Editing Scottish Gaelic (section)

==Usage==
===Official===
====Scotland====
In the 2022 census, 3,551 people claimed Gaelic as their 'main language.' Of these, 1,761 (49.6%) were in Na h-Eileanan Siar, 682 (19.2%) were in Highland, 369 were in Glasgow City and 120 were in City of Edinburgh; no other council area had as many as 80 such respondents.<ref>{{Cite web |title=SuperWEB2(tm) - Log in |url=https://www.scotlandscensus.gov.uk/webapi/jsf/login.xhtml?invalidSession=true&reason=Session+not+established. |access-date=2024-06-10 |website=www.scotlandscensus.gov.uk}}</ref>

=====Scottish Parliament=====
[[File:Anne Lorne Gillies (421180978).jpg|thumb|[[Anne Lorne Gillies]] speaking publicly in the Scottish Gaelic language]]

Gaelic has long suffered from its lack of use in educational and administrative contexts and was long suppressed.<ref>See Kenneth MacKinnon (1991) ''Gaelic: A Past and Future Prospect''. Edinburgh: The Saltire Society.</ref>

The UK government has ratified the [[European Charter for Regional or Minority Languages]] in respect of Gaelic. Gaelic, along with Irish and Welsh, is designated under Part III of the Charter, which requires the UK Government to take a range of concrete measures in the fields of education, justice, public administration, broadcasting and culture. It has not received the same degree of official recognition from the UK Government as [[Welsh language|Welsh]]. With the advent of [[history of Scottish devolution|devolution]], however, Scottish matters have begun to receive greater attention, and it achieved a degree of official recognition when the [[Gaelic Language (Scotland) Act 2005|Gaelic Language (Scotland) Act]] was enacted by the [[Scottish Parliament]] on 21 April 2005.

The key provisions of the Act are:<ref name="OPSI">{{Cite web|url=http://www.legislation.gov.uk/asp/2005/7/contents/data.htm|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20070705200710/http://www.opsi.gov.uk/legislation/scotland/acts2005/50007--a.htm#1|url-status=dead|title=Gaelic Language (Scotland) Act 2005|archive-date=5 July 2007|website=www.legislation.gov.uk}}</ref>
* Establishing the Gaelic development body, {{lang|gd|Bòrd na Gàidhlig}} (BnG), on a statutory basis with a view to securing the status of the Gaelic language as an official language of Scotland commanding equal respect to the English language and to promote the use and understanding of Gaelic.
* Requiring BnG to prepare a National Gaelic Language Plan every five years for approval by Scottish Ministers.
* Requiring BnG to produce guidance on [[Gaelic medium education in Scotland|Gaelic medium education]] and Gaelic as a subject for education authorities.
* Requiring public bodies in Scotland, both Scottish public bodies and cross-border public bodies insofar as they carry out devolved functions, to develop Gaelic language plans in relation to the services they offer, if requested to do so by BnG.

After its creation, Bòrd na Gàidhlig required a Gaelic Language Plan from the Scottish Government. This plan was accepted in 2008,<ref name="www.gov.scot">{{Cite web |title=CHAPTER II – CORE COMMITMENTS |url=http://www.gov.scot/publications/gaelic-language-plan/pages/4/ |access-date=2022-12-19 |website=www.gov.scot |language=en |archive-date=15 November 2022 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20221115015617/https://www.gov.scot/publications/gaelic-language-plan/pages/4/ |url-status=live }}</ref> and some of its main commitments were: identity (signs, corporate identity); communications (reception, telephone, mailings, public meetings, complaint procedures); publications (PR and media, websites); staffing (language learning, training, recruitment).<ref name="www.gov.scot" />

Following a consultation period, in which the government received many submissions, the majority of which asked that the bill be strengthened, a revised bill was published; the main alteration was that the guidance of the {{lang|gd|Bòrd}} is now statutory (rather than advisory). In the committee stages in the Scottish Parliament, there was much debate over whether Gaelic should be given 'equal validity' with English. Due to executive concerns about resourcing implications if this wording was used, the Education Committee settled on the concept of 'equal respect'. It is not clear what the legal force of this wording is.

