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Future of Gaelic
07/12/2009
Gaelic version
Scotland's new Cabinet Secretary for Education has set out his vision for how Scotland can create a new generation of Gaelic speakers.
Delivering the annual Sabhal Mòr Ostaig lecture at the Gaelic college in Sleat, Skye he said that a focus on early years, school, adult and community learning will be vital in halting the decline in the number of people speaking the language. The Cabinet Secretary added that we must work together to ensure delivery structures in these areas are operating effectively.
To support this Mr Russell has committed £50,000 for MG Alba, working with Bòrd na Gàidhlig, to provide a new website providing extra resources and support for Gaelic learners. The Cabinet Secretary also welcomed the Scottish Funding Council's announcement of a new research partnership - Soillse - which will make a significant contribution to the revitalisation of Gaelic in Scotland.
Cabinet Secretary for Education and Lifelong Learning Michael Russell said:
'We have an urgent task. Our aim is to halt the decline of Gaelic and the only way we can achieve this is by increasing the number of people speaking and using the language. This requires a fresh look at our priorities, the funding we provide and the methods we are employing.
"Languages die every day and I believe we have a responsibility to ensure that does not happen to Gaelic. We need to ensure that everything we do in this area supports our aim of increasing the number of people speaking, and most importantly using, the language.
"I am delighted to be announcing today the funding of £50,000 to MG Alba and I am sure that Gaelic learners of all ages will find it a useful resource.
"The high-quality and accessible provision of Gaelic learning in early years, school and community settings is the key to saving the language from further decline. As I announced in Stornoway earlier this year, I have asked Bòrd na Gàidhlig to look carefully at what radical steps and ambitious outcomes we must take to see the biggest increases in the numbers of people speaking Gaelic in Scotland.
"We will receive recommendations within the next few weeks. Alongside the new Minister for Culture, Fiona Hyslop, I will be publishing an action plan for creating that new generation of speakers that is needed to ensure the future of the Gaelic language."
Professor Boyd Robertson, Principal of Sabhal Mòr Ostaig said:
"We are delighted to welcome the new Cabinet Secretary for Education and Lifelong Learning to the College and welcome his announcement on a renewed focus on learning and using Gaelic. Sabhal Mor Ostaig has contributed greatly to the numbers of people learning Gaelic in Scotland and the College is committed to increasing opportunities for students to acquire fluency in the language, both on campus and by distance learning.
"With its experience of language immersion and the high quality of teaching staff and the range of courses available, the College is perfectly placed to help take forward the recommendations of the Government's action plan for Gaelic and we look forward to working with Bord na Gaidhlig and others at what is a crucial time for the development of the language."
Michael Russell and Fiona Hyslop announced the urgent need for action to create a new generation of Gaelic speakers on August 3, 2009
Bòrd na Gàidhlig will make recommendations to ministers on a Gaelic action plan before Christmas.
The Sabhal Mòr Lecture is sponsored by the Gaelic college, and in previous years has been delivered by Gordon Brown, Jack McConnell, Mary McAleese, Mary Robinson, Donald Dewar, Duncan Rice and Alex Salmond.
Bòrd na Gàidhlig is the principal public body with responsibility for promoting the use of Gaelic and advising Scottish Ministers on Gaelic matters. The body was established by the Gaelic Language (Scotland ) Act 2005
The Gaelic broadcaster MG Alba works in partnership with the BBC to deliver the Gaelic media service BBC Alba which includes radio, television and on-line services.
Bòrd na Gàidhlig and MG Alba are funded by the Scottish Government.
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Ceuman Cudromach airson Gàidhlig a chumail beò
'S e meudachadh air àireamhan de luchd-labhairt Gàidhlig an dòigh air a' Ghàidhlig a dhèanamh tèarainte sam àm ri teachd.
Anns an òraid bhliadhnail aig Sabhal Mòr Ostaig mhìnich Mìcheal Ruiseal, a tha a-nis na Rùnaire a' Chaibineit airson Foghlaim, mar a dh'fhaodadh Alba ginealach ùr de luchd-labhairt Gàidhlig a chruthachadh.
A' bruidhinn ris an luchd-èisteachd sa cholaiste Ghàidhlig ann an Slèite san Eilean Sgitheanach thuirt e gum bi e deatamach cudrom a chur air foghlam aig ìrean sgoile, ro-sgoile, inbheach agus coimhearsnachd gus stad a chur air a' chrìonadh anns an àireamh de dhaoine a tha a' bruidhinn a' chànain. Thuirt Rùnaire a' Chaibineit cuideachd gum feum sinn obrachadh còmhla gus dèanamh cinnteach gum bi na structairean lìbhrigidh anns na roinnean sin ag obrachadh gu h-èifeachdach.
Gus taic a thoirt don seo tha Mgr Ruiseal air £50,000 a ghealltainn do MG Alba, ag obair còmhla ri Bòrd na Gàidhlig, airson làrach-lìn ùr le tuilleadh ghoireasan agus taic do luchd-ionnsachaidh Gàidhlig. Chuir Rùnaire a' Chaibineit fàilte cuideachd air a' chom-pàirteachas rannsachaidh ùir - Soillse - a dh'ainmich Comhairle Maoineachaidh na h-Alba agus a chuireas gu mòr ri ath-bheothachadh na Gàidhlig an Alba. .
