Scottish Government Gaelic Language Plan Consultation: Review of the responses received by the Scottish Government to the consultation
Analysis of responses
Acknowledgements
The Scottish Government would like to thank all those who responded to the consultation on the Scottish Government's Gaelic Language Plan.
Executive Summary
From the analysis of the responses received, the main findings were:
Identity
Overall, respondents were satisfied with, and welcomed, the proposals set out by the Scottish Government, in relation to identity. However, in spite of this more favourable view, respondents were critical of the following:
- The current plans for the provision of bilingual signage were seen to be inadequate
- The Scottish Government logo does not manage to achieve the parity between English and Gaelic
- There was felt to be a lack of clear guidance as to how frequently the plan would be monitored
- Respondents noted the influence of the Gaelic Language Plan on other linguistic communities in Scotland and expressed the possibility perceived repercussions from the Scots language community.
Communications
Most respondents seemed to welcome the suggestions included in this part of the consultation paper. Again, the analysis found that there was little mention of which ideas the respondents had found useful, however from the responses received, the most frequent criticisms of the draft Gaelic Language Plan were in relation to:
- The plan does not go far enough in making sure that Gaelic is used to communicate in an adequate way
- There is a need to represent Gaelic more on appropriate official forms
- Vague nature of the provisions within the consultation document has been mentioned
- Insufficient knowledge of Gaelic within the Scottish Government itself was seen to jeopardise the success of the plan
- The impact of the plan on other language communities in Scotland should not be underestimated.
- It would be too expensive to roll out the proposals set out in the consultations.
Publications
As in the previous sections, there was an overall sense of satisfaction that the issues surrounding the Gaelic language are being tackled by the Government. This was though coupled with a relative lack of strong positive comments about the plan. Respondents noted the following gaps:
- Many Gaelic speakers choose to use English where technical information is concerned
- Criteria for deciding on translating documents into Gaelic should be more clear.
Staffing
Many respondents felt that the plan did not go far enough in its proposals with regards to staffing.
- There was a degree of suspicion amongst respondents as to the intentions of the Scottish Government with regards to promoting Gaelic
- Respondents mentioned that there is a need to encourage the use of Gaelic in a Civil Service setting, by including the provision of Gaelic classes to Scottish Government staff and to require a knowledge of the language by those applying for certain posts.
1) Introduction
1.1 The Scottish Government recognises that Gaelic is an integral part of Scotland's heritage, national identity and current cultural life. The Scottish Government has taken action and has put in place the necessary structures and initiatives to ensure that Gaelic has a sustainable future in Scotland.
1.2 The Gaelic Language (Scotland) Act 2005 established Bord na Gaidhlig as the principal public body in Scotland tasked with securing the status of Gaelic and promoting the use and understanding of the Gaelic language. Under the Act, Bord na Gaidhligh may issue a notice to any Scottish public authority, requiring it to prepare a Gaelic Language Plan.
1.3 The Scottish Government has prepared our draft statutory Gaelic Language Plan under the terms of the Act. This draft document sets out how the Scottish Government will:
1) use and enable the use of Gaelic in relation to its corporate identity, communications, publications and staffing; and
2) demonstrate links between the Scottish Government's work and the National Plan for Gaelic.
2) Timing
2.1 Both the Strategic Board and Cabinet considered and cleared The Scottish Government's Draft Gaelic Language Plan during November 2008 and the Scottish Government issued a consultation on 29 January 2009. The consultation closed on the 29 April 2009.
3) Distribution
3.1 During the consultation period, a total of 48 responses were received by the Scottish Government.
4) Analysis
4.1 The analysis of responses comprised a consideration of each response received to the Consultation. Responses were collated under each question and responses that covered similar points or themes were grouped together. Responses were assessed to identify the extent of each respondent's positive or negative reaction to each question.
4.2 The groupings were reviewed to identify key messages emerging from the responses linked to each question and the common messages were noted, as were the points raised. Of the less common points raised, an analysis was made of the scope or relevance of the issue identified or suggestion made. Where an issue was identified to be of wider relevance than to the individual respondent alone, the point was also noted for further investigation.
