Lamia Posted August 29, 2015 Share Posted August 29, 2015 If they cut the Gaelic budget they would only use the money on some fish period drama or some cake competition that requires a lobotomy to watch Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Rossy Posted August 29, 2015 Share Posted August 29, 2015 I speak Gaelic, but let's be honest, when the feck do you use it? It's not just the language, it's the fact that it represents a unique Scottish identity. Over the last 200 years, a Scottish identity has almost always come second to a British one. That's why when we teach history in schools our kids know everything about the Tudors and nothing about the Highland clearances., or Scottish kings and queens etc. That's not to blame anyone or anything...it's just the way it was. Now however, there's a growing awareness and interest in Scottish culture and history. It's absolutely right and proper that we should teach kids Scottish history, and encourage the Gaelic language. Long may it continue. And it absolutely terrifies Unionists. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
iainmac1 Posted August 29, 2015 Share Posted August 29, 2015 I have worked in a couple of schools where there have been timelines on walls. Ones that have Normans, The Tudors and the Stuarts dated 1603-1688(or is it 1714) Anyway point is it's an English/British timeline. Drove me mad. First thing I did was rip them down and replace it with a Scottish timeline. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
mariokempes56 Posted August 29, 2015 Share Posted August 29, 2015 I have worked in a couple of schools where there have been timelines on walls. Ones that have Normans, The Tudors and the Stuarts dated 1603-1688(or is it 1714) Anyway point is it's an English/British timeline. Drove me mad. First thing I did was rip them down and replace it with a Scottish timeline. Good lad. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
vanderark14 Posted August 29, 2015 Share Posted August 29, 2015 I'm sure I read somewhere that BBC Alba was part funded private by Gaelic speaking people. Could be totally wrong though Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Clyde1998 Posted August 30, 2015 Share Posted August 30, 2015 I'm sure I read somewhere that BBC Alba was part funded private by Gaelic speaking people. Could be totally wrong though Yes - MG Alba. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Clyde1998 Posted August 30, 2015 Share Posted August 30, 2015 Apparently, BBC Alba's viewing ratings is five times higher than the amount of people who can speak or understand Gaelic. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
aaid Posted August 30, 2015 Share Posted August 30, 2015 It's not just the language, it's the fact that it represents a unique Scottish identity. It kinda doesn't really though does it - a Celtic identity perhaps. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Glasgowmancity Posted August 31, 2015 Share Posted August 31, 2015 I get the impression that many Unionists....confident in their belief that the referendum killed off the SNP forever....are now terrified that independence can be achieved 'through the back door' by devolving powers bit by bit. Hence the often hysterical responses to increased powers for the Scottish government and the suggestion of a devolved BBC. There seems to be a fundamental and idealogical opposition to anything 'Scottish' being given priority over anything 'British'. It's now moved past rational political argument.....it seems driven by fear and hate. Maybe you're different, I don't know. Personally a 55/45 result was never going to "kill off" either side IMO. If it had been 80/20 then maybe. I've always been of the opinion that more powers are a good idea as long as it's not a case of supposed new powers that mean "Scotland" will get the blame if things go wrong - even if there was nothing they could do to stop it. As for Scottish being given priority over British, that doesn't bother me if it's in context, however if it's just been done to point score, then I don't think it's necessary. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
scotlad Posted August 31, 2015 Share Posted August 31, 2015 No. They aren't revolutionary enough regards the Gaidhlig. Languages can be saved - look at modern Hebrew and Welsh. As for moaning anti-Gaels, we pay our taxes too, and pay significantly more for the service Gaelic speakers receive - Gaelic is an official language of Scotland (before the ''mair Polish speakers than..") that gets trotted out on the Hootsman. BBC Alba needs subtitles in Gaelic for the English only programmes. As for anyone who wants to learn it. It can be done, even if you want to learn a few basics - it'll open your mind to the meaning of the likes of Cairn Gorm, Dun, Inbhir, and so on. I am not fluent, but I am so glad I have picked up a smidgin of it - it was my grandfather's mother tongue - he then moved to Glasgow from Barra, never passed any of it to his sons (he then died when my Dad was 10). All his brothers/sisters are dead, so if it's not for me or my brother (sounding a bit melodramatic now) it would die out in our family, so it won't, even if I butcher it at times. Cum Gaidhlig beo. That's a familiar tale, sadly. My dad was pals with a few lads from the islands when he was in his twenties, all of whom spoke Gaelic as their first language. They had move to Glasgow firstly to attend university; they then got jobs, married local girls who didn't speak the language and so it ends there. The Welsh language Act saved Welsh from a similar fate, I suspect. It has been a while since I was last in Wales but apparently it is fairly common to hear young people in Cardiff blethering away to each other in Welsh. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
peever1745 Posted August 31, 2015 Share Posted August 31, 2015 Aren't the SNP trying to make Gaelic compulsory for primary school children now? Regarding the OP - doesn't the BBC Alba budget come out of the BBC Scotland budget (if budget is the right word)? That would mean that BBC Scotland overall was still receiving less money than Scottish people give to the BBC. I used to run the pre school Gaelic group in an SNP run council area, the SNP did absolutely nothing to help this group. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
