Speaking About Gaelic: The Meaning of Language to Gaelic Speakers in Scotland

Abstract

"Over the past four centuries, the Gaelic language has been in great decline in Scotland. Where it used to be the first tongue for a significant amount of Scots, now the number has declined to under one percent of the entire Scottish population. However, during the past decade this decrease has slowly been stagnating and the visibility of the language seems to rise as more governmental funding for the language encourages schools and media to promote it. Thus, as the Gaelic wisdom states: is the value of the well not known until it goes dry? Often the Scottish Gaelic revival is linked to nationalist ideas, constructing a group with a shared Scottish historical language through emphasizing the language s national character. The link between language and nationalism is one that is discussed by many social scientists over the last century. This discussion starts with theories on the construction of personal identity and group identity. In all social theories identity is said to be constructed in social interaction. However, not all authors agree on the exact manner in which identity is constructed. Some authors stress the more ethnic characteristics that are involved in processes of identification where others emphasize the more political factors or the importance of the construction of boundaries. The idea of a shared culture and common ancestry is generally said to play a central part in people s personal and group identifications."