Scots and Gaelic
The final item of business today is a members' business debate on motion S1M-1111, in the name of Irene McGugan, on the programme of action for Scots and Gaelic in the European year of languages. The debate will be concluded without any question being put after 30 minutes.
Motion debated,
That the Parliament notes that 2001 is to be the European Year of Languages; notes that European Union funding support will extend to projects including regional and minority languages which member states designate as eligible; urges the Scottish Executive to make representations on behalf of Scots and Gaelic to Her Majesty's Government in order to ensure that Scotland's indigenous languages are proposed for inclusion, and believes that the Executive should support a programme of action for both languages as part of the European Year of Languages.
At the Pairliament taks tent at 2001 is ti be the European Year o Leids; taks tent at siller fae the European Union wull rax the lenth o projecks for regional an minoritie leids at memmer states allous as eligible; asks the Scottish Executive ti mak representations on behauf o Scots and Gaelic, til Her Maijestie's Guivernment for ti mak shuir at Scotland's hame leids is proponed for inclusion, an trowes at the Executive shuid gie a heize ti baith leids as pairt o the European Year o Leids.
Gun toir a' Phàrlamaid an aire gur e Bliadhna Eòrpach nan Cànain a bhios ann an 2001; gun toir i an aire gum faodar taic-airgid an Aonaidh Eòrpaich a bhuileachadh air pròiseactan a ghabhas a-steach mion-chànainean is cànainean roinneil a tha air an sònrachadh le Stàitean a tha 'nam ball; gun iarr i air Riaghaltas na h-Albann tagradh a dhèanamh do Riaghaltas na Rìoghachd as leth na h-Albais agus na Gàidhlig a dhèanamh cinnteach gun tairgear cànainean dùthchasach na h-Albann le Riaghaltas na Rìoghachd airson taic-airgid an Aonaidh Eòrpaich agus gun cuir Riaghaltas na h-Albann, mar phàirt de Bhliadhna Eòrpach nan Cànain, a làn-thaic ri prògram gnìomha airson an dà chànain.
I will start by declaring an interest, in that I am the very recently appointed preses of the Scots Leid Associe.
The first part of the motion calls on the Executive to ensure that Scots and Gaelic are eligible for inclusion in the European year of languages. I can confirm that they are. I would have been prepared to give credit where it was due, if their inclusion had been the result of vigorous lobbying by the Executive, as the motion urges the Executive to do. However, that was not the case. The Department of Education and Employment in London decided to adopt an inclusive approach and to include all languages, so Scotland's minority languages are eligible only by default.
The European year of languages is a joint initiative by the Council of Europe and the European Union, with further support from the United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organisation. It involves more than 40 countries across Europe, many of which—in particular Iceland, Luxembourg and Portugal—are making detailed plans. The twin slogans are "Languages for Life" and "Languages Open Doors".
On one level, the benefits to Scots and Gaelic from the programme could be considered small. Minority languages will be bidding against the bigger languages, which have better resources. The process will be extremely bureaucratic and there is a small budget—an estimated £200,000 in total for the United Kingdom. It is probable that only 10 projects across the UK can be supported. The Centre for Information on Language Teaching and Research in England will co-ordinate the programme and act as a filter for project applications, and I understand that it intends to bid in its own right for a project.
Despite the programme's bureaucracy and limited budget, I anticipate that the European year of languages will be a success in Europe, but for the smaller languages and their communities to gain, we must have some help. At the very least, the initiative gives the Scottish Executive an opportunity to highlight the languages and to kick-start a programme of support.
The motion and the European year of languages give Scots and Gaelic equal treatment. Although the status and needs of the two languages are very different, they are equally important as bedrocks for many kinds of cultural expression.
The Irish, by promoting their culture, have demonstrated clearly the link between cultural tourism and inward investment and economic growth. Investment in action to promote Scots and Gaelic would undoubtedly fortify and enhance approaches to overseas companies and organisations and make our Scottish goods and services more attractive worldwide. Ishbel MacAskill, the well-known Gaelic singer says:
"We would be mad not to take advantage of this immensely valuable marketing tool".
It is wonderful to have the Deputy Minister for Highlands and Islands and Gaelic here to respond—in his own language, I believe—but where is the minister for Scots? We now have a Gaelic officer for the Scottish Parliament, which is tremendous, but when will we have a Scots officer for the Parliament? Despite assurances of support, the Executive has failed to give proper support to the Gaelic language and has given even less to Scots. We have not forgotten the promises that were made after the census debate.
In June last year, the minister stated publicly that secure status was top of the agenda for the Executive and that legislation to achieve that would be put on the fast track. Earlier this week, we learned from the First Minister that legislation has in fact been fast tracked off the agenda. That is shameful. My colleague Mike Russell has a great deal more to say on that matter.
Really.
It is something to look forward to.
Indeed.
In relation to Scots, there is a loss of confidence as a result of lack of official and public use and a loss of its vocabulary and distinctive grammar due to lack of teaching. I count myself as a casualty of that. Yet most of us in lowland Scotland are not far away from the language, in the sense that most adults can still tell the difference between effective and authentic Scots and haivers, and can enjoy the work of Burns and other Scots authors with a directness of appreciation due to the fact that we have heard or may still speak the language ourselves.
There is an issue of prejudice, which needs to be overcome. Often Scots is considered as neither proper nor correct and, in consequence, as less worthy. Such prejudice could be overcome to a large extent if the Scottish Parliament set a positive example. Public signage in Scots and recognition of Scots as an official language alongside English and Gaelic would help greatly.
Education is the key. There must be better opportunities for children to access their languages and to get a firmer grasp of Scottish history. Those elements should be integral to the curriculum and should permeate all subject areas. Among the Scottish teaching profession there are many enthusiasts for Scots and many with a substantial knowledge of Scots, but we do not use them to best effect because we do not make available professional development and a meaningful role based on what they know and could teach.
The study of Scots language and literature is now beginning to be undertaken at the end of the school curriculum, which is good. However, it is a modest start, which lacks educational logic in being built on nothing substantial in prior study. It makes Scots an academic afterthought to an education entirely airted at English; something to be howked up from a dictionary and painfully reconstructed, on a par with texts in Anglo-Saxon or Old French. Basic Scots is the birthright of everyone in Scotland and should be present from early school.
