| Reference Number | 20 |
| Title | A’ Ghaidhlig anns an Eilean Sgitheanach Plana Leasachaidh Deich Bliadhna (Gaelic in Skye A Ten Year Development Plan) |
| Author | Anon., for Comunn na Gaidhlig |
| Editor | N/A |
| Date Of Edition | 1987 |
| Date Of Language | late 20c |
| Date Of Language Ed | 1950-1999 |
| DateMacro | Late 20th c. |
| Date Of Language Notes | |
| Publisher | Comunn na Gaidhlig |
| Place Published | Inverness |
| Volume | N/A |
| Location | NLS |
| Geographical Origins | Skye |
| Geographical Origins Ed | Skye |
| GeoMacro | Skye, Raasay and Small Isles |
| GeoX | -6.4981 |
| GeoY | 57.3626 |
| Geographical Origins Notes | |
| Register | Formal, Prose (Language Planning) |
| Register Ed | Formal, Prose |
| Genre | Information |
| Medium | Prose |
| Rating | B
A Ten Year Development Plan for Gaelic in Skye.
A good source of vocabulary relating to education, business, and local affairs.
The document is well written and easily understood, and manages to cover potentially complex issues in fluent and natural Gaelic.
A source of Gaelic idioms.
Contains a few minor typing mistakes and grammatical infelicities and some orthographic inconsistencies. |
| Alternative Author Name | N/A |
| Manuscript Or Edition | Ed. |
| Size And Condition | 29.6cm x 10.9cm |
| Short Title | A’ Ghaidhlig anns an Eilean Sgitheanach |
| Reference Details | NLS: QP4.87.2239 |
| Number Of Pages | 16, [1] |
| Gaelic Text By | Unknown |
| Illustrator | N/A |
| Social Context | During a Comunn na Gàidhlig conference in Staffin, Skye, in September 1986, a number of issues were raised about the future of Gaelic on the island. In order to address these issues, a working party was formed, consisting of four members from the island, whose remit was to investigate the present state of the language and produce a Ten Year Development Plan for Gaelic in Skye. |
| Contents | The document contains eight main sections, several of which comprise a number of sub-sections. Gaelic and English are presented on facing pages.
1. Roimh-radh (pp. 1-2): The Preamble discusses the relationship between language, culture, and economy. It states that over half of the population of Skye and Lochalsh are Gaelic speakers, and that the Gaelic language is closely linked to their culture and way of life. It is therefore seen as an important tool in the social and economic development of the area. Sabhal Mòr Ostaig is introduced as being the only Gaelic medium college in Scotland and as showing that there is a ‘strong link’ (‘a’ cheangal laidir’) between economic and cultural revivals. It states that there are eight Gaelic Medium playgroups in Skye and Lochalsh and three Gaelic medium units at primary schools in the area, all of which were established due to parental demands and initiatives.
2. Inbhe a’ Phlana (pp. 1-2): This section explains that the working party that produced this document was created after a CnaG conference in Staffin, Skye, in September 1986. The conference was attended by various groups and a number of concerns and recommendations were raised about the future of Gaelic in the Island. A working party was subsequently formed to investigate the suggestions raised at the conference. The names of the four members of the working party are given. The final paragraph states that this document is ‘intended as the basis of discussion with interested parties’ (‘air fhaicinn mar bhunait airson comhradh ri buidhnean anns an Eilean Sgitheanach’). The English text, but not the Gaelic text, then describes the document as a ‘draft development plan’.
3. Am Prionnsapal (pp. 3-4): The basic principle is that everyone in Skye ‘should have the right to use Gaelic in all situations should they so wish’ (‘gum biodh cothrom aig a h-uile duine san Eilean a’ Ghaidhlig a chleachdadh anns gach suidheachadh far am bu mhiann leotha’). To this end, the working party put forward the following proposals ‘for action and further discussion’ (‘airson an deasbad agus an cur-an-gniomh’).
4. Foghlam (pp. 3-8): This section discusses the educational provision for Gaelic and contains the following sub-sections: Foghlaim [sic] tro mheadhon na Gaidhlig (pp. 3-6), Foghlam Da-Chananach (pp. 5-6), Gaidhlig mar an darna canan (pp. 5-6), Comas ann an Gaidhlig (pp. p. 5-6), Fiosrachadh air Gaidhlig (pp. 7-8), Seirbheisean Taic (pp. 7-8), and Obair Oigridh (pp. 7-8).
5. Na h-Ealdhain (pp. 9-12): This section comments on the connection between ‘language development and cultural regeneration’ (‘leasachaidh [sic] canain agus dusgadh cultar’), suggesting that each is dependent on the other. It is therefore vitally important to keep the Gaelic heritage of the area alive. This section contains the following sub-sections: Sgilean (pp. 9-10 ), Feisean (pp. 9-10), Taic (pp. 9-10), Goireasan (pp. 9-10), Fiosrachadh air cultar na Gaidhlig (pp. 11-12), and Na Meadhonan (pp. 11-12).
6. Na Seirbheisean (pp. 11-14): This section deals with the availability of ‘Personal Services’ (Seirbheisean Pearsanta) through the medium of Gaelic. It contains the following sub-sections: Caidreamh (pp. 11-12) and Na h-Eaglaisean (pp. 13-14).
