Minority Languages

Gaelic in Contemporary Scotland: contradictions, challenges and strategies

by Wilson McLeod

Foghlam tro mheadhan na Gàidhlig anns a’ cho-theacsa eadar-nàiseanta

by Wilson McLeod

El gaèlic a l’Escòcia contemporània: contradiccions, reptes i estratègies

by Wilson McLeod

Des de mitjans de la dècada dels 70, els esforços per preservar i revitalitzar el gaèlic a Escòcia han anat adquirint... more Des de mitjans de la dècada dels 70, els esforços per preservar i revitalitzar el gaèlic a Escòcia han anat adquirint nous impulsos i importància, a pesarque la llengua ha continuat disminuint des del punt de vista demogràfic. Els recursos públics i institucionals per a conservar el gaèlic, en particular en el camp de l’educació i dels mitjans de comunicació audiovisual, han augmentat de manera considerable en els últims anys, de manera que el gaèlic es considera cada vegada més un aspecte fonamental de la ja característica cultura escocesa i, com a tal, es relaciona (més indirectament que directament) amb el moviment per l’autonomia escocesa. Aquest nou reconeixement del gaèlic ha sigut consagrat en una llei anomenada Gaelic Language Act (Llei del gaèlic) (Escòcia) 2005, que atorga al gaèlic categoria oficial per primera vegada. Aquesta Llei també ha fundat un consell del gaèlic, Bòrd na Gàidhlig, amb capacitat per a emprendre una planificació lingüística nacional per al gaèlic. El descens progressiu del nombre de parlants i de l’ús de la llengua indica que la política duta a terme fins ara per a preservar i promoure el gaèlic no ha sigut adequada; el que fa que es necessiten urgentment estratègies que s’integren millor i siguen més contundents si es vol recuperar la llengua que l’anglès ha desplaçat.

Linguistic Duopoly: A Case of Mewati

by Prerna Bakshi

Considerable attention has been drawn recently towards the plight of immigrant languages or minority languages. Much... more Considerable attention has been drawn recently towards the plight of immigrant languages or minority languages. Much is being done to maintain these languages and to bring the issues surrounding them to the public eye. However, not much has been done on linguistic varieties labelled as 'dialects'. This study seeks to fill this gap by exploring the issues surrounding a language variety called Mewati.

This paper examines the status of Mewati in relation to the other dominant languages of Hindi and Urdu and attempts to explain how social institutions like local state run schools and madrasas contribute towards language shift. Additionally, the study explores the relationship between language, religion and identity and the politics thereof. It is recommended that school curriculums must make a room for Mewati if its maintenance is to be ensured. 

Scotland's Languages in Scotland's Parliament

by Wilson McLeod

This  1998  article  discusses  the  possible elements of a language policy for Scotland's... more This  1998  article  discusses  the  possible elements of a language policy for Scotland's Parliament, considering ways in which Scotland's  languages,  autochthonous  and  immigrant, can  reasonably but meaningfully be put to use in its operation.

Playing and learning in another language: ensuring good quality early years education in a language revitalisation programme

by Wilson McLeod

Co-authored with Christine Stephen and Joanna McPake

Offering Gaelic medium preschool provision poses particular challenges as most children only encounter Gaelic in the... more Offering Gaelic medium preschool provision poses particular challenges as most children only encounter Gaelic in the playroom and live in a context heavily dominated by English. Nevertheless, expanding provision for early years education in Gaelic is an important part of ambitious plans to revitalise the language. In this paper we explore the challenges experienced by adults and children as they strive to provide good quality preschool education through the medium of Gaelic. Drawing on evidence from a review of Gaelic medium preschool education, we consider the difficulties experienced in developing a Gaelic-only immersion playroom, the need for specific resources and the perceived training needs of practitioners. We look at the issues which arise from the largely English language home learning environment and the specific pedagogical challenges experienced when supporting language learning and access to the national curriculum. Our analysis will be relevant to others working in similar culturallinguistic and political contexts across Europe.