The Act was passed by the Scottish Parliament unanimously, with support from all sectors of the Scottish political spectrum, on 21 April 2005. Under the provisions of the Act, it will ultimately fall to BnG to secure the status of the Gaelic language as an [[official language]] of Scotland.
[[File:Police Scotland vehicle decal (Bilingual).jpg|thumb|Police Scotland vehicle logo (Bilingual)]]
Some commentators, such as {{lang|gd|[[Éamonn Ó Gribín]]}} (2006) argue that the Gaelic Act falls so far short of the status accorded to Welsh that one would be foolish or naïve to believe that any substantial change will occur in the fortunes of the language as a result of {{lang|gd|Bòrd na Gàidhlig}}'s efforts.<ref>Williams, Colin H., [https://wayback.archive-it.org/all/20171011125129/http://geolinguistics.org/geo32articles/GEO-32-Williams-art.pdf Legislative Devolution and Language Regulation in the United Kingdom], Cardiff University</ref>

On 10 December 2008, to celebrate the 60th anniversary of the [[Universal Declaration of Human Rights]], the [[Scottish Human Rights Commission]] had the UDHR translated into Gaelic for the first time.<ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.scottishhumanrights.com/news/latestnews/article/shrc60 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20110408090738/http://www.scottishhumanrights.com/news/latestnews/article/shrc60 |url-status=dead |archive-date=2011-04-08 |title=Latest News – SHRC |publisher=[[Scottish Human Rights Commission]] |date=12 October 2008 |access-date=13 November 2013 }}</ref>

However, given there are no longer any monolingual Gaelic speakers,<ref name="UK Ratification of the European Charter for Regional or Minority Languages">{{cite web |url=http://www.ciemen.org/mercator/pdf/WP10-def-ang.pdf |title=UK Ratification of the European Charter for Regional or Minority Languages. Working Paper 10 – R.Dunbar, 2003 |access-date=27 March 2014 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20070926100538/http://www.ciemen.org/mercator/pdf/WP10-def-ang.pdf |archive-date=26 September 2007 |url-status=live}}</ref> following an appeal in the court case of ''Taylor v Haughney'' (1982), involving the status of Gaelic in judicial proceedings, the [[High Court of Justiciary|High Court]] ruled against a general right to use Gaelic in court proceedings.<ref>{{Cite web |url=http://www.arts.ed.ac.uk/celtic/papers/officialstatus.html |title=Official Status for Gaelic: Prospects and Problems |date=1997 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20120301005900/http://www.arts.ed.ac.uk/celtic/papers/officialstatus.html |archive-date=1 March 2012 |url-status=dead}}</ref>

While the goal of the Gaelic Language Act was to aid in revitalization efforts through government mandated official language status, the outcome of the act is distanced from the actual minority language communities.<ref name="Ó Giollagáin-2020" /> It helps to create visibility of the minority language in civil structures, but does not impact or address the lived experiences of the Gaelic speaker communities wherein the revitalization efforts may have a higher return of new Gaelic speakers. Efforts are being made to concentrate resources, language planning, and revitalization efforts towards vernacular communities in the Western Isles.<ref name="Ó Giollagáin-2020" />

=====Qualifications in the language=====
The [[Scottish Qualifications Authority]] offer two streams of Gaelic examination across all levels of the syllabus: Gaelic for learners (equivalent to the modern foreign languages syllabus) and Gaelic for native speakers (equivalent to the English syllabus).<ref>{{cite web|author=Scottish Qualifications Authority, Resource Management|title=Gàidhlig|url=http://www.sqa.org.uk/sqa/74310.6130.html|website=www.sqa.org.uk|publisher=SQA|access-date=24 April 2017|language=en|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20170425123509/http://www.sqa.org.uk/sqa/74310.6130.html|archive-date=25 April 2017|url-status=live}}</ref><ref>{{cite web|author=Scottish Qualifications Authority, Resource Management|title=Gaelic (learners)|url=http://www.sqa.org.uk/sqa/74312.6133.html|website=www.sqa.org.uk|publisher=SQA|access-date=24 April 2017|language=en|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20170425122559/http://www.sqa.org.uk/sqa/74312.6133.html|archive-date=25 April 2017|url-status=live}}</ref>