Thuirt Mìcheal Ruiseal, Rùnaire a' Chaibineit airson Foghlaim agus Ionnsachadh Fad-beatha:
"Feumaidh sinn gluasad gun dàil. 'S e ar n-amas stad a chur air a' chrìonadh sa Ghàidhlig agus chan eil dòigh againn air seo a choileanadh ach le meudachadh air an àireamh de dhaoine a tha a' bruidhinn agus a' cleachdadh a' chànain. Feumar coimhead às ùr ri na prìomhachasan againn, ris a' mhaoineachadh a tha sinn a' toirt seachad agus ri ar modhan-obrach.
"Tha cànanan a' bàsachadh a h-uile latha agus tha mi den bheachd gu bheil e an urra rinne dèanamh cinnteach nach tachair seo don Ghàidhlig. Feumaidh sinn dèanamh cinnteach gun toir gach obair a nì sinn san roinn seo taic don amas againn a bhith a' meudachadh an àireamh de dhaoine a tha a' bruidhinn agus, gu h-àraidh, a' cleachdadh a' chànain.
"Tha mi air leth toilichte ainmeachadh an-diugh gum faigh MG Alba maoineachadh de £50,000 agus tha mi cinnteach gum bi e na ghoireas feumail do luchd-ionnsachaidh Gàidhlig de gach aois.
"Tha cothrom air deagh fhoghlam Gàidhlig ann an suidhichidhean sgoile, ro-sgoile agus coimhearsnachd air leth cudromach do shàbhaladh a' chànain bho chrìonadh nas motha. Mar a dh'ainmich mi ann an Steòrnabhagh nas tràithe air a' bhliadhna seo, tha mi air iarraidh air Bòrd na Gàidhlig sùil mhionaideach a thoirt air dè na ceuman agus co-dhùnaidhean raidigeach a dh'fheumas sinn a dhèanamh gus a' mheudachadh as motha fhaicinn anns na h-àireamhan de dhaoine a tha a' bruidhinn Gàidhlig an Alba.
"Gheibh sinn molaidhean anns na seachdainean a tha romhainn. Còmhla ri Fiona Hyslop, Ministear a' Chultair, bidh mi a' foillseachadh plana gnìomh airson cruthachadh a' ghinealaich ùir de luchd-labhairt a dh'fheumar gus dèanamh cinnteach gum bi a' Ghàidhlig air a cumail beò."
Thuirt an t-Àrd-ollamh Boyd Robasdan, Stiùiriche Sabhal Mòr Ostaig:
"Tha sinn a' cur fàilte bhlàth air Rùnaire a' Chaibineit airson Foghlaim agus Ionnsachadh Fad-beatha don Cholaiste agus air an naidheachd aige gum bi cudrom ùr air ionnsachadh agus cleachdadh na Gàidhlig. Tha Sabhal Mòr Ostaig air cur gu mòr ri na h-àireamhan de dhaoine a tha ag ionnsachadh Gàidhlig an Alba agus tha a' Cholaiste airson barrachd chothroman a thoirt do dh'oileanaich a bhith fileanta sa chànan, gach cuid sa cholaiste agus ag ionnsachadh air astar. Le eòlas na Colaiste air bogadh sa chànan agus a deagh luchd-teagaisg agus iomadh seòrsa cùrsa, tha i air leth freagarrach airson cuideachadh a' toirt air adhart molaidhean plana gnìomh an Riaghaltais airson na Gàidhlig agus bidh sinne toilichte a bhith ag obair còmhla ri Bòrd na Gàidhlig agus buidhnean eile aig àm a tha cho deatamach airson leasachadh a' chànain."
Air 3 Lùnastal, 2009 dh'ainmich Mìcheal Ruiseal agus Fiona Hyslop gum feumar gluasad gun dàil gus linn ùr de luchd-labhairt Gàidhlig a chruthachadh
Bidh Bòrd na Gàidhlig a' cur molaidhean ann an Aithisg Gniomh gu Ministirean ron Nollaige.
Tha Òraid an t-Sabhail Mhòir air a sponsaireadh leis a' cholaiste Gàidhlig, agus ann am bliadhnachan eile chaidh a lìbhrigeadh le Gòrdan Brown, Jack McConnell, Màiri McAleese, Màiri Robasdan, Dòmhnall Dewar, Donnchadh Rice agus Alex Salmond.
'S e Bòrd na Gàidhlig am prìomh bhuidheann poblach le uallach airson cleachdadh na Gàidhlig a bhrosnachadh agus comhairle a thoirt do Mhinistearan na h-Alba air cùisean Gàidhlig. Chaidh am buidheann a stèidheachadh le Achd na Gàidhlig (Alba ) 2005
Tha am buidheann craolaidh Gàidhlig MG Alba ag obair an lùib a' BhBC a' lìbhrigeadh seirbheis nam meadhanan Gàidhlig BBC Alba a tha a' gabhail a-steach rèidio, telebhisean agus seirbheisean eadar-lìn.
Tha Bòrd na Gàidhlig agus MG Alba air am maoineachadh le Riaghaltas na h-Alba.