Gaelic, Scottish
PrintA language of United Kingdom
ISO 639-3
Alternate Names
Gaelic, Gàidhlig, Scots Gaelic
Population
58,700 in United Kingdom (2003 census). Population total all countries: 63,130.
Location
Northern Scotland, north and central Ross and Cromarty County; islands of Hebrides and Skye; Glasgow. Also in Australia, Canada, United States.
Language Maps
Language Status
4 (Educational).
Classification
Dialects
The Gaelic of the Bible is based on Perthshire dialect of 1801, somewhat distant from today’s spoken dialects.
Typology
VSO
Language Use
Resurgence of interest in Scottish Gaelic in 1990s. A number of children learn the language but there are serious problems in language maintenance even in the core areas (2007). Home, church, community.
Language Development
Literacy rate in L1: 50% (1971 census). In bilingual areas Gaelic usually is the language of instruction for most primary subjects. Taught in primary schools. Gaelic secondary schools. Magazines. Newspapers. New media. Radio programs. Bible: 1801–1992.
Language Resources
Writing
Latin script.
Status rising since the establishment of Scots Parliament in 1990s.