I was most impressed to learn that the BA course in Scottish music at the Royal Scottish Academy of Music and Drama teaches both indigenous languages, and all students sing in Scots, Gaelic and English.
There is a body of opinion that holds that discrimination against speakers of a language is in breach of international protocols, namely the International Covenant on Civil and Political Rights, the Universal Declaration of the Collective Rights of Peoples and the Oslo recommendations regarding the linguistic rights of national minorities. How embarrassing it would be for the Executive to defend its action or inaction in international courts during the European year of languages.
We need to use the opportunity that will be afforded by the year of languages to set out a programme of action, not only for next year, but on an on-going basis. The Executive must be proactive. There are plenty of language enthusiasts in all parts of Scotland who would be more than willing to help out.
As the newly published cultural strategy supports the languages, this would be a fine chance for the Executive to put its money where its glossy documents are. Let us have constructive policy development and affordable measures for both languages. Let us see the intelligent beginnings to an official support system and priorities on immediate need to ensure that Scots and Gaelic are transmitted to the next generation. Political direction lies with the Executive, where the responsibility for action also lies.
It fair behoves us ain an a tae gie muckle steer tae this Pairlement tae mak shair baith oor hame leids are gien a heize in the year o Leids in 2001.
That wis a braw wee speech, Maistress McGugan. An we wish ye weel as the newly eleckit preses o the Scots Leid Associe.
As 13 members have asked to speak and we are 90 minutes ahead of when we would normally start our members' business, I am exceptionally minded to entertain a motion to extend business by up to 30 minutes.
Motion moved,
That the meeting be extended by 30 minutes.—[Mr Russell.]
Motion agreed to.
We have up to an extra 30 minutes; if members can keep to three-minute speeches, we can get everyone in.
If we take away people's language, we take away their voice. Not so long ago, children were punished for using their mither tongue. Bairns spoke their mither tongue, but when they went to school, they were not allowed to speak it. Indeed, many of us have grown up being told that our mither tongue was either slang or unacceptable.
There were no role models speaking Scots; in fact, Scots on television or radio was often met with ridicule and shame. I remember my granny—who was, and still is, a Glaswegian—saying of someone being interviewed on Argyle Street, "Listen to her. Who does she think she is? Does that no sound terrible?"
I am happy that things are changing. Scots is the language of Burns and Fergusson. It is alive in our songs, tradition and literature, and in our communities the length and breadth of Scotland. I am pleased to hear that there is a growing trend of encouraging the use of Scots in our schools.
I also welcome the work that is happening in our communities, because communities cannot find their voice unless they feel confident to stand up and say what is important to them without feeling the need to use someone else's language. In promoting and encouraging active citizenship, we should encourage people to use their own language. Furthermore, it is important to support the agencies that are involved in working at community level.
The European year of languages is important but it provides only a small amount of money that will fund a good party or one or two projects. I am not trying to undermine those projects, but we all believe that more than that is needed. We must continue the work of Scots, and celebrate and promote our language. I am pleased that the cultural strategy recognises the importance of Scots and our indigenous languages, and look forward to the day when the folk of Scotland can stand up and feel confident and proud to use their mither tongue.
I agree with Irene McGugan—as a lallans Scots, I want to come into the Parliament and see Scots signage. If people see their Scots language written, they will start to believe that it is their language and that they have every right to use it.
I thank Irene for today's debate, and look forward to strengthening our indigenous languages in many more debates in the Parliament.
I welcome the debate and the opportunity once again to pledge Scottish Conservatives' support for Gaelic and to urge the Scottish Executive to do all that it can to ensure that the Gaelic and Scots languages really benefit from the extra funding from Europe. That funding must be seen as a bonus to existing funding. We must take advantage of the European year of languages.
I have never doubted Alasdair Morrison's commitment to Gaelic. Indeed, the Scottish Parliament information centre's research note of 2 March states that, shortly after his appointment, the Deputy Minister for Highlands and Islands and Gaelic said that secure status for Gaelic was the Executive's main priority. I was a little surprised, therefore, to read in The Scotsman yesterday that our First Minister refutes that statement and does not appear to want that status at all. Perhaps the minister can clear up the confusion for the benefit of the chamber and the 70,000 Scottish Gaelic speakers, many of whom live in his constituency. I am sure that he will be asked to clear up the matter when he attends tomorrow's Gaelic conference in Nairn.
Recently, I visited Sabhal Mòr Ostaig, the excellent Gaelic college in Skye whose extension was opened by our party's chief whip, Lord James Douglas-Hamilton. That establishment offers teacher training to Gaelic teachers. Along with Lews Castle College in Lewis, it forms the nucleus of higher Gaelic education. Both establishments are essential parts of the new University of the Highlands and Islands, which was started by Michael Forsyth.
On 7 February, the Deputy Minister for Children and Education acknowledged the need to increase the number of Gaelic-medium teachers by 150 in the next seven years. I ask Alasdair Morrison to reaffirm that commitment and to give as much support as possible to giving parents the choice to educate their children in the Gaelic medium if they so wish.
Education is the key to sustaining the impetus that has been on-going for nearly 20 years. In the Basque country, teachers are taken out of schools and coached in the Basque language until they become fluent. That could be done in Scotland with Gaelic.
We are still awaiting an announcement on a fast-track teaching solution for Gaelic. That is in the pipeline and I urge the Executive to back it up when the Gaelic playgroups association eventually produces it. I urge the Executive to increase funding for local authorities to enable them to employ more nursery nurses and pre-school staff who can run Gaelic nurseries, thus ensuring that children can enter school fluent in the language. I urge the Executive also to continue to support Gaelic broadcasting and the much-mentioned Gaelic unit in Tollcross Primary School. That would be a sign of the confidence of our capital city in our Highland heritage.
At the outset, I must say that I am disappointed that the Scottish Parliament, and particularly the Executive, has not seen fit to achieve secure status for the Gaelic language. After the announcements last year in Portree, it was expected that secure status would be with us in a short time. I am disappointed at the comments this week that make it appear that that is not likely.
However, next year is the European year of languages and I am delighted to participate in the debate. I congratulate Irene McGugan on bringing an important issue to the attention of the Scottish Parliament. I hope that, as a result, minority languages will be given the support and resources of which they have been deprived.
