Gaelic Interests Unite against Government Cuts
Nan Zhang
(Highlands, Image Credit: Photo by Gene Taylor on Pexel)
The Scottish Government’s cuts to funding of Bòrd na Gàidhlig (BnG), the body charged with protecting and reviving the Gaelic language, have been heavily criticised by campaigners.
“The cuts are just another sign from the government that Gaelic speakers aren't being listened to, and efforts from the government to give a future to the language are at a dead-end unless we choose to listen to voices from the communities most impacted by decisions as such,” says Christy O’Hanlon, co-host of the popular Gaelic podcast Big Gaels Don’t Cry .
Christy calls on people to support the communities in the highlands and western isles, where these cuts will have most impact.
She says, “The issues facing Gaelic are so different in each community, hence why development workers based within these communities serve a far better purpose than any development coming from the government. If people in the Central Belt often feel far removed from Holyrood, think how unrepresented communities in the Highlands and Islands feel.”
(Christy O’Hanlon, Image Credit: Euan McGeechan)
Misneachd Alba, a Gaelic campaign group has submitted a petition to the Scottish Parliament and there have been calls for “all the Gaelic organisations” to support this.
According to the petition, the budget needed by Bòrd na Gàidhlig's will increase with inflation from £5 million to between £8 and 10 million in 2024/25. And the cuts will affect “not only in terms of the loss of employment, but in the confidence and the belief of those working tirelessly against ongoing and intensifying language shift.”
Misneachd argues, “There will not be a second chance to preserve Gaelic as a spoken vernacular language in Scotland.”
Christy’s experience as a Gaelic speaker in Glasgow leads her to believe that there has been a resurgence amongst the community in Glasgow over the last few years and that more young people are picking-up the language.
Gaelic speakers are still experiencing a fair degree of negativity towards the language, though.
“My own experience being that exactly - I've grown up being told that not only my education, but my cultural identity is dead and pointless.”
“I think Scottish people as a whole forget that issues impacting Gaelic affect us all - speakers or not. Language is so much more than just spoken words, and the loss of Gaelic would impact all Scots indefinitely,” adds Christy.
Christy appreciates the efforts of groups like Misneachd, which are pivotal in using social media and an online presence to highlight what is happening and propose credible solutions and plans in an accessible and digestible way.
Misneachd has given a response to the Scottish Languages Bill. According to the Scotsman, a spokesperson for the Scottish Government said that it would “continue to engage with stakeholders” as the bill makes its way through the parliamentary process.