SHONA C NicIllinnein (Letters, June 13) accurately corrects some of the misunderstandings in earlier correspondence which suggested that Gaelic signs are part of some nationalist political subterfuge. Bilingual signs on trunk roads were first approved in the time of the Scottish Office when Donald Dewar was Secretary of State. Other authorisations followed through the Labour/LibDem Scottish Executive, notably in 2003 when Deputy Transport Minister Lewis Macdonald, currently Labour MSP for the North East of Scotland, consented many in the West Highlands.
Similarly, the Gaelic Language (Scotland) Act 2005 expects public bodies across the country to have a Gaelic Language Plan. All of this was promoted by administrations prior to the various SNP governments which commenced in 2007.
As far as I can see, there is nothing to stop any particular area or public body from promoting Scots, as Bill Brown (Letters, June 12) suggests; indeed I would support him in that, though there exists no obligation or power similar to those in the 2005 Act above.
I emphasise that I am not a member of any political party.
John C Hutchison,
Fort William.
BILL Brown appears to be rather unhappy at the “emerging use of the Gaelic language on signage in the Lowlands of Scotland”. For myself I am quite happy to see the Poileas keeping our towns and cities in good order; or as near as can be, given their resources.
Perhaps, after living on largely Gaelic-speaking Skye for 30 years, and now missing hearing the lovely language, seeing any reminder of it is very welcome. How often do I use my limited ability to pronounce the words when I read the poems of Somhairle Macgill-Eain (Sorley MacLean) and remember seeing him about in Portree. Could four of the lines of his poem An T-Eilean (The Island), in English, ever be as beautiful as in Gaelic?
– and even if I came in sight of Paradise,
what price its moon without Blaven?
Great Island, Island of my desire,
Island of my heart and wound –
... agus ged a nochdainn Pàrras
dé b’ fhiach a ghealach-san gun Bhlàbheinn?
Eilein Mhóir, Eilein mo dheòin,
Eilein mo chridhe is mo leòin –
The very sounds of "mo chridhe", if you have a little Gaelic pronunciation, break the heart. Maybe it will take many more years before “Urdu, Cantonese, Polish and so forth” join English and Gaelic on signage in the Scottish Lowlands: though perhaps Mr Brown will not have to wait too long?
Thelma Edwards, Kelso.
I FIND reading your excellent newspaper a pleasure; you may be somewhat puzzled because I am a Welshman (Cymro) and live in Cymry (Wales). I read with interest the recent letters (June 12 & 13) on the possibly politically-inspired spread of Gaelic. I speak Cymraig (Welsh). It was my first language because my family, my friends and neighbours all spoke it, but you don't need to be Welsh-speaking to be a be a good Welshman or woman. I doubt if I would have learned the language as I did or tried with French, which I have still problems with after 70-plus years.
But remembering one's roots, one's culture is vital. This does not stop you living in a multicultural society, in fact it helps.
But remember multiculturalism does not mean domination, which is what is happening in Britain today. Yes the Sassenachs are the majority but that doesn't give them the right to trample over the rest of us or to believe that everyone else is some sort of foreigner.We were here before they rowed across the North Sea. Yes there have been acts of union but were they democratic? I think not.
Gwyn Gregory John, Swansea.
ANENT the current correspondence on Gaelic, I have always thought that the Gaelic Poileas resembles the Glasgow vernacular, Polis. Perhaps much paint, time and money could be saved by having only the vernacular painted on our local police vehicles, thereby satisfying both sides in this debate.
David Miller, Milngavie.
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