{{lang|gd|[[An Comunn Gàidhealach]]}} performs assessment of spoken Gaelic, resulting in the issue of a Bronze Card, Silver Card or Gold Card. Syllabus details are available on An Comunn's website. These are not widely recognised as qualifications, but are required for those taking part in certain competitions at the annual {{lang|gd|[[mod (Scotland)|mods]]}}.<ref>{{cite web|title=An Comunn Gàidhealach – Royal National Mod : Royal National Mod|url=http://www.ancomunn.co.uk/nationalmod/gaelic-assessment|website=www.ancomunn.co.uk|access-date=24 April 2017|language=en|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20170627171845/http://www.ancomunn.co.uk/nationalmod/gaelic-assessment|archive-date=27 June 2017|url-status=live}}</ref>

=====European Union=====
{{Update|section|date=December 2020|reason=The UK has now left the EU}}
In October 2009, a new agreement allowed Scottish Gaelic to be formally used between Scottish Government ministers and [[European Union]] officials. The deal was signed by Britain's representative to the EU, Sir [[Kim Darroch]], and the [[Scottish Government|Scottish government]]. This did not give Scottish Gaelic [[languages of the European Union|official status]] in the EU but gave it the right to be a means of formal communications in the EU's institutions. The Scottish government had to pay for the translation from Gaelic to other [[Languages of Europe|European languages]]. The deal was received positively in Scotland; [[Secretary of State for Scotland]] [[Jim Murphy]] said the move was a strong sign of the UK government's support for Gaelic. He said; "Allowing Gaelic speakers to communicate with European institutions in their mother tongue is a progressive step forward and one which should be welcomed".<ref>{{Cite news |date=2009-10-07 |title=EU green light for Scots Gaelic |url=http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/mobile/scotland/highlands_and_islands/8294853.stm |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20240623115615/http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/mobile/uk_news/scotland/highlands_and_islands/8294853.stm |archive-date=2024-06-23 |access-date=2024-06-23 |work=[[BBC News]]}}</ref> Culture Minister [[Michael Russell (Scottish politician)|Mike Russell]] said; "this is a significant step forward for the recognition of Gaelic both at home and abroad and I look forward to addressing the council in Gaelic very soon. Seeing Gaelic spoken in such a forum raises the profile of the language as we drive forward our commitment to creating a new generation of Gaelic speakers in Scotland."<ref>{{cite news |url=http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/scotland/highlands_and_islands/8294853.stm |title=EU green light for Scots Gaelic |work=[[BBC News Online]] |date=7 October 2009 |access-date=7 October 2009 |archive-date=17 November 2023 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20231117111723/http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/uk_news/scotland/highlands_and_islands/8294853.stm |url-status=live }}</ref>

=====Signage=====
{{see also|Ainmean-Àite na h-Alba}}

[[File:Bilingual Gaelic-English road sign in Scotland.jpg|thumb|Bilingual Gaelic–English road sign, at [[Lochaline]] in the Scottish Highlands]]
[[File:Scottish_Gaelic_road_sign_on_Harris.jpg|thumb|Monolingual Gaelic direction sign, at [[Rodel]] (Roghadal) on Harris in the Outer Hebrides]]
[[File:Welcome to Queen Street Fàilte gu Sràid na Banrighinn Glasgow.jpg|thumb|Bilingual English/Gaelic sign at Queen Street Station in Glasgow]]