deecie Posted August 31, 2015 Share Posted August 31, 2015 That's a familiar tale, sadly. My dad was pals with a few lads from the islands when he was in his twenties, all of whom spoke Gaelic as their first language. They had move to Glasgow firstly to attend university; they then got jobs, married local girls who didn't speak the language and so it ends there. The Welsh language Act saved Welsh from a similar fate, I suspect. It has been a while since I was last in Wales but apparently it is fairly common to hear young people in Cardiff blethering away to each other in Welsh. Every young Welsh person I know only use English and view learning Welsh as a pointless waste of time. I'd have similar feelings if I was forced to learn Gaelic in school. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest flumax Posted August 31, 2015 Share Posted August 31, 2015 Welsh hardly dead. 20% speak it https://en.m.wikipedia.org/wiki/List_of_Welsh_areas_by_percentage_of_Welsh-speakers Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Orraloon Posted August 31, 2015 Share Posted August 31, 2015 Every young Welsh person I know only use English and view learning Welsh as a pointless waste of time. I'd have similar feelings if I was forced to learn Gaelic in school. I don't know any young Welsh folk who don't speak Welsh. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
stocky Posted August 31, 2015 Share Posted August 31, 2015 I don't know any young Welsh folk who don't speak Welsh. the Welsh are very proud of their language. its the Only think the British State hasn't taken from them..... Deecie obviuosly , you have never been on a night out, or a vist to North Wales, Conway, Llagoillen, Caernarfon etc... u hardly hear English being spoken... Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
deecie Posted August 31, 2015 Share Posted August 31, 2015 Deecie obviuosly , you have never been on a night out, or a vist to North Wales, Conway, Llagoillen, Caernarfon etc... u hardly hear English being spoken... Never will either. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
hampden_loon2878 Posted August 31, 2015 Share Posted August 31, 2015 Im not sure if the recent full moon has brought out the brit nats of late,,, i have had to engage in a few debates with them, one which was about the "26 million" spent on gealic road signs....so they are shouting from the toof top about preserving a part of ou culture but on the other hand are completely happy thowing money at the house of lords!! Doesnt add up Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Rossy Posted August 31, 2015 Share Posted August 31, 2015 Im not sure if the recent full moon has brought out the brit nats of late,,, i have had to engage in a few debates with them, one which was about the "26 million" spent on gealic road signs....so they are shouting from the toof top about preserving a part of ou culture but on the other hand are completely happy thowing money at the house of lords!! Doesnt add up As I said, the BritNat mentality has now moved on to attacking anything they see as promoting or encouraging a Scottish identity. They've twisted a Scottish identity into believing its the same as supporting the SNP, and ergo supporting independence. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
weekevie04 Posted August 31, 2015 Share Posted August 31, 2015 Every young Welsh person I know only use English and view learning Welsh as a pointless waste of time. I'd have similar feelings if I was forced to learn Gaelic in school. I spent a week in Wales in the summer and heard Welsh a lot. Towns like Bala, Bangor, Caernarfon, Portmadog it was most definitely the number one language heard and spoken - I'm a bit of a geek, but I loved hearing and seeing it in every day life. Llandudno, Colwyn Bay, Rhyl, Ruthin, Denbigh - tended to be more English. Bala is a fantastic small town. From the few hours spent there, vast proportion of the population were talking Welsh. The only English I heard was from tourists, and a few old English folk who had moved there (started talking to them). Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
hampden_loon2878 Posted August 31, 2015 Share Posted August 31, 2015 my friend from skye who may i add is a massive independence supporter just added this to the debate "The current idea for small communities is not to divide funding but to keep it together, rather than building a new school why not carry on the same way in a school that is still fit for purpose, in a way its like the non denomenational arguement with schools and catholic schools, but with languages, the kids are kids, friends not seeing friends during school time and as you say doric is dying out but the other scots languages and dialects get nowhere near the press that one language takes, do you hear about Norn getting the same up in shetland or Lowland scots, if one gets then all should gaelic medium in schools with English speaking kids should be the norm, not splitting communities which is happening on Skye just now" i dont know enough about the situation to comment Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Hertsscot Posted August 31, 2015 Share Posted August 31, 2015 I wish I'd learnt a bit more Gaelic from friends when I was at uni. it's a beautiful language. As posters here have pointed out the argument that no one else speaks it is not much of an argument, not many people outside of Wales speak Welsh, not many people outside Ireland speak Irish Gaelic. I can't remember which manufacturer it was but a few years back it was nice to see some recognition with 'Alba' on the jersey. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Parklife Posted September 1, 2015 Share Posted September 1, 2015 I used to run the pre school Gaelic group in an SNP run council area, the SNP did absolutely nothing to help this group. They were probably too busy approving Orange walks. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
weekevie04 Posted September 1, 2015 Share Posted September 1, 2015 I wish I'd learnt a bit more Gaelic from friends when I was at uni. it's a beautiful language. As posters here have pointed out the argument that no one else speaks it is not much of an argument, not many people outside of Wales speak Welsh, not many people outside Ireland speak Irish Gaelic. I can't remember which manufacturer it was but a few years back it was nice to see some recognition with 'Alba' on the jersey. It's never too late to learn some. Sabhal Mor Ostaig - the Gaelic college do some online, weekend courses. Plus LearnGaelic.net is really useful. Even if you don't want or plan to be fluent, can definitely learn a few basics from that site alone - and say a few sentences. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Hertsscot Posted September 1, 2015 Share Posted September 1, 2015 It's never too late to learn some. Sabhal Mor Ostaig - the Gaelic college do some online, weekend courses. Plus LearnGaelic.net is really useful. Even if you don't want or plan to be fluent, can definitely learn a few basics from that site alone - and say a few sentences. Moran taing Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Orraloon Posted September 1, 2015 Share Posted September 1, 2015 An interesting read here. http://wingsoverscotland.com/the-lesser-of-two-stupids/#more-74994 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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