Re: Good news for Gaelic


"The Highlander" <micheil@xxxxxxx> wrote in message
news:b1jfe215uua7uj84494kielk3jrvs64s0q@xxxxxxxxxx
On 19 Aug 2006 01:13:10 -0700, "Ian" <ian.groups@xxxxxxxxxxxxxx>
wrote:


Craig Cockburn wrote:
In message <1155913911.851392.212730@xxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxx>, Ian
<ian.groups@xxxxxxxxxxxxxx> writes

Craig Cockburn wrote:

http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/scotland/highlands_and_islands/5259420.stm

This year 154 pupils sat Higher Gaelic (learners) and 124 took
Gàidhlig (native speakers).

27,004 pupils sat Higher English: that's 175 and 217 times as many as
took either Gaelic exam. That means that Gaelic had in total 1.03% as
many exam entries at this as English, which contrasts interestingly
with the 1.2 - 1.4% of the population who claim some knowledge of the
language.

I didn't realise the Gaelic native speakers exam was mandatory for
those
in GME.

It's not, obviously. But the number of native gaelic speakers taking
the exam (in real gaelic schools, not pretendy ones for th eurban
middle classes) is one indication of the enthisiam with which children
view their native tongue.

Certainly I became fluent in Gaelic before I sat the learners exam (and
it was optional)

Well good for you. It would be interesting to know just how many
entries to higher Gàidhlig were from native speakers in schools and
how many were adult learners. The figure I heard a couple of years ago
was 14 entries from schools - if that really is or was the case, then
the language is dead.

Not that I'd celebrate that - it would be a great shame, but it does
bring into question the wisdom of pumping huge amounts of public money
into stuffing and mounting it.

Ian

I couln't agree more. Why not just scrap Gaelic and the Scots Leid,
Scots Law and the Kirk, abandon all the Highland symbols like tartan,
bagpipes and kilts and face up to the fact that Scotland is just
another English county, thanks to those Scots who stayed home and
pissed a country and its culture away.

That's quite funny you blaiming the Scots who STAYED at home on the decline
and naming the ones who left as heros! The ones that left vetoed their say
in the future of Scotland because they - well left!! Hmmm now I wonder
which one of the two you are...


..



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