4.3 It should be noted that the findings presented in this report are those drawn from the 48 responses received to the consultation paper (see Appendix A for a breakdown of the responses received and Appendix B for a list of respondents). The findings do not therefore necessarily reflect the weight or range of views within the population as a whole, as the respondents have not been representatively or purposely sampled. It is also important to note that not all respondents chose to answer each question in the Consultation document. This means that it is not possible to state levels of agreement/disagreement to a particular question, especially as few of the textual responses received explicitly indicated agreement or disagreement on a particular theme.
4.4 In a number of cases, the same response had been copied and pasted into other responses. This has been taken into account in the analysis to make sure no unfair representation resulted from such action.
5) Findings
5.1 Identity
5.1.1 Are you content with the commitments in the Scottish Government's Plan?
5.1 Overall, respondents spoke favourably of the identity elements included in the Scottish Government's draft Gaelic language Plan. There was very little or no information in the responses received as to which aspects of the draft plan that respondents found to be satisfactory. The responses tended to highlight those aspects of the draft plan that could be improved and these comments frequently referred to the actual implementation of the plan. However the majority of respondents indicated that they were in favour of the plan.
5.2 Comments about the Scottish Governments' linguistic identity as well as the bilingual signage on roads and in buildings throughout the country were consistently mentioned and respondents were frequently critical of the inadequate nature of the current provision.
5.3 One respondent suggested that "(U)unfortunately, the practical actions of the Scottish Government (SG) have fallen short of this ideal in a number of areas." The same respondent then listed the following reservations about the actions of the Scottish Government such as:
- the failure to design a logo that reflects the idea of equal status for both English and Gaelic
- the failure to use bilingual headed paper and other stationery material on a regular basis
- the lack of comprehensive public signage in Gaelic on the Scottish Government premises
- little or no effort to use Gaelic in advertising materials.
5.4 Voices were also raised regarding the influence of the draft Gaelic Language Plan on other languages of Scotland such as the Scots language and all its variations:
"(…) this is very much at odds with the often promoted government view of Scotland "One Scotland many cultures". This plan is being promoted at the expense of other cultures such as the 1.5m peoples whose language is of the Old Scots origin."
"The Gaelic language is a tiny part of Scotland's language heritage. It has a disproportionate level of Government funding spent on it. Either the same level of commitment is given to Shetland Orkney and Doric dialect projects or the funding is re-directed to eg improving schools, hospitals etc which will have a greater benefit to Scotland's future."
5.5 It was noted on a number of occasions and by one respondent here that "(it) is highly likely that there will be some kind of backlash from supporters of the Lowland Scots language." This was confirmed by a number of responses where it was perceived that the rights of Scotland's other languages would be adversely affected by the Scottish Government's proposals for Gaelic. This issue is covered in more depth further on in the analysis.
5.6 This appeared to be a very sensitive issue of which many respondents demonstrated awareness. The potential negative reaction of the Scots language community was mentioned on a number of times in the consultation responses received.
5.7 Many responses dealt with the issue of the Scottish Government's bilingual corporate identity and the failure to include Gaelic. This was captured by one respondent in the following:
"The plan fails to make the obvious link between the use of Gaelic and the creation of a distinctive Scottish brand."
5.8 The design of the Scottish Government's logo was also mentioned in many of the consultation responses and this indicates that this issue is of significant importance to the individuals and organizations concerned. Respondents suggested that the current bilingual version of the logo did not convey the idea of equal status for both languages of Scotland. As can be seen from the quotes below, a large number of comments dealt with various aspects of logo design and implementation.
"... rather than simply develop guidance for staff on use of the bilingual version of the S[cottish] G[overnment] logo, it would be better to ensure its use"
"The current bilingual Scottish Government logo, as displayed on the cover of the Draft Plan document, does not achieve language parity"
"The draft proposes to 'move towards the use of the bilingual version of the Scottish Government logo as the norm'. This wording is appropriate, but the logo in question is highly unsatisfactory, as the font used for Gaelic is far smaller than that used for the English and certainly does not suggest 'equal respect' for Gaelic as required by the act."
"I would welcome the use of the bilingual version of the Scottish Government logo, and bilingual signage, as the norm across all areas of operation of the Scottish Government. This would be particularly welcome if the design of and usage guidance for the logo ensured that the Gaelic text was at all times clearly visible."
