireland. There is also a requirement for our Government to have a national Gaelic strategy. Scottish Ministers may give guidance to relevant public authorities relating to Gaelic language plans (how about a Gaelic Language Plan at the NRS?!). There are also significant amendments to the 1980 Education (Scotland) Act with regards to Gaelic education provision.
As someone who has just passed a year long Gaelic immersion course at the University of Glasgow, and well supportive of the language, I am equally as proud of the fact that Scots is finally to be recognised as an official leid of Scotland. For many years it has been ludicrous that the only place in the world where the language had any legal status was my home country of Northern Ireland, where the Ulster dialect of Scots has a degree of legal protection, alongside the Irish language. Whilst the Bill is weaker on its commitment to the Scots language - something which was clear in the debate today also - it has its foot on the ladder at long last, and is long overdue. It is not bad English, or 'slang' - it's a centuries old Germanic language which has been compromised by its proximity to English, but which has survived.
If you're a die-hard bore of a monoglot English speaker who can only say how "the money can be spent better elsewhere", all I can say to you is either "thalla gu Hiort" or "awa' an' boil yer heid"! Scotland is the sum of its parts, and none are more integral to its very soul than Gaelic and Scots.
It's a good day for Scotland, its history, its culture, its languages, its soul - and its future.
Chris
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