I do not need to tell anyone here that many minority and lesser-used languages exist in the member states of Europe. They have survived the difficulties of war and oppression simply because of the will and determination of the minorities who cherish them. We in Scotland are equally determined to protect our language and culture and are justly proud of them. We will endeavour at all times to promote, sustain and retain our languages for the benefit of generations to come.
I do not need to tell anyone here that my mother tongue is Gaelic—
If you wish to speak Gaelic, simultaneous translation facilities have been arranged.
I think that the occasion would be better served by my continuing to speak in English, although I welcome the opportunity to use Gaelic. I will say something on that later on.
When I went to school, I learned English. It is remarkable that I was not belted for learning Gaelic but I was belted for not learning English. I had the best of both worlds, because I had a Gaelic-speaking teacher. I was quite fortunate.
I am delighted that our Scottish Parliament has again agreed to use Gaelic in the chamber, and I hope that, in the months and years ahead, many more members will take advantage of that opportunity.
I acknowledge the support for and advances made in Gaelic over the past 20 years. I have been involved in promoting the Gaelic language and culture and, from small beginnings, we have achieved quite a lot—in fact, it has been quite remarkable. That includes advances in broadcasting, teaching, music and cultural events, festivals and fèisean, to mention just a few areas.
Last Saturday, I attended a festival at Eden Court Theatre in Inverness. Young people from all over Britain who had won linguistic and musical events in their areas were there. We were told that the competition had started out with 1 million participants, stretching from Devon and Cornwall on the south coast, through Wales, taking in Ireland, Northern Ireland and Scotland, to the northern isles. The event at Eden Court was marvellous, and demonstrated the close co-operation that exists between peoples and communities through language, music and culture.
We must keep up the good fight to sustain and promote the language and culture that we all appreciate and enjoy so much. I suggest that we support Irene McGugan in her noble attempt to encourage the Scottish Executive to support a programme of action for Scotland's indigenous languages as part of the European year of languages.
As Cathy Peattie said, language is a precious thing. We have watched our country treating our two languages with utter contumely. However, it is not too late in my opinion, and we have heard from Jamie McGrigor about some of the improvements that have been made. I am glad to welcome what Irene McGugan said, and her new appointment.
My grandparents spoke only Scots, and my mother and father spoke it when they did not want us to know what they were saying—so they thought. We kept quiet, because we knew perfectly well, and we wanted to hear what they were saying.
Having that double tongue was something that went with me without my full realisation until I attended a play in Scots at the Citizens' Theatre as a teenager, and I found out that my fellow classmates did not understand it, whereas I did. I experienced a delight at knowing that I had two tongues. I had accepted it as part of life, with Scots phrases and words jumbled in.
The first time that I spoke at the House of Commons, I had to prune my language of Scots words. If someone used a Scots word, it produced a totally bewildered look around the place, for example when I used the word "swither". The members all stopped and said, "I don't understand." I wondered what the English word for "swither" was, and they shouted, "prevaricate" and "hesitate". Neither of those words is exactly the same as "swither". After analysing it, I found that the word is untranslatable into English except by the phrase "hesitating between two courses of action". That illustrates part of the strange experience of speaking Scots.
Scots, as has already been said, is the language of many kids in the playground. I instance the example given by a Dundee poet whom I met at a Burns supper in Luxembourg. He got an appointment as a roving teacher of Scots in the Borders. He told the tale about a little boy who said to him, "Please, sir, does oor real teacher ken whit you're daein?" In a way, that highlights what I am saying about the confusion over the two tongues. It is very good that we are trying to sort out that confusion.
We have a vast amount of literature, culture and songs in Scots, and we have the same from the Gaelic. Scots is one of the Germanic family of languages, but Gaelic is very difficult to learn. I speak with some feeling: even though I recently spent a week at Sabhal Mòr Ostaig, along with Fergus—in class 3—I am still finding conversation difficult, although I can read and write the language. But what a treasure trove of culture the Gaelic language offers us—the music, the songs and the history.
I was disappointed and shocked to read in yesterday's edition of The Scotsman that Labour's manifesto promise has been broken. I did not like the First Minister's arguments—at least, the arguments that were attributed to him. He said:
"We do not want to go down the Welsh road and end up with a situation where public bodies in Scotland would have legal obligations to conduct their business in Gaelic"
and to have bilingual road signs. Why on earth can we not have bilingual road signs? Tourists love them, as they make them feel that they are in a distinct country. There will be no complaints from tourists about bilingual road signs. Is not it also a bit fanciful and childish to suggest that East Ayrshire Council will suddenly want to conduct its debates in Gaelic? That is extremely unlikely.
I say to the First Minister, by way of reassurance, that, in the European Union, the Irish language has a semi-official status and that causes no one any difficulty, as it is used with decency and reasonableness. If Irish members want to speak in Irish, they can do so. They give notice, so that there can be proper interpretation—they do not abuse that right. If they want any European document to be translated into Irish, they can have it translated. If a "reasonable demand" was made by the locals for education in a certain language to be made available—as it was referred to in the SNP amendment 34 to the Standards in Scotland's Schools etc Bill, which was wrongly disagreed to by the Lib-Lab Government coalition—I do not imagine that a lack of reasonableness would break out in East Ayrshire.
We need positive discrimination. Although there is active support for the Welsh language, it is still up against the most dominant language in the world: English. English is so dominant that almost everybody in the European Union speaks it, along with two or three other languages. We must recognise that there should be positive nurturing to ensure the secure status for languages that we were promised, and the demands of parents must be met.
I congratulate Irene McGugan on securing the debate; I agree with the sentiments in her motion. Having our native languages included in those European projects would give them a great boost.
Although funding has been invested in the Gaelic language, there is always the need for more—for example, to provide education not only for young people but for parents in the areas where Gaelic has skipped a generation. Not many people have been as lucky as John Farquhar Munro in having a teacher who spoke Gaelic. Winnie Ewing mentioned the ploy that was used by her parents of speaking the Scots language when they were trying to keep a secret from her. Imagine the plight of the parents when the children reverse the roles and speak Gaelic to keep secrets from them.
Our languages would benefit not only from the increased resources but from the increased status that European Union funding would bring. It would help promotion of the languages, by encouraging innovative projects. For example, we should encourage Scottish companies to greet callers in one of our native languages: that would raise awareness of our culture.