5.9 One respondent suggested a different version of the logo design that they felt would better reflect the need for equal treatment for both languages. Another response mentioned that their organisation already uses a Gaelic version of the logo and reportedly, it has had a positive impact on people's perceptions of the organisation.
"We already have a Gaelic version of our name as part of our logo and find it does help raise awareness and interest (…)"
5.10 One of the frequently noted issues by respondents was the lack of clear guidance on how frequently the plan would be monitored. The vague nature of some of the draft plan's proposals was also noted elsewhere in the consultation responses and is highlighted where appropriate.
"The proposals in relation to [the] monitoring of the plan by the [Scottish Government's] Gaelic and Scots Unit are inadequate. The draft does not say how often this should occur; it should be done on an annual basis."
5.11 A large number of responses referred to the issue and use of bilingual signage on Scotland's roads. On a number of occasions it was highlighted that introducing bilingual signs on Scotland's roads is of symbolic importance, making those viewing the signs aware of the fact that Gaelic is used in the area.
"The implementation of bilingual signage on trunk roads is an important project of the Scottish Government and should be given much greater prominence in the Scottish Government Gaelic Language Plan."
"If the Scottish Government is committed to affording English and Gaelic equal respect, this must be reflected in the Government's identity, and road signs are part of this identity."
5.12 The latter quote reinforces what has been mentioned many times in the responses - that the principle of respect and equal treatment for Gaelic should underpin the Scottish Government's actions.
5.13 One of the respondents referred to the case of the Republic of Ireland, where in their view Gaelic is over-identified with the government or the civil service, and highlighted the risk of this occurring in the Scottish context. This is an interesting statement, especially when contrasted with the evidence in some of the responses, which showed some distrust towards the Scottish Government. Perhaps this is indication that there is no single coherent message coming out from the responses, which reflects the sheer diversity of views held by respondents.
5.2 Communications
5.2.1 Are you content with the commitments in the Scottish Government's Plan?
5.14 Most respondents seemed to welcome the suggestions included by the Scottish Government in this part of the consultation paper. Again, there was not much mention of which ideas the respondents had found useful. A sizeable number of responses indicated that the plan did not go far enough in making sure that Gaelic is used to communicate in an adequate way.
"We might suggest that some wider acknowledgement is made to the ever-increasing importance of digital media in all creative fields such as research, writing, music and film and the need to preserve and manage this material."
5.15 A number of respondents remarked that without civil servants able to speak Gaelic, the implementation of the language strategy would be much more difficult. Civil servants were described by some respondents as being reluctant to understand the needs of Gaelic speakers.
"The effectiveness of the S[cottish] G[overnment]'s initiatives on Gaelic would be significantly assisted by the development of an active internal linguistic community within the S[cottish] G[overnment]."
5.16 A lot of attention was given to the issue of bilingual forms. Many respondents were keen to make sure Gaelic was represented on appropriate forms. It was mentioned that "appropriate" does not necessarily have to mean most commonly used. Examples of the types of forms on which Gaelic could be used were not provided in the responses received.
"An element of Gaelic should appear on all appropriate forms."
5.17 A number of responses highlighted the vagueness of what was mentioned in the consultation document. Respondents were unsure as to exactly how comprehensive the coverage of printed materials in Gaelic would be and how it would be monitored.
"(…) it would be good to see some clarification on exactly how, and on which forms, the S[cottish] G[overnment] will make more Gaelic visible."
"There is no information of what would constitute an acceptable increase (in summary documents) e.g. 50%?"
"The G[aelic] L[anguage] P[lan] states that leaflets will be "made available", but the extent of this is unclear."
5.18 The use of the Gaelic language within the Scottish Government was perceived to be an issue in a number of the responses received. Some respondents indicated that overall, the Scottish Government was not proactive about using Gaelic on its premises and in official communication and therefore there was little confidence in its intentions to extend those plans nation-wide.
5.19 Moreover, since most S[cottish] G[overnment] staff were not familiar with Gaelic, respondents felt that officials would not be able to adequately meet the needs of those who would prefer to use the language in everyday communication with the Government. It was suggested by a small number of respondents that: "Gaelic classes should be made available to all S[cottish] G[overnment] staff who wish to take them. Similarly, the ability to communicate in Gaelic should be a higher priority requirement when recruiting staff into relevant posts."
