This item was published during the term of a previous administration that ended in April 2007
Listen
Gaelic spreads into cyberspace
26/03/2002
A unique interactive online service to assist Gaelic
translations of Executive and Scottish Parliamentary
business is launched today.
Culture Minister Mike Watson - with responsibility for
Gaelic - inaugurated the facility on the internet version
of
Faclair na Parlamaid, the dictionary of parliamentary
terms.
The online service, as well as providing a full
dictionary of terms, now offers an interactive translation
service for words as yet not included asking the user
to:
- provide a sentence showing how the word or term to
be translated is used
- identify how it could be translated
- leave a contact e-mail address
The request will then be forwarded for translation to
The European Language Initiative (TELI) who produced the
dictionary in conjunction with the Executive.
Mike Watson said:
"This exciting new development is the Executive's
response to representations made to us from the Gaelic
community about the need for information about Parliament
to be made in Gaelic. It is a first for Scotland, a first
for Gaelic and a further indication of our support for
Gaelic language and culture. The dictionary service is
growing, enquiries will help it to develop by identifying
key phrases which are not available at present and to
include words which are really needed."
Faclair na Parlamaid was launched last Spring.
The Executive has committed almost £65,000 to the
dictionary and website.