Many people want Gaelic and Scots to flourish, and it is essential that all the groups that want that to happen unite in a common cause. I urge the Executive to do all that it can to ensure that those languages are designated for European funding.
I congratulate Irene McGugan on securing this important debate and I endorse what has been said about the idea of cultural tourism. The involvement of music, dance and storytelling is hugely important, and that approach works. I add my tuppence to that argument.
I also make a slightly broader appeal. Whether or not Gaelic is underpinned by statute, I appeal against the use of a broad brush. The Scots that is spoken in Caithness is very different from the Scots that Irene McGugan might recognise, and includes words such as scorrie, meaning a seagull, and semmit, meaning a vest. Because of the Herculean efforts of a few individuals, that language survives and is promoted. It is not easy. By moral support at least—it would not cost much money—we should encourage that diversity.
That is equally true for Gaelic. The language map of Scotland is much more complicated than people think. As Mike Russell knows, Gaelic varies. Where I live, we have the last vestiges of Easter Ross Gaelic, including some words that are not recognised by the likes of John Farquhar Munro or by people who live in Skye. One example is the word tùchan, meaning a slight cough, which I have spoken about with John and with Alasdair Morrison. It is not classical Gaelic, but it is good old Balintore Gaelic.
Therefore, when we approach Gaelic and Scots, I appeal for a fine rather than a broad brush. Remember that our languages and the variations in them are Scotland's jewellery and that the diamond is multifaceted. I have talked about that to Rhona Brankin, and she and Alasdair Morrison have been more than receptive on the matter. It is desperately important to remember the variety and the danger of getting rid of it—it is like biodiversity; it risks damaging the fine detail of our culture.
I too would like to thank Irene McGugan for the debate. It is significant that she has been given a position in the Scots Leid Associe at this time. It is well timed, given that 2001 is to be the European year of languages, that we should have someone in such a distinguished position as a member of the Parliament. It will be even more significant during 2001.
It has been my pleasure to support Irene in the past. Unfortunately, I could not support her on the census order and I apologised to her at the time. I promised then that I would take the opportunity to speak again in support of what she is trying to do.
The motion states that the Parliament
"believes that the Executive should support a programme of action for both languages as part of the European Year of Languages."
The record of successive Governments on Gaelic is fairly good. We need not rest on that record—we need to do more work—but my concern is with Scots and how it is treated in relation to Gaelic and the other languages in Britain and western Europe. My concern particularly is the attitude held by a significant number of people in the Parliament, that there is no such language as Scots. When Irene McGugan was making her opening remarks, I heard a chirp coming from my left, where the First Minister was sitting at the time, suggesting that very thing.
Shame.
The member may say shame. I could not criticise that because my culture spokesman, Brian Monteith, might well say the same thing. That is probably one of the few similarities between the First Minister and Brian Monteith. At least, hearing that chirp in my ear, it was nice to have the First Minister back.
I am concerned that we do not make the mistake of treating Gaelic and Scots as two arms of the same policy. Gaelic is a clearly identifiable language. While I believe that there is a Scots language, I do not believe that it is necessarily a single language. A very different language is spoken in Glasgow from what I hear spoken in Buchan. There is more than one culture that needs to be preserved.
I wonder whether Alex Johnstone will reflect on the same difference in the English language. Perhaps he should go to Newcastle, then Aberdeen, Cornwall, Glasgow and Norwich. His argument is fallacious because in every language there are variations, but that does not make them different languages.
I am delighted to accept that, but we are talking about Scots, and what concerns me is that we might allow ourselves to lose something that is extremely important. The most important thing that we need to remember when we consider Scots during the European year of languages is that so much of our culture depends on that language being understood by our young people.
We have already heard at some length from Cathy Peattie about the cultural aspects of language. Others have touched on that, too. The Gaelic language is an essential element of retaining Gaelic culture; the Scots language is an essential element of retaining Scots culture, as it has existed for hundreds of years and continues to exist to this day. That is why I am delighted that the Deputy Minister for Culture and Sport is here, so that I can express to her my concern that unless during the year of languages we make an effort in this Parliament to ensure that the Scots language continues to exist to some degree with our young people throughout Scotland and not just in the pockets where it remains a traditional language that survives in the way that indigenous languages tend to survive in other places, we will, if we lose that language, ultimately lose our culture.
The ancient Egyptians were well able to write and put their culture on to the walls of the tombs that exist to this day. Unfortunately, there is no one who can enjoy that culture by living it and reading it. That is my concern—that the great written and singing culture that exists in Scotland, in spite of the fact that it is preserved in books, may ultimately die because there is no one to understand it.
I hope that we can take the opportunity to work together throughout 2001 to ensure that the Scots language is recognised and developed, and continues to be taught in our schools.
I can recall in infants 1 in Paisley grammar school, a very long time ago, the teacher pulling up a child who referred to "doing your wilkies". The teacher asked, "What is the correct word for ‘doing your wilkies?'" My mother was from Stornoway—she was an English-speaking Leodhasach with a smattering of Gaelic words—so eagerly I put my hand up and gave the only word that I knew. I am sure that Alasdair Morrison will correct my pronunciation afterwards—I said, "Caran a' mhuiltein." That was met by a kind of astonished, blank expression on the face of the teacher, who proceeded to search round the class for further elucidation. An Anglo child said, "Somersaults." That seemed to satisfy everybody, but I went home, much distressed, to get it all sorted out.
On reflection during the past 1,000 years, I have worked out that I was a stranger in my own country, as indeed was the child who had referred to "doing your wilkies". On the premise that the motion might go some small way to preventing anyone from feeling like a stranger in their own country, I have much pleasure in supporting it.
I would like to thank Irene McGugan for initiating this most interesting debate. I hope that the European year of languages will provide an opportunity for us to celebrate language in all its diversity in Scotland. We are extremely lucky to have so many languages and dialects that reflect the historical and cultural diversity of the Scottish people. We should celebrate that diversity and not treat it as a nuisance, as we often do.