Autochthonous minority languages in public-sector primary education: Bilingual policies and politics in Brittany and Scotland

by Wilson McLeod

Co-authored with Vaughan Rogers.

This paper examines the relationship between policy and politics in relation to the development of public- more This paper examines the relationship between policy and politics in relation to the development of public-
sector primary education through Breton and Gaelic, considering closely the patterns of power through
which such provision is delivered. Brittany and Scotland present many similarities as culturally distinctive
territories, contained within larger state-nations, which until recently allowed very little scope for minority
language education. Initiatives to develop public-sector education through Breton and Gaelic were finally
launched in the 1980s and have now became significantly institutionalised, even if they remain small in
scale. The dynamics of institutionalisation have been very different in the two territories, however: parallel
problems have been tackled in different ways, and issues that have proved fraught in one have presented
few complications in the other. Both case studies demonstrate the importance of ‘bottom-up’ dynamics as a
source of innovative energy.

Linguistic Pan-Gaelicism: A Dog that Wouldn't Hunt

by Wilson McLeod

Although 'pan-Gaelic' rhetoric has been a recurring theme in language movements in Ireland and Scotland since the late... more Although 'pan-Gaelic' rhetoric has been a recurring theme in language movements in Ireland and Scotland since the late nineteenth century, there have been no significant efforts to bring Irish and Scottish Gaelic closer together in linguistic terms. Instead, contact between the two speech communities has been relatively limited and intranational forms of linguistic nationalism have been dominant. This article analyses some of the key debates and decisions in corpus planning for Irish and Scottish Gaelic since the late nineteenth century, showing how potential opportunities to promote convergence were overlooked and how linguistic modernization has tended to increase the divergence between the two forms. Against this historical backdrop, the article considers the extent to which the promotion of linguistic convergence would have been a realistic goal and whether such efforts would have harmed broader language revitalization initiatives in Ireland and Scotland.

An overcoat wrapped around an invisible man? Language legislation and language revitalisation in Ireland and Scotland

by Wilson McLeod

Co-authored with John Walsh.

New legislation in Ireland and Scotland is expected to stimulate a
significant increase in the provision of... more New legislation in Ireland and Scotland is expected to stimulate a
significant increase in the provision of public services in Irish and Gaelic in coming
years. This article considers the implications of these enactments for language
revitalisation, by examining the measures which public bodies are expected to
implement in order to increase their bilingual service provision. Drawing on Strubell’s
‘Catherine Wheel’ language planning framework, it identifies weaknesses in
the measures and suggests way of overcoming them. It is argued that, for this
legislation to have a significant linguistic impact, careful strategies are needed to
equip speakers of Irish and Gaelic to use their languages in relation to public
services, given the dominance of English in these domains. In particular, strategies
are needed to recruit and deploy bilingual staff in an effective manner. Without
careful planning, there is a risk that these enactments will not bring about meaningful
changes in language practice and may become largely symbolic rather than
functional.

Adult Gaelic Learning in Scotland: Opportunities, Motivations and Challenges

by Wilson McLeod

Co-authored with Alasdair MacCaluim and Irene Pollock.

This report seeks to provide (1) an audit of adult Gaelic learning opportunities in Scotland and (2) clarity on... more This report seeks to provide (1) an audit of adult Gaelic learning opportunities in Scotland and (2) clarity on requirements to establish an effective national system of Gaelic adult education for Scotland.

SECURING THE STATUS OF GAELIC? Implementing the Gaelic Language Act

by Wilson McLeod

The State of the 'Gaelic Economy': A Research Report

by Wilson McLeod

This study builds on earlier research on the emerging ‘Gaelic economy’ in Scotland, assessing the range of jobs in... more This study builds on earlier research on the emerging ‘Gaelic economy’ in Scotland, assessing the range of jobs in Scotland designated as ‘Gaelic essential’ or ‘Gaelic desirable’ that were
advertised in three key newspapers during the period 1 January 2000 to 30 June 2001. This report also looks more generally at the position of Gaelic within the overall regional economy of Skye and the Western Isles, seeking to determine the extent to which a bilingual economy exists in Scotland’s most strongly Gaelic-speaking areas.