5.20 The perceived inequality between Gaelic and English was a very frequently raised issue, appearing in most responses. Gaelic's perceived disadvantage was related to the fact that when it comes to using technical terms or using the language in a civil service context, it is actually easier to speak English or English is assumed to be the default language.
5.21 It was mentioned that it would not be sufficient to create Gaelic versions of documents that are perceived to only be relevant to Gaelic speakers. Most everyday life situations were seen to be relevant to Gaelic speakers and therefore appropriate translations need to be included to cover those situations.
"(…) the onus should be on the S[cottish] G[overnment] not only to anticipate situations in which it might be appropriate to use to use Gaelic but also to actively encourage the use of Gaelic in situations where the opportunity can be taken to actively promote Gaelic."
"The use of Gaelic in press releases should be expanded, and this increased use should reflect the fact that the Gaelic-speaking population is spread out throughout Scotland and is affected by and concerned with the same things that affect the population as a whole."
"(…) the fundamental principles must be to achieve an outcome in which Gaelic is visible, is seen to have equality of status, and is recognised as both an official language and a genuine, functional means of communication relevant to the modern day."
5.22 As has been mentioned earlier, other language communities in Scotland were also mentioned by a number of respondents. Notably, British Sign Language users and Scots language speakers were mentioned as those who could be potentially disadvantaged by the high profile given to Gaelic in the draft Gaelic Language Plan.
"Deaf B[ritish] S[ign] L[anguage] users and Deafblind people are frustrated that as people who are born, live and work in Scotland, their language and culture is not seen as being as important as that of Gaelic, and that the Scottish Government are not extending the same urgency to ensuring that they have access to information and the right to an education in their own language."
5.23 Strong concern over the costs of the Scottish Government's proposals were also included in a small number of responses. It was pointed out that rolling out the plans outlined in the consultation would come with a sizeable price tag and would have an adverse effect on the job market, where those without Gaelic language ability would be disadvantaged when applying for some jobs. It was also pointed out that while all or most Gaelic users are understood to be competent in English, this is generally not true in the reverse situation.
"No, provision of bilingual communication services would be very costly (…) and is not justified on the basis of provision of services to taxpayers, i.e. as there has been no significant number of unilingual Gaelic speakers for at least 25 years there would be no enhancement to access to Government services or participation in the democratic life of Scotland. Provision of bilingual reception staff would automatically restrict who can be employed, or require expensive training. This would be particularly restrictive on non-native English/Gaelic speakers who would be required to be proficient in a third language."
5.2.1 Communications - Do you have anything further to suggest?
5.24 Most people had no further suggestions to add with regards to the draft Plan's proposals on communications. However, some notable exceptions referred to by respondents included the mention of a database containing the details of all those who prefer to be contacted in Gaelic:
"The suggestion to maintain a database of those who prefer to be contacted in Gaelic (…) is an excellent one, and should commence immediately"
5.25 The Directorate level straplines were also mentioned by respondents:
"Given these straplines will be going out to people all over Scotland - inc[luding] those living in areas where Gaelic is spoken - it should be mandatory that bilingual strap lines, like logos and Directorate titles etc, are included on all outgoing correspondence. If bilingual strap lines are discretionary, it is likely that they will not be used frequently by staff who do not speak the language or do not appreciate the importance of promoting the language."
5.3 Publications
5.3.1 Are you content with the commitments in the Scottish Government's Plan?
5.26 With regards to official publications, the responses received mentioned that many Gaelic speakers are more likely to use more technical information in English, rather than in their own language, which could be of significant importance to the decision on what sort of Scottish Government output should be translated into Gaelic. This is captured by one respondent in the following:
"We are aware through conversations with Gaelic speakers that often more technical information is read in English compared with more culturally based prose. In this situation, there may need to be consideration of whether a document needs to be translated if there will be little take up in the first place or offer the option if specifically asked."
5.27 Opinions on translating publications into Gaelic varied from one response to another. However, many respondents seemed to agree that all government publications should be made available in Gaelic or at least the criteria for deciding which publications to translate should be made clearer. These views are evident in the quotes below:
"The same principle applies to publications more generally. The full texts of all available documents should be made available in Gaelic. At a minimum, this would include all consultation documents and statements of government policy."