Bilingual road signs, street names, business and advertisement signage (in both Gaelic and English) are gradually being introduced throughout Gaelic-speaking regions in the Highlands and Islands, including Argyll. In many cases, this has simply meant re-adopting the traditional spelling of a name (such as {{lang|gd|Ràtagan}} or {{lang|gd|Loch Ailleart}} rather than the anglicised forms ''Ratagan'' or ''Lochailort'' respectively).<ref name="North-harris.org-2005">{{Cite web|date=November 2005|title=Guide to the Gaelic Origins of Place Names in Britain|url=https://www.north-harris.org/wp-content/uploads/2012/12/gaelic_guide.pdf|access-date=July 29, 2021|website=North-harris.org|archive-date=30 July 2021|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210730031903/https://www.north-harris.org/wp-content/uploads/2012/12/gaelic_guide.pdf|url-status=live}}</ref>

Some monolingual [[Gaelic road signs in Scotland|Gaelic road signs]], particularly direction signs, are used on the [[Outer Hebrides]], where a majority of the population can have a working knowledge of the language. These omit the English translation entirely.

Bilingual railway station signs are now more frequent than they used to be. Practically all the stations in the Highland area use both English and Gaelic, and the use of bilingual station signs has become more frequent in the Lowlands of Scotland, including areas where Gaelic has not been spoken for a long time.{{cn|date=April 2017}}

This has been welcomed by many supporters of the language as a means of raising its profile as well as securing its future as a 'living language' (i.e. allowing people to use it to navigate from A to B in place of English) and creating a sense of place. However, in some places, such as Caithness, the Highland Council's intention to introduce bilingual signage has incited controversy.<ref>{{cite news |url=http://www.pressandjournal.co.uk/Article.aspx/900201 |title=Caithness councillors harden resolve against Gaelic signs |work=The Press and Journal |date=24 October 2008 |access-date=22 December 2011 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20120620201746/http://www.pressandjournal.co.uk/Article.aspx/900201 |archive-date=20 June 2012 |url-status=live}}</ref>

The [[Ordnance Survey]] has acted in recent years to correct many of the mistakes that appear on maps. They announced in 2004 that they intended to correct them and set up a committee to determine the correct forms of Gaelic place names for their maps.<ref name="North-harris.org-2005" /> [[Ainmean-Àite na h-Alba]] ("Place names in Scotland") is the national advisory partnership for Gaelic place names in Scotland.<ref>{{cite web|title=Ainmean-Àite na h-Alba – Gaelic Place-Names of Scotland – About Us|url=http://www.ainmean-aite.org/aboutus.php|website=www.ainmean-aite.org|access-date=24 April 2017|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20170425120718/http://www.ainmean-aite.org/aboutus.php|archive-date=25 April 2017|url-status=live}}</ref>

====Canada====
{{main|Canadian Gaelic}}

In the nineteenth century, Canadian Gaelic was the third-most widely spoken European language in [[British North America]]<ref name="scots">{{cite web|last=Bumstead |first=J.M |year=2006 |title=Scots |url=http://multiculturalcanada.ca/Encyclopedia/A-Z/s2/12 |publisher=Multicultural Canada |access-date=30 August 2006 |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20121226073110/http://www.multiculturalcanada.ca/Encyclopedia/A-Z/s2/12| quote = By 1850 Gaelic was the third most commonly spoken European language in British North America. It was spoken by as many as 200,000 British North Americans of both Scottish and Irish origin as either a first or a second language.|archive-date=26 December 2012 }}</ref> and Gaelic-speaking immigrant communities could be found throughout what is modern-day Canada. Gaelic poets in Canada produced a significant literary tradition.<ref name="seanchaidh">{{cite book|last=Newton|first=Michael|title=Seanchaidh na Coille / Memory-Keeper of the Forest: Anthology of Scottish Gaelic Literature of Canada|publisher=Cape Breton University Press|year=2015|isbn=978-1-77206-016-4}}</ref> The number of Gaelic-speaking individuals and communities declined sharply, however, after the First World War.<ref>Jonathan Dembling, "[https://www.academia.edu/11339666/Gaelic_in_Canada_New_Evidence_from_an_Old_Census Gaelic in Canada: New Evidence from an Old Census] {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20171121075713/http://www.academia.edu/11339666/Gaelic_in_Canada_New_Evidence_from_an_Old_Census |date=21 November 2017 }}", Paper read at the 3rd biannual Rannsachadh na Gàidhlig, University of Edinburgh, 21–23 July 2004, in: ''Cànan & Cultar / Language & Culture: Rannsachadh na Gàidhlig 3'', edited by Wilson MacLeod, James E. Fraser & Anja Gunderloch (Edinburgh: Dunedin Academic Press, 2006), pp. 203–214, {{ISBN|978-1903765-60-9|}}.</ref>