Because of my historical and cultural background—I did caran a' mhuiltein and not wilkies—I believe that Gaelic should be nurtured. The Executive has a good record in its policies for Gaelic, delivered, for example, through education and support for Gaelic broadcasting. I get two kinds of letter about Gaelic—one demanding that we stop wasting money on it, the other haranguing me for not making Gaelic education compulsory over the whole country. I wish both sets of people would be more relaxed about Gaelic. Gaelic should be no threat to non-Gaelic speakers, who should be glad to learn a phrase or two. Kate MacLean and Cathy Craigie are busy practising hard for the cross-party Gaelic group's ceilidh on Wednesday night. I am anxious to see how they get on and whether they remember the coaching that I was giving them—I will not say where—last night.
We cannot ram Gaelic down people's throats: that is counter-productive and turns people away from the language. More than anything else, I want Scots people who are non-Gaelic speakers to come to Gaelic as a natural choice when they want to learn a second language. I want them to feel that it is part of their culture too. I would like the European year of languages to be used as an opportunity to make people from all over Scotland feel comfortable with their own native community tongue. That, of course, means Scots.
I want to say a word about the complexity of Scots. Scots is not one language, but neither is it simply a collection of dialects. It is more complicated than that. Robert Burns wrote in three languages, depending on the register in which he was writing. He used Scots English, Scots and Ayrshire dialect. To a certain extent, many of us do the same sort of thing, depending on who we are speaking to. Some of us use more Scots words than others. However, as Alex Johnstone pointed out, the very diversity of the dialects in Scotland is an obstacle to having an official language. Hugh MacDiarmid came up against that problem, and the poetry that he wrote was in a manufactured Scots, rather than a live language. If we want to have Scots translations in Parliament, we must go about that with great care.
There are two serious problems for Scots that we must address. The first is that much Scots vocabulary is being lost from the Scots English language that most of us speak. I would like Scots vocabulary to be reinforced through the primary school system. We must have Scots texts in primary school, rather than wait until secondary school as happens at the moment in many areas.
The second problem is that the dialects of various areas of Scotland are under pressure from the media, from the increased mobility of the population and sometimes, I am afraid to say, from pre-school education. In education we must be protective of a young child's language and not try to correct them so that they speak standard English. As Cathy Peattie said, we must ensure that those who speak a Scots dialect are proud of how they speak, not embarrassed by it.
In the summer I was in Shetland, where people are proud of their distinctive dialect and culture. They celebrate it much as people in the western isles celebrate their Gaelic culture. I would like all communities to celebrate their culture, but to welcome everybody else's.
I, too, congratulate Irene McGugan on securing this debate and on her appointment. I am sorry that I will speak solely in English today. There are a variety of reasons for that, not least the fact that I hoped not to be at this debate. That was not because I did not support it, but because I hoped to be on my way to Nairn for the Comunn na Gàidhlig dinner and for the congress that is taking place tomorrow. However, after reading the interview with the First Minister published in The Scotsman yesterday, I decided that I would not attend, so that no one could argue that the battering that the minister may get there tomorrow, despite the civility of his reception, is politically motivated. It will be the result of the justifiable and enormous anger that exists in the Gaelic community about the betrayal of an election promise—a promise that the Labour party and Labour Governments have made more than once to the Gaelic community and that has still not been honoured.
I want to say one thing about Scots. Today we have heard here repeated the calumny that Scots is not one language. That used to be the argument that was made about Gaelic: that there was a Gaelic dialect here and a Gaelic dialect there, that there were words here and words there, but that it should not be treated as a language. Let us lay that calumny to rest here and now. Scots is a language—a language that needs help and assistance.
On 1 July last year, from the reporters gallery in this chamber, Tom Fleming read a poem by Iain Crichton Smith, which called Scotland a three-voiced nation. Scotland has many voices, and many languages are spoken in Scotland. However, there are three languages of which we must take particular care. The first is English, because we have a way of speaking and using English that is subtly different from that of other people. I do not say that with any pride. However, it was T S Eliot who observed that English was spoken properly in only two places in the world: one was Richmond, Virginia, and the other was Edinburgh.
And Inverness.
He did not mention Inverness, but if he had been there I am sure that he would have.
We must, therefore, have some fondness for English. However, we have two languages that we must treat with great care and love, because they exist only here. If we do not look after them, nobody will. That is what this chamber should remember. Responsibility for looking after the Scots language rests with nobody apart from the people who live in Scotland. Scots does not exist elsewhere. Responsibility for looking after Gaelic in Scotland rests with nobody apart from the people of Scotland.
We have a particularly grave responsibility for Gaelic. My friend John Farquhar Munro knows the statistics, as does the minister, but let me repeat them. All the expectations are that next year's census will show—I do not think that we will fall out over the figures—that the number of Gaelic speakers has halved in 30 years.
The pre-census estimates from Comunn na Gàidhlig suggest that about 7,500 children in Scotland speak Gaelic. Those figures show that the language is perilously close to extinction. The question that the minister with responsibility for Gaelic must address is how to save that language.
I admire Alasdair Morrison and I am fond of him—if I keep saying that, people will think that there is something going on. Alasdair has the language at heart. I am pleased to see Rhona Brankin at the debate. I do not think that there are any other ministers in the Government who have Gaelic at heart—Alasdair is ploughing a lonely furrow. I hope that we can give him the strength to meet the needs of Gaelic. However, we must recognise the reality of the situation: Gaelic is perilously close to extinction. Therefore, I must ask the minister what he will do to save Gaelic and to ensure that the language lives on into the 21st century.
When I asked the minister a question last month, I was shocked to discover that his department makes no estimate of the number of Gaelic speakers that there will be in five, 10 or 15 years' time. It is time that the minister's department treated the issue as a No 1 priority. Many things have been tried. We have discussed broadcasting, and tomorrow we will discover what the Gaelic task force says about that. The one thing that would make a difference, however, would be for the Executive to tell the Gaelic community, and the rest of Scotland, that Gaelic has the same parity and status in law as English—it is an official language of this country. We must build on that in the way that Comunn na Gàidhlig anticipated in its report: by ensuring that there is access to Gaelic-medium education, that one can speak Gaelic in a court of law and that public bodies must at least consider how they use Gaelic.
During the national parks debate, I asked Rhona Brankin about the Gaelic situation in national parks. She asked for a written question and the answer that I received was that the decision on how to use Gaelic in national parks is a matter for the national park bodies. There is no policy and no direction.