"The S[cottish] G[overnment] does however need to be clearer about the criteria it applies when deciding whether to publish in Gaelic as well as English and other languages"
5.28 Other views held by respondents suggested that "(…) the requirement to translate publications, including those on websites into Gaelic is an un-necessary expense given that Gaelic speakers are fully capable of making use of the English equivalent."
5.3.2 Publications - Do you have anything further to suggest?
5.29 Other comments referred to the variety of contexts, beyond printed information and signs, in which it might be appropriate to use the Gaelic language. An example of one of those settings highlighted by respondents was the internet.
"If the Scottish Government is serious about promoting Gaelic, then it must be prepared to make it visible in a wide variety of contexts even if that sometimes means giving it a weight that reflects both the needs and the potential benefits of Gaelic rather than reflecting actual current opportunities. Otherwise it will disappear from sight altogether."
5.30 A number of respondents mentioned the need to include Gaelic in a more comprehensive way on the Scottish Government's website and there was, criticism of the current version of the website for inappropriate coverage.
"One small but important measure is to include an English-language link simply saying for example 'About Gaelic'."
"The Gaelic content of the S[cottish] G[overnment]'s website is currently woeful and lacking."
"On the web-site, it is important that references to Gaelic aren't ghettoised or Gaelic will remain all but invisible."
5.4 Staffing
5.4.1 Are you content with the commitments in the Scottish Government's Plan?
5.31 As has been noted in the previous sections of this consultation analysis, there seemed to be a degree of suspicion amongst respondents about the intentions of the Scottish Government.
"The fact that the S[cottish] G[overnment] is encouraging, rather than clamping down on, such attitudes does not inspire confidence in the S[cottish] G[overnment]'s overall commitment to Gaelic. When taken in conjunction with the serious error of judgement shown in approving the new corporate logo, the Gaelic community has every right to be suspicious of the S[cottish] G[overnment]'s practical intentions, despite some (on the face of it) very positive commitments given in the draft plan".
"It does however contain one glaringly inappropriate refusal to acknowledge both the principle of equal respect and the need to confront discriminatory attitudes amongst civil servants and ministers."
5.32 This line of argument was taken further regarding the vagueness of some of the proposals outlined in the consultation document. In particular, many respondents thought that not much detail had gone into the plans to promote the use of the Gaelic language within the Scottish Government.
"The Government does not yet appear even to have carried out an internal survey of staff skills. There is also no attempt to clarify the question of when Gaelic represents an essential, highly desirable or desirable job-related skill. "
"On what basis will a post be deemed 'Gaelic'? What is a 'certain level' and when will such skills be considered 'necessary'? The Plan simply will not succeed unless more staff with Gaelic skills are recruited and deployed across the Government."
5.33 As a countermeasure to the perceived misunderstanding of the Scottish Government's position by respondents, the examples of which are listed throughout this document, one respondent suggested that : "(i)t might be to the benefit of the long-term position and normalisation of Gaelic amongst staff if the Government were to consider encouraging all Government staff to attend Gaelic awareness training at some point over the course of the five-year lifetime of the Plan."
5.4.2 Staffing - Do you have anything further to suggest?
5.34 A number of further comments were made by respondents, which highlighted the need for Gaelic Development Officers and/or the increased availability of opportunities to those who would wish to communicate in Gaelic. Examples of respondents' views can be found below.
"The proposal to recruit one or more Gaelic Development Officers to work internally within the S[cottish] G[overnment] to carry forward implementation of the plan is essential to the success of the plan."
"(…) there should no longer be an assumption that communications should always, by default, take place in English."
"(...)the plan makes no attempt to set targets or quantify the number of places on courses which the S[cottish] G[overnment] is prepared to offer to interested staff."
"Posts which are based in the Gàidhealtachd should be advertised bilingually.
Wales has recently started a programme of language sabbaticals, which allow state employees to take time out from their workplace in order to take classes. We suggest that such a programme commences in Scotland."
5.35 There were differences in opinion as to the way staffing should be approached in the consultation responses. While many respondents suggested the need to encourage the active use of the Gaelic language in a civil service setting, some voices were raised about the inefficiency and financial implications of such actions.
"Jobs that specifically require fluent Scottish Gaelic should be advertised in that language only."
