Learning
Gaelic is Scotland's oldest surviving indigenous language and was once the language of the court and of nobility.
It suffered a serious decline in the 19th century and first half of the 20th but has seen a revival since the 1970's with renewed interest generally and a commitment to the language from government with the Gaelic Language Act 2005 which requires public bodies to implement language plans for their area of work.
Gaelic was the language of the Scots from whom Scotland takes its name. Much of what we regard as Scottish stems from the Gaels and any understanding of Scotland and its culture is incomplete without reference to Gaelic.
Gaelic is part of everyone's heritage and you may be surprised at how many resonances there are in the way we speak, as well as the number of personal names that stem from Gaelic.
The revival of the language in recent years has been in large measure due to the following influences:
- Access to Gaelic-medium education (pre-school, primary and secondary) which has given rise to a new generation for whom Gaelic is a key element of their daily life
- The establishment of Sabhal Mòr Ostaig, the Gaelic college in Skye, which offers degree-level courses through the medium of Gaelic in a variety of disciplines and also offers short-courses for learners to develop their skills to fluency
- Greater availability of language classes and resources (in particular on-line) for adults wishing to learn the language. Immersion courses have been particularly effective in bringing students to fluency