The First Minister has skived off this debate—I am sorry to use a Scots word. I am shocked that he made derogatory comparisons with Wales yesterday. I was on "Good Morning Wales" this morning and I was pleased to tell the people of Wales the First Minister's comments.
The reality is that any Gaelic act will be a remedial one to overcome the damage that has been done over the past 100 years to the language and to those who speak it. It is essential that remedial action be taken. I have no doubt that the minister will talk about ways in which to achieve secure status for the language without legislation. I put to him the same proposition that I put in a letter that I sent him in July, when I published my proposal for a secure status bill. I will pursue my bill unless the Executive introduces one of its own, but if the Executive is willing to negotiate on the matter, I will take every action, without party politics—as, I am sure will my friend John Farquhar Munro—to ensure that we all co-operate to save the Gaelic language.
Gaelic is far more important than party politics. I ask the minister to take off his party political hat and to join all members in doing what is desperately needed. Let us save Gaelic by legislation in the Scottish Parliament; let us not destroy it by petty partisan politics.
Tapadh leibhse a' Chinn-Chomhairle, agus tha mi toilichte cha rìribh gu bheil mi a' faighinn a' chothrom airson an treas turas mo chànan fhein a' chleachdadh a's a' Phàrlamaid a tha seo. Mar a tha cuimhne againn, bha deasbad againn agus ann an Gàidhlig agus mu dheidhinn na Gàidhllig, agus anns an deasbad mu dheireadh a bha a's a' Phàrlamaid a tha seo, deasbad dhe'n t-aon seòrsa, bha sinn cuideachd a'cleachdadh, chleachd mi faclan Gàidhlig.
Bha dùil agam dìreach togail an toiseach puingean a chaidh a thogail le grunn dha na buill a tha làthair. An toiseach bu toil leam a radh, agus tha mi a smaointinn gu bheil a h-uile ag aithneachadh an adhartas a thathas air a bhith air a' dheanamh ‘sna tri bliadhna a dh'fhalbh agus cuideachd adhartas a chaidh a dheanamh fo stiuireadh an Riaghaltas a bha a staigh roimh'n seo. Bha mi toilichte a'chluintinn gu robh Winnie Ewing—a bhean-phosda Winnie Ewing agus a mac Fergus Ewing—gu'n robh iad an làthair aig cùrsa ann an Sabhal Mòr Ostaig, agus tha fios a'm gu bheil Winnie air mòran a ‘ dheanamh as leth chànan agus air beagan dheth ionnsachadh, ach tha mi cuideach an dòchas agus a' guidhe mas e agus gu'n fhaigh Fergus Ewing, gu'n fhaigh e ìre fileantachd ‘sa chànan, gu'n tòisich e a' deanamh barrachd ciall ‘nuair a bhios e a' bruidhinn ‘sa Ghàidhlig na bhios e uaireannan a' bruidhinn ‘sa Bheurla. Chuir e caran iognadh orm feumaidh mi a radh nach uh nach uh
I am very glad to have a third opportunity to use my own language in the chamber in this debate in and on Gaelic.
First, I would like to take up a few points that were raised earlier. Everybody recognises the progress that has been made in the past three years and under the previous Administration. I am glad that Mrs Ewing and her son Fergus attended a course at Sabhal Mòr Ostaig. I know that Winnie has made a lot of effort in relation to the language, and if Fergus Ewing becomes fluent, I hope that what he says will be more sensible.
It will sound better in Gaelic.
Chuir e beagan iognadh orm a' Chinn Chomhairle nach do chleachd Iain Fearchar Rothach, nach do chleachd e a' Ghàidhlig, agus chan'eil mi a' tuigsinn fo thalamh carson a bha e a' cleachdadh, cleachdadh, cleachdadh na Beurla. Chaidh moran phuingean a' thogail agus bu toil leam cuideachd a' radh gu'm bi mise a màireach a' faighinn roi-innleachd airson structur, airson leasachadh a' chànain. Bi mi a' faighinn an aithisg sin madainn na màireach bho cathraiche na Buidhne Obrach a chaidh a chuir air chois—Seonaidh Ailig Mac a Phearsan—agus bi an làthair ann an Inbhir Nathairn, agus gu dearbh tha mi a' coimhead air adhart ris, ris , an turas sin.
Chaifh tòrr a radh an diugh mu dheidhinn a' Phriomh Mhinisteir Dòmhnall Dewar. Tha mi a' smaoineachadh mas e as gu leugh thu am bratach a bha ‘san aithisg a tha sin, agus a' leughadh an aithisg, nach'eil cùisean buileach cho dubhach agus a bha cuid a deanamh a mach. Thuirt sinne mar Phàrtaidh agus thuirt sinn mar Riaghaltas gu'n oibricheadh sinn airson tèarainteachd fhaighinn dha'n chànan. Sin a tha sinn a' deanamh—tèarainteachd airson na cànain—agus a' màireach, feasgar am màireach, bi Dòmhnall Dewar an làthair aig Co-Labhairt Bhliadhnail, agus a toirt òraid bhliadhnail Shabhal Mòr Ostaig seachad, agus bi e a rithist a' dearbhadh, agus faodaidh mi seo a radh, a' dearbhadh an seòrsa taic a tha sinn a' toirt, a toirt dha'n chànain.
Thog Cathy Peattie grunn phuingean mu dheidhinn agus bhuail I air—
It surprised me that John Farquhar Munro did not use the language; instead, he used English.
Several points were raised. Tomorrow, the strategy on Gaelic organisations will be announced. I will be present in Nairn, and I look forward to that.
Much was said today about the First Minister, Donald Dewar. If members look at the headline of the article in The Scotsman, they will see that the situation is not quite as bad as has been made out. We have said, as a party and as a Government, that we aim to give security to the language. That is what we aim to do. Tomorrow afternoon, Donald Dewar will be present at the annual meeting of Sabhal Mòr Ostaig and once again he will state the support that we have been giving the Gaelic language.
Cathy Peattie raised several points—
For the avoidance of doubt, will the minister make it clear whether the Executive will introduce legislation to achieve secure status, and if not, does he think that his statement in June, in which he said that such legislation was on the fast track, is tenable? Would he like to apologise for that and say that he was misinformed or misbriefed, or act in some other way to overcome the difficulty that it has created?