"(…) it is also essential to make more provision for recruiting Gaelic-speaking staff, and training existing staff in Gaelic. Specific targets should be set in these areas, and wider support provided for staff, including active encouragement of the use of Gaelic".
"Staff already have very significant burdens and these are likely to increase due to efficiency drives. The diversion of effort to develop skills in Gaelic will only serve to reduce the amount of time that staff will be available to provide front line services, therefore reducing overall efficiency".
5.6 General
5.6.1 Is there any aspect of our work that you feel is not covered in our Plan that should be?
5.36 The key themes emerging from the responses received are summarised in this section and these illustrate the range of issues mentioned by respondents:
· Using Gaelic names and addresses in official correspondence
5.37 Some respondents mentioned in this section that the use of the Gaelic language in official correspondence by the Scottish Government would not easy, especially when the issue of Gaelic names and addresses was concerned.
"Citizens should have the right to register in both English and Gaelic forms of their name, and to use Gaelic addresses on forms. Some of our members have attempted to use their Gaelic address in the past, only to have them translated into English when a reply is sent."
· Supporting the breadth of Gaelic language output available, to reach beyond what is already available
5.38 The need to increase the range of materials available in Gaelic was one of the issues raised by those responding to this consultation:
"I would suggest that something that is almost entirely lacking from the general development picture is support for development of Gaelic language materials into 'normal areas' of life, particularly in written form."
· Gaelic culture and arts
5.39 The area of Gaelic culture and arts was mentioned in quite a few of the consultation responses with a number of points raised by various respondents. It is important to remember that most respondents made comments most relevant to the areas with which they were involved. Below is a summary of some of the points raised:
- Sport was mentioned as one of the areas that was not considered in the consultation paper. The example of the struggle to place the word 'Alba' on footballers' shirts was mentioned. It was claimed that by having this on Scottish footballers' shirts, this could help to promote the language
- Other respondents suggested that that BBC Alba should be made available on Freeview, although no further details was provided on this
- With reference to the perceived unequal status of Gaelic : "if Gaelic has 'equal respect' and official status, then we must be able to use it instead of English!"
· Local authorities
5.40 he role of local authorities in promoting Gaelic was also recognised by respondents on a number of occasions.
5.41 Some respondents noted that local authorities should have access to authoritative information on the historical role of the Gaelic language within the local authority area. This was seen as one way of counteracting any perceptions relating to the view that for many areas of Scotland, Gaelic is not an indigenous language.
5.42 In response to this, one respondent asked:
"Could it be part of the S[cottish] G[overnment] Plan that commitments should be sought, in Single Outcome Agreements as an example, to progress Gaelic matters through other agencies funded by the S[cottish] G[overnment], or with whom the S[cottish] G[overnment] works?"
5.43 The further issue of Gaelic Arts was also raised by one respondent:
"(…)the plan is not really considering the Gaelic Arts as a major means of ensuring greater visibility and understanding of the Gaelic heritage among the general public."
· Gaelic-speaking areas
5.44 Importantly, the integrity of the Gàidhealtachd was raised by some respondents and these responses focused on the issue of people from outside, moving to the area and beginning to affect the language composition of the local community.
"The Gàidhealtachd must not become a wasteland of holiday and retirement homes with no services, where there is little opportunity for the language to be used."
· Education
5.45 A number of points were also included about the need to improve the tools to learn the Gaelic language, such as creating a comprehensive English-Gaelic dictionary and including the language corpus in the national plan.
"(l)ack of a reasonably comprehensive English-to-Gaelic dictionary which, with the declining number of speakers, is seriously hampering the efforts of many learners to acquire the language and also limiting the amount of quality translation work that can be done."
"Reference to language corpus, one of the four main strands of the national plan, is almost entirely absent from the plan."
5.46 The need for better inspection of Gaelic schools was also mentioned.
"In regards to Gàidhlig schools, they must be subject to the same standards and inspection as any others."
· Bilingual signs
5.47 A number of responses dealt with the issue of bilingual signs. The experiences of other Celtic nations were quoted to provide evidence that bilingual sign provision is possible.
"Gaelic must have the same secure status as Welsh if it is to survive. We Gaelic speakers should be able to used Gaelic fully when registering business with Companies House, for example, we should be able to get bilingual tax forms, UK government websites and services should be available in Gaelic where they are also available in Welsh and we should be able to get bilingual Drivers Licences from the DVLA."
