What is Scottish Gaelic?
Gaelic is the Celtic language spoken in Scotland. Once the main language of Scotland it is now a minority language in its own homeland.
It was only in 2005 with the passing of the Gaelic Language act that Scottish Gaelic was given official status in Scotland. Today there are an increasing number of bilingual signs on roads, train stations, and in shops, museums and other places through out Scotland.
Gaelic Medium (immersion) Education began in the 1980's and has continued to grow. It is now possible for a child to go all the way from pre-school through university using Gaelic as their primary language of education.
The Gaelic language is a key part of the wonderful rich Celtic heritage of Scotland and the heritage of people of Scottish decent all over the world. Where ever the Scottish diaspora has spread there are traces of the Gaelic language in place names, accents and family names. Chances are that if you have a 'Mac' last name you have some Gaelic speaking ancestors.
Despite the gains that Gaelic has made in the last 30 years, it is still only spoken by around 1% of the population of Scotland and a small but growing number of people in Nova Scotia (Canada).
Scottish Gaelic is closely related to Irish Gaelic and Manx and more distantly to Welsh, Breton and Cornish.
Gaelic is the Celtic language spoken in Scotland. Once the main language of Scotland it is now a minority language in its own homeland.
It was only in 2005 with the passing of the Gaelic Language act that Scottish Gaelic was given official status in Scotland. Today there are an increasing number of bilingual signs on roads, train stations, and in shops, museums and other places through out Scotland.
Gaelic Medium (immersion) Education began in the 1980's and has continued to grow. It is now possible for a child to go all the way from pre-school through university using Gaelic as their primary language of education.
The Gaelic language is a key part of the wonderful rich Celtic heritage of Scotland and the heritage of people of Scottish decent all over the world. Where ever the Scottish diaspora has spread there are traces of the Gaelic language in place names, accents and family names. Chances are that if you have a 'Mac' last name you have some Gaelic speaking ancestors.
Despite the gains that Gaelic has made in the last 30 years, it is still only spoken by around 1% of the population of Scotland and a small but growing number of people in Nova Scotia (Canada).
Scottish Gaelic is closely related to Irish Gaelic and Manx and more distantly to Welsh, Breton and Cornish.