Uill. An uair a bhios mise a' bruidhinn an Inbhir Nathairn agus ‘san Eilean Sgitheanach, bi mi a' deanamh gu math soilleir dè dìreach a tha sinn a' deanamh. Sin agad ag obair a dh'ionnsaidh ar h- amas agus sin agad an rud a gheall sinn a' dheanamh agus sin agad gu dearbh as tha sinn a' deanamh agus bu toil leamsa gu'm biodh sinn air chothrom barrachd agus barrachd a ‘ dheanamh ach tha sinn a' dearbhadh uair an deidh uair gur e sin a tha fainear dhuinn.
A tilleadh air ais gu beachdan a nochd Cathy Peattie, a nochd I a thaobh eachdraidh Albais, a bhrùidealacha a bh'ann o chionn bhliadhnachan a dh'fhalbh, tha gu fortunach a thaobh Burns, tha ball an seo Lewis Dòmhnallach—athar an t-Uramach Ruairidh Dòmhnallach nach maireann , dh'eadar-theangaich e a h-uile smid de sgrìobhadh Burns gu Gàidhlig.
Bu toigh leam a nis tionndadh gu prìomh chuspair an deasbad a tha seo agus cuideachd mar a rinn buill eile, taing a thoirt dha Irene NicGùgan airson an deasbad seo fhaighinn.
Tha mi an còmhnaidh a Chinn Chomhairle deidheil a bhith a' faicinn Gàidhlig agus Albais air an adhartachadh anns a h-uile suidheachadh 's aig a h-uile àm agus tha seo a' gabhail a-steach Bliadhna Eòrpach nan Cànan ann an 2001. 'S iomadh beachd eadar-dhealaichte a tha aig daoine mu na nithean a dh'fhaodar a dheanamh agus is docha gum biodh e na chuideachadh dhuibh nan toisichinn le bhith ag innse beagan dhuibh mun Bhliadhna agus a' phriomh amas a tha air a cul:
Tha 2001 air a bhith air a sonrachadh mar Bhliadhna Eorpach nan Canan leis a' Chomhairle Eorpach agus leis a' Choimisean Eorpach.
'S e priomh amas na bliadhna mothachadh a thoirt do shluagh na Roinn Eorpa gu bheil a h-uile cànan—chan e a-mhàin mòr-chànanan mar Beurla—airidh air ùidh agus airidh cuideachd air urram.
Tha An Comisean Eòrpach a' cur maoin ris a' phròiseact airson a' bhliadhna a bhrosnachadh tron Roinn Eòrpa. Theid am maoin seo a chleachdadh airson iomairtean fiosrachaidh agus airson pròiseactan co-mhaoinichte airson a' phoball a chur air chois aig ìre ionadail, roinneil, nàiseanta agus eadar-nàiseanta. Le còrr air 40 dùthaich a' com-pàirteachadh sa Bhliadhna, thathar a' sùileachadh gum bi farpais ann airson nan tairgsean maoineachaidh.
Chan ann direach airson aire a thogail mu chànanan a tha Bliadhna Eòrpach nan Cànan. Tha cuid de nithean cudromach mun Bhliadhna a thathar an dòchas a bhios na bhuannachd don luchd-com-pairteachaidh: a bhith ag adhartachadh tuigse eadar-nàiseanta; a bhith a' cur an ceill a' bheachd gu bheil a' Ghàidhlig a' fosgladh dhorsan; a bhith a' moladh sgil ann an cànanan eile mar bhun-sgil; agus a bhith ga dheanamh nas fhasa a bhith a' gluasad bho àite gu àite. 'S e sluagh-ghairm na Bliadhna "Fosglaidh Cànanan Dorsan".
Ach, tha a' ghluasad seo a' beantainn gu sonraichte ris an dòigh anns am bithear a' deiligeadh ris a' Ghàidhlig agus Albais sa Bhliadhna agus tha mi toilichte a radh nach bi sin na dhuilgheadas. Nuair bhathar a' beachdachadh air na h-ullachaidhean, bha oifigearan Riaghaltas na h-Alba ag iarraidh, agus fhuair iad cead air a shon, aonta gum biodh a h-uile cànan air a ghabhail a-steach. Mar thoradh air na co-dhunaidhean sin tha an Roinn Eòrpa air aontachadh sin a dheanamh. Cha deach liosta ullachadh agus chan eil cànan air fhagail as. Canaidh mi sin a rithist—chan'eil cànan air fhàgail as.
When I speak in Nairn tomorrow I will make clear what we are doing, which is working towards secure status for the language. We aim to do more and more for the language.
Regarding Cathy Peattie's points on what happened many years ago in relation to Burns, Roddy Macdonald translated many of Burns's poems into Gaelic.
I thank Irene McGugan for making this debate possible. I am always keen to see Gaelic and Scots promoted wherever and whenever possible, and that includes the forthcoming European year of languages. Many views have been expressed and opinions shared on what might be done. It may be helpful if I begin by sharing with members some of the background to the year.
The year 2001 has been adopted as the European year of languages by both the Council of Europe and the European Commission. The main objective of the year is to make European citizens aware that all languages—not just the widely known languages such as English—are equally deserving. The European Commission is providing a limited amount of funding to promote the year throughout Europe. That funding will be used for information campaigns and to co-finance a number of local, regional, national and transnational projects aimed at the general public. With more than 40 countries participating, it is expected that bids for funding will be competitive.
The European year of languages is not only about raising awareness of all languages. There are some important features of the year that, it is hoped, will benefit participants: the promotion of international understanding; the development of the theme that languages open doors; the promotion of foreign language abilities as a core skill; and the facilitation of increased mobility. In fact the slogan for the year will be "Languages Open Doors".
The motion relates directly to the involvement of Gaelic and Scots in the year, and I am pleased to say that that will not be an issue. When discussions on arrangements were under way, Scottish Executive officials pressed for, and gained, agreement that all languages would be eligible for inclusion. As a result of those discussions, the UK has decided to take an inclusive approach. No list has been compiled and no language has been excluded. All languages are included—
The minister says that no language has been excluded. Does he recognise my plea that separate and distinct dialects such as that of Caithness must be underpinned and encouraged?