5.48 The quote below sums up the majority of views on the issue of bilingual signs in the area of public transport.
" This step is welcome; however it should extend to not only 'Fàilte gu Alba' signs, but also directional and information signs within airports, railway stations and ports as is the case in Wales and the Republic of Ireland."
5.6.2 Do you think that Gaelic language plans are an effective means to promote the Gaelic language?
5.49 While most respondents were confident that the plans set out in the consultation document were an effective means to promote the Gaelic language, there were a number of critical comments aimed at the perceived insufficient nature of the provisions set out in the Scottish Government's draft Gaelic Language Plan. The most frequent views have been listed below.
· Promoting the visibility of Gaelic
5.50 Many respondents agreed that making Gaelic more visible was of great importance to the future of the language and this is captured in the following responses:
"Visibility (with an increasing need for audibility as visibility grows) is an essential requirement to unblock the mainstreaming of Gaelic."
"This increased visibility is the key to increased acceptance, and pride and ownership, and then willingness to engage with Gaelic development among people in larger numbers that is vital to success in revitalising Gaelic."
· Facilitating access to Gaelic language materials online
5.51 It was mentioned in the responses that any examples of older literature in Gaelic (over 30 years old) should be made publicly available by publishing them online.
· Maintaining links with other Gaelic communities
5.52 The issue of maintaining connections with Gaelic speakers living in other countries was also raised. This has potential implications for the Scottish Government's actions aimed at engaging with the Scottish diaspora living outside Scotland.
"The GLP does not mention the thousands of Scottish Gaels who do not live in Scotland."
"If a language academy is set up, then it should try and "mine" the resources of the existing Gaelic language, right back to its roots in Old Irish. It should turn to Irish and Manx before borrowing from English."
"Better links should be maintained with the Nova Scotian Gàidhealtachd and the Gaelic communities in Ireland and the Isle of Man."
5.6.3 Do you think that Gaelic language plans are an effective means to secure the Gaelic language?
5.53 The quotes below provide a good indication of what most respondents thought with regards to this question:
"On their own they are not an effective means"
"They have the potential to be effective, but whether they will be depends on the plans that are produced and how well they are implemented (…)"
It was mentioned by one respondent that the effectiveness would depend on two factors: 1) sufficient visibility and 2) development of opportunities for the use of Gaelic in all walks of life.
5.6.4 Are there any benefits from the promotion of the language that you feel have not been covered and would like included in our Plan?
5.54 As can be seen from the responses presented below, many benefits related to the promotion of the language were identified by respondents. Most importantly, these included two types of benefits - those related to national identity and those related to individuals' overall development.
· Benefits to national identity:
5.55 Respondents emphasised how the promotion of Gaelic could strengthen the Scottish national identity, which in turn could bring in more revenue from tourism to the country, especially the Highland and Island communities.
"The contribution which Gaelic can make to establishing a distinctive and internationally-distinctive Scottish national identity and "brand" should be given far clearer recognition."
"I feel (as the owner of a tourism business) that promotion of Gaelic could bring huge benefits in promoting Scotland's identity to visitors."
"Chances are there are huge potential economic benefits in different sectors from boosts to tourism and heritage activities, to added impetus to the creative industries such as television, arts, entertainment, to linguistic abilities, to raised attainment among young people through the benefits of bilingualism, to raising the profile of Scotland abroad, to helping sustain the Highlands and Island economies."
· Benefits to individuals
5.56 Learning a foreign language was seen by respondents to be beneficial to the overall development of a person, but learning Gaelic was noted to have the additional advantage of strengthening the awareness of Scotland's heritage and cultural diversity.
"The point should be made that the philosophy of learning another language is that it can broaden and deepen people and in the case of Gaelic also supports the cultural diversity and heritage of Scotland."
"The promotion of language and culture are to everyone's benefit and it is important that the experience of different agencies and approaches across the wide range of circumstances can be shared and we would like to see further suggestions to help and support this."
· The Gaelic langue and those with hearing impairments
5.57 The Gaelic plan will affect many groups of people. Those with hearing impairments are one such group and respondents from this group felt that there was a need to provide subtitles in Gaelic.