The report concludes that Gaelic remains excluded from the mainstream and has made only limited inroads into the strategic thinking of employers. Only a small proportion of jobs are designated as Gaelic-essential or Gaelic-desirable, and almost all of these are within publicly funded organisations of one kind or another; Gaelic has almost no role at all in the for-profit commercial sector. This pattern of inattention and neglect is seriously damaging to the
language’s prospects, and merits close attention from government and Gaelic agencies.

Young children and Gaelic: a language policy perspective

by Wilson McLeod

Reflections on current practices in Gaelic-medium preschools in Scotland and the further developments needed to ensure... more Reflections on current practices in Gaelic-medium preschools in Scotland and the further developments needed to ensure that children attending Gaelic-medium settings have high quality
preschool and Gaelic language learning experiences.

Young children learning in Gaelic: investigating children's learning experiences in Gaelic-medium preschool

by Wilson McLeod

Co-authored with Christine Stephen and Joanna McPake.

Gaelic-medium (GM) education is an important part of current efforts to revitalise the language in Scotland. Beginning... more Gaelic-medium (GM) education is an important part of current efforts to revitalise the language in Scotland. Beginning Gaelic-medium education in preschool is seen as a crucial entry point, enhancing the numbers entering GM primary education and facilitating transition to the school learning environment. However, it is essential that GM preschool is of high quality. Government-funded provision is expected to offer children the same learning
opportunities as their peers who attend English-medium
settings. Meeting these expectations is challenging because most children enter Gaelic-medium preschool from English-speaking homes so that the nursery or playgroup is their only exposure to Gaelic. Our earlier study mapped the range and extent of Gaelic-medium early education and childcare provision but in the research
reported here our focus was on what happens within settings, the children’s activities in the playroom and the ways in which practitioners help them to learn Gaelic, as well as ensuring that national expectations about curriculum and learning outcomes are met.

Gaelic in the New Scotland: Politics, rhetoric and public discourse

by Wilson McLeod

Official status for Gaelic: Prospects and problems

by Wilson McLeod

Language planning as regional development? The growth of the Gaelic economy

by Wilson McLeod

American Sign Language video comprehension testing in the Ethiopian Deaf community

by Linda Jordan

Co-authored with Jillian Netzley. Published online as part of SIL's Electronic Survey Reports (SILESR) series.

The main purpose of this research was to determine whether the Deaf of Ethiopia could understand and use literature... more The main purpose of this research was to determine whether the Deaf of Ethiopia could understand and use literature videotaped in American Sign Language (ASL), which is related to Ethiopian Sign Language (ESL). This was investigated by means of a Video Recorded Text Test (VRTT) using both translated scripture and original literature in ASL. The results show quite low comprehension of the videotaped material by Ethiopian test subjects. Further research will be needed to investigate dialect differences among signers of ESL.

Breton Graphic Design and the struggle against linguistic hegemony in the French Republic from Ar Seiz Breur to the present.

by Bharain Mac an Bhreithiún

Article in Contemporary French Civilization (journal).

The Domari language of Aleppo (Syria)

by Bruno Herin

Linguistic Discovery 10.2 (Forthcoming).

The goal of this paper is to shed light on an under-described variety of Domari, a very scarcely documented Indo-Aryan... more The goal of this paper is to shed light on an under-described variety of Domari, a very scarcely documented Indo-Aryan language spoken by the Dōm, who are often referred to as “the Middle-Eastern Gypsies”. Described as an archaic Indo-Aryan language, Domari is known to the scholarly community from a limited number of word lists dating back to the 19th century and two partial descriptions based on the almost extinct dialect of Jerusalem. Apart from these sources, no reliable data are available about other varieties. The data presented in this paper come from an original field-work carried out in 2009 and 2010 amongst the Dōm community in the city of Aleppo in Northern Syria and are an important contribution to our knowledge of one of the very few old diasporic Indic languages spoken outside the Indian subcontinent.