7. Leasachadh (pp. 13-16): This section describes the benefits to be gained by looking at how other countries, such as Wales, Ireland, and particularly the Faroes (na h-Eileanan Farach) have strengthened their language and culture, to economic benefit. This section contains the following sub-sections: Bord Leasachaidh na Gaidhealtachd (pp. 13-14), Companaidhean Priobhaideach agus Buidhnean Poblach (pp. 13-14), Taic Airgid (pp. 13-14), Gniomhachas Duthchasach (pp. 15-16), Turasachd (pp. 15-16).
8. Poileasaidh a Thoirt gu Buil (pp. 15-16): This section states that Comunn na Gàidhlig, along with the Working Party, will now discuss the Development Plan with relevant parties in order to come to agreement on how the plan’s recommendations might be implemented.
The last page contains a list of Comunn na Gàidhlig members, with addresses and some phone numbers, under the headings: Stiuiriche, Oifigeach Foghlaim, Oifigeach Leasachaidh, Neach-Cathrach, Iar-Neach-Cathrach, and Stiùireadair. No English equivalents are given for these terms. |
| Sources | |
| Language | This text is well written and easily understood and manages to cover potentially complex issues in fluent and natural Gaelic. The Gaelic text does not seem to be a literal translation of the English text and in many instances the English version seems wordier and more complex than the Gaelic. The Gaelic text does not lose any meaning by not closely following the English text and, in fact, reads much better because of it. No accents are used throughout the text, with the exception of the word Stiùireadair on the last page.
The text contains some useful terminology relating to education, business, and local affairs, such as ath-bheothachadh (p. 2), croileagain (p. 2.), co-labhairt (p. 2), molaidhean meaning ‘recommendations’ (p. 2), riochdairean (p. 2), Buidheann-Obrach (p. 2), buidhnean mathair-is-paiste (p. 4), sgoil-araich Ghaidhlig (p. 4), An Roinn ‘the Region’ (p. 4), Roinn an Fhoghlaim (p. 6), feumalachd thidsearan (p. 6), da-chananach (p. 6), proiseact (p. 6), luchd-obrach (p. 6), fhasdadh (p. 6), luchd-ionnsachaidh (p. 6), treanadh (p. 6), tuigse meaning ‘awareness’ (p. 8), co-dhunadh (p. 8), Seirbheis Foghlaim na Coimhearsnachd (p. 8), seirbheis-tasgidh (p. 8), seirbheisean taic (p. 8), ro-sheirbheis ‘preservice’ (p. 8), in-sheirbheis ‘in-service’ (p. 8), sradagan (p. 8), buidhnean saor-thoileach (p. 10), Oifigeach Leasachaidh Ealdhain (p. 10), Ionad-Obrach ‘workshop’ (p. 10), na meadhonan fradharcach ‘the visual arts’ (p. 10), dualchas (p. 10), sgilean (p. 10), duilgheadasan (p. 14), taic airgid (p. 14), cinn-paipear ‘letterheads’ (p. 14), and Bord Turasachd (p. 16).
The text also contains a number of useful phrases and idioms, such as mar bhunait (p. 2), corr math ’s an leth-chuid dhiubh (p. 2), airson an amas seo a ruighinn (p. 4), a thoirt a-steach fo sgeith (p. 6), bacadh a chur (p. 6), leis an ruin gum bitheadh ‘with a view to’ (p. 6), an da chuid (p. 6), tro cho-obrachadh (p. 8), a’ cur feum air (p. 8), an darna cuid (p. 10), a’ cur ann an dreuchd (p. 10), a chur air chois (p. 10), air leth cudthromach (p. 12), na b’ fhearr buileach (p. 12), a cur […] air bhonn (p. 14), taic a chumail ri (p. 14), cur-an-gniomh (p. 4), and a chur an gniomh (p. 16). |
| Orthography | Skye Gaelic may be reflected in the terms a cheart dha rireabh (p. 6), gu h-araidh (p. 6), and ruighinn (p. 4). Also of interest are the terms ealdhain and the use of the word oifigeach rather than oifigear, which is more widely used today.
The orthography is generally that of the late twentieth century. However, there are some minor typing errors and inconsistencies. For example, we find both troimh and tro, bunsgoil and bun-sgoil, and ardsgoil and ard-sgoil. Grammatically, there are a few minor irregularities including the omission of genitive endings e.g. in a-measg an t-sluagh and gu aire a’ mhorshluagh (p. 12). Also, in the phrases moran dhaoine (p. 2) and anns a’ cheud dhol a-mach, there is lenition of an initial d following a final n and a final d, where lenition would not traditionally occur. |
| Edition | This text consists of a stapled document consisting of a grey cardboard cover enclosing nine sheets of text typewritten on yellow A4 paper. The front cover has an open window in the centre of the page allowing the title of the document to show through from the title page. It shows the name Comunn na Gàidhlig below the window and the company logo above it. The document itself does not appear to have a date on it but the National Library catalogue dates it to 1987 and the text itself refers to a conference, at which this document was conceived, having been held in Setpember 1986. It is therefore likely that the document was produced in 1987.
The title of the English language section on page 1 differs slightly from the Gaelic title on page 2 in that it adds that the document is a ‘Draft for discussion’. This information is absent from the Gaelic version. |
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| Download File | |
| NumWords | 2730 |