"Deaf people can also learn the written language and use the Internet, but if a deaf person wanted to watch television, they would be forced to read English subtitles, as very few if any, programmes have Scottish Gaelic subtitles."
5.6.5 Other general comments
5.58 Many respondents also contributed unprompted general comments on the consultation document. The main themes from these comments here have been grouped below.
· The perceived negative attitude towards Gaelic amongst those working in the public sector in Scotland
5.59 Many respondents felt that prejudice against Gaelic exists in public institutions in Scotland and below are some quotes to illustrate the views expressed by those who replied to the consultation.
"This is the refusal in the plan to given a firm commitment to comprehensive and early implementation of bilingual road signage. It is disappointing in the extreme that the Government should continue to indulge arguments which were correctly described in 2002 by Councillor Michael Foxley as amounting to "institutionalised racism"".
"People who work within national level public institutions in Scotland may regard this attitude as acceptable".
"Put another way, public employees do not have to learn a second language in school or elsewhere in order to do their job but I have to be educated in their language when it is not my own".
"Regardless of their nationality as individuals, while the staff of national level public institutions are not required to gain even the merest conversational ability in Gaelic language, Gaelic speakers will continue to conduct telephone calls in English or write e-mails in English, as I do here. I feel unwelcome as a Gaelic speaker and, in my linguistic Scottishness, I feel an imposition".
· Lack of measurable targets associated with the plan
5.60 Again, the vague nature of the monitoring of the plan was raised by some respondents.
"One general worry is that the lack of measurable targets for implementation throughout much of the plan will result in far less action than is actually needed to deliver on revitalisation in the long term".
· Lack of resources to fully implement the plan
5.61 Some respondents mentioned that the full implementation of the national plan would have serious implications for the budgets of the organisations concerned.
"Whilst we acknowledge the Draft Gaelic Language Plan and welcome the opportunity to improve and expand on the existing services which we provide to Gaelic customers, we would highlight concerns regarding the cost of any additional requirements on [the organisation] as presently we do not have specific funding to implement such changes"
· The diversity of Gaelic speakers
5.62 Importantly, it was mentioned that the stereotype of a Gaelic speaker may not be applicable to the reality and that the Government should recognise the diversity of backgrounds that characterise Gaelic speakers today.
"Another issue is that the language is often portrayed as belonging only to white Scots or more specifically white Highlanders or white Hebrideans. In actual fact, it should be seen as belonging to everyone, especially as people from many different backgrounds can and do take an interest in it. For example, the Tollcross GME unit in Edinburgh has taught children of various different ethnic origins…. Yet it seems that the language is both constantly excluded from diversity programmes and also marketed in the way described above."
· Promoting Gaelic in areas where its use is minimal
5.63 One respondent from Caithness pointed out that "(…) it is wrong that we should be portrayed as being a Gaelic speaking community to tourists. We never were and we never will be". She proposed that some of the Gaelic funding be made available to support the local dialects, reflecting the true diversity of Scotland's languages and cultures, rather than painting a "'chocolate box' image of a Gaelic Scotland".
Culture, External Affairs and Tourism Analytical Unit (Wojciech Hupert)
Scottish Government
21 July 2009
Appendix A -Breakdown of responses
It is important to note that not all respondents filled out the monitoring forms, therefore the information listed below is incomplete and can only serve as an rough estimate of the characteristics of those who submitted their responses to the consultation document. Furthermore, some individuals have not completed all the sections of the monitoring forms, which explains why the numbers below do not necessarily add up.
Responding as individuals: 22
organisations: 27
Individuals agreeing to have their response made available to the public: 14
Of those agreeing to have their response made available to the public:
1 agreed to have their response, name and address made available
3 agreed to make their response, but not name and address made available
12 agreed to make their response and name available but not the address
Not agreeing to have their response made available to the public: 0
For those representing the organisation 15 agreed to have the name and address of their organisation made available to the public.
26 Respondents agreed to be contacted again in relation to the consultation response.
Equal Opportunities Monitoring:
Sex
Male: 9
Female: 3
Age
Under 16 0
16 to 24 2
25 to 34 3
35 to 49 3
50 to 59 3
60 to 74 1
75 and over 0
Long-term illness or disability?
Yes 2
No 9
Cultural or ethnic background?
White 2
Scottish 9
British 1