Tha mi a' cuir mo làn-thaic ris a bharail a tha sin agus tha a' smaoineachadh gu bheil mi feuchainn ri shoilleireachadh. Cha bhi cànan sam bith air a chumail a mach neo air fhàgail as anns a ghnothaich a tha seo.
Gu fìrinneach, tha Riaghaltas na h-Alba mar tha air tuilleadh ‘s a chòrr ‘s a thathar ag iarraidh an luib a' ghluasaid seo a choilionadh. Chan e a-mhàin gum bi a' Ghàidhlig is Albais air an riochdachadh aig ire Alba agus An Rioghachd Aonaichte, theid fàilte a chur air gach cànan ann am Bliadhna Eòrpach nan Cànan.
Ach a-nis gu na h-ullachaidhean airson dealbhadh agus rèiteachadh na Bliadhna san Rioghachd Aonaichte: Tha comataidh air a steidheachadh san Rioghachd Aonaichte a tha air a cho-òrdanachadh leis an Ionad airson Fiosrachadh mu Theagasg Cànain.
Tha cùisean Albannach air an riochdachadh air a' chomataidh seo leis an Ionad Albannach airson Rannsachadh is Fiosrachadh mu Theagasg Cànain (Scottish CILT).
Tha cliù aig an Ionad seo ann an raon teagasg agus ionnsachadh cànain agus tha eòlas farsaing aca air cùisean cànain ann an Alba agus tha ceanglaichean làidir aca ri buidhnean Gàidhlig agus Albais. Tha e air steidheachadh, le cuideachadh bho Roinn Foghlam Riaghaltas na h-Alba, buidheann obrach Albannach a bheir air adhart nam molaidhean mu cho-obrachadh na h-Alba le Bliadhna Eòrpach nan Cànan.
Tha Comunn na Gàidhlig agus Biùro Eòrpach nam Mion Chànan nam buill den bhuidhinn seo. Tha Ionad Stòrais a' Chànan Albannaich agus Comunn Faclair Nàiseanta na h-Alba cuideachd an sàs anns na h-ullachaidhean airson na h-ath bhliadhna.
Thog grunn dhaoine roi-innleachd airson cultar. Tha an Roi-innleachd Cultarail Nàiseanta a chaidh fhoillseachadh o chionn ghoirid a' togail cheistean cuideachd mu Albais, Gàidhlig agus mion-chànanan eile agus bidh iad sin air an comharrachadh anns a' Phlana Gniomh a thathar ag ullachadh aig an àm a tha lathair. Agus tha mi smaoineachadh gu'n aontaicheadh Rhona Brankin—tha mi'n dòchas gu'n aontaicheadh Rhona Brankin leam an seo. Tha mi a smaoineachadh ged a tha sinn a bruidhinn mu dheidhinn stòras bheag de airgiod anns a phròiseact a tha seo gu'm biodh sinn a sùileachadh gu'm biodh cus a bharrachd na tha sinn a deanamh neo leigeas sin leinn a dheanamh gu'm biodh sinn a sùileachadh a bhith a deanamh barrachd na tha a' phròiseact sin a mìneachadh.
Sa cho-dhùnadh ma tha a Chinn Chomhairle, bu mhath leam dearbhadh dhuibh gu bheil Riaghaltas na h-Alba airson leantainn air a' toirt taic do Ghàidhlig agus Albais ann am Bliadhna Eòrpach nan Cànan san aon doigh ‘s a thathar air a bhith a' deanamh san am ullachaidh seo. Cha chrion an taic a thathar a' toirt dhan Ghàidhlig agus do Albais ann an 2001, Bliadhna Eòrpach nan Cànan ach chan urrainn do Riaghaltas na h-Alba a bhith an sàs nan aonar san obair seo agus tha mi air leth toilichte gu bheil na buidhnean Gàidhlig agus na buidhnean Albais a' co-obrachadh leis an luchd-eagrachaidh gus dòighean a shonrachadh anns am bi e comasach do chànanan dùthchasach na h-Alba buannachd fhaighinn as na cothroman a thig an luib Bliadhna Eòrpach nan Cànan.
Tha mi gle mhisneachail mu Bhliadhna Eòrpach nan Cànan agus tha mi cinnteach gum bi na buidhnean cultarail a tha ag obair an luib na Gàidhlig agus Albais comasach air feum a dheanamh den Bhliadhna seo a chum am maith fhein.
Tapadh leibhse a Chinn Comhairle.
I fully support that opinion—no language will be left out.
In essence, the Scottish Executive has already achieved what has been asked for in the motion—and more. Not only will Gaelic and Scots be fully represented at Scottish and UK levels, but all languages will be welcomed in the European year of languages.
A UK committee, co-ordinated by the Centre for Information on Language Teaching and Research, has been established to plan and organise the year in the UK. Scottish interests are represented on the committee by the Scottish Centre for Information on Language Teaching and Research.
Scottish CILT is highly respected in the field of language learning. It has a formidable knowledge of language issues in Scotland and strong links with Gaelic and Scots organisations. With the support of the Scottish Executive education department, it has established a Scottish working group to take forward Scotland's involvement with the European year of languages.
Membership of the group includes Comunn na Gàidhlig and the European Bureau for Lesser Used Languages. The Scots Language Resource Centre and the Scottish National Dictionary Association are also actively involved in arrangements for the year.
While the European year of languages is essentially a European initiative, it is one that the Scottish Executive will continue to support. I am sure that Rhona Brankin would agree that much activity is being planned for the year throughout the UK. We expect more and more on the project. I would like to stress that the Scottish Executive is giving support to Gaelic and Scots.
Support for Gaelic and Scots will not fade during 2001—the European year of languages. However, the Executive cannot work alone on that, and I am delighted that Gaelic and Scots organisations are working with the organisers to identify ways in which Scotland's heritage languages can benefit from the opportunities offered by the European year of languages. I am enthusiastic about the year and feel sure that our Scots and Gaelic cultural organisations can use it to their best advantage.
Tapadh leibh, a Mhaighstir Moireasdan. Tha sin a' cur crìoch air an deasbad. Tha a' choinneamh dùinte.
Thank you, Mr Morrison. That concludes our debate.
That feenishes oor debate. Ah noo close this meetin o the Pairliament.
Meeting closed at 17:08.