===== Nova Scotia =====

[[File:AntigonishNovaScotia.jpg|thumb|right|[[Antigonish]], [[Nova Scotia]]]]

At the start of the 21st century, it was estimated that no more than 500 people in Nova Scotia still spoke Scottish Gaelic as a [[first language]]. In the 2011 census, 300 people claimed to have Gaelic as their first language (a figure that may include Irish Gaelic).<ref name="Curatorial Report No. 97">{{cite web |last1=Kennedy |first1=Michael |title=Gaelic Nova Scotia – An Economic, Cultural, and Social Impact Study |url=https://gaelic.novascotia.ca/sites/default/files/files/Gaelic-Report.pdf |publisher=Nova Scotia Museum |access-date=13 January 2019 |pages=114–115 |date=2002 |archive-date=11 October 2017 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20171011125127/https://gaelic.novascotia.ca/sites/default/files/files/Gaelic-Report.pdf |url-status=live }}</ref> In the same 2011 census, 1,275 people claimed to speak Gaelic, a figure that not only included all Gaelic languages but also those people who are not first language speakers,<ref>Statistics Canada, ''[http://www12.statcan.gc.ca/nhs-enm/2011/dp-pd/prof/index.cfm?Lang=E Nova Scotia (Code 12)] {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20200423074023/https://www12.statcan.gc.ca/nhs-enm/2011/dp-pd/prof/index.cfm?Lang=E |date=23 April 2020 }}'' (table), ''National Household Survey (NHS) Profile'', 2011 NHS, Catalogue <abbr>№</abbr> 99-004-XWE (Ottawa: September 11, 2013).<br /></ref> of whom 300 claim to have Gaelic as their "mother tongue."<ref>{{cite web |last1=Patten |first1=Melanie |title=Rebirth of a 'sleeping' language: How N.S. is reviving its Gaelic culture |url=https://atlantic.ctvnews.ca/rebirth-of-a-sleeping-language-how-n-s-is-reviving-its-gaelic-culture-1.2797627 |website=Atlantic |access-date=12 July 2018 |language=en-CA |date=29 February 2016 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20180713013924/https://atlantic.ctvnews.ca/rebirth-of-a-sleeping-language-how-n-s-is-reviving-its-gaelic-culture-1.2797627 |archive-date=13 July 2018 |url-status=live}}</ref>{{efn|The replies are for all Gaelic languages, including [[Irish language|Irish]].<ref name="census">{{cite web |url=http://www12.statcan.gc.ca/nhs-enm/2011/dp-pd/prof/details/Page.cfm?Lang=E&Geo1=PR&Code1=12&Data=Count&SearchText=Nova%20Scotia&SearchType=Begins&SearchPR=01&A1=All&B1=All&GeoLevel=PR&GeoCode=12 |title=National Household Survey Profile, Nova Scotia, 2011 |publisher=Statistics Canada |date= 8 May 2013|access-date=15 August 2014 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20140513084229/http://www12.statcan.gc.ca/nhs-enm/2011/dp-pd/prof/details/Page.cfm?Lang=E&Geo1=PR&Code1=12&Data=Count&SearchText=Nova%20Scotia&SearchType=Begins&SearchPR=01&A1=All&B1=All&GeoLevel=PR&GeoCode=12 |archive-date=13 May 2014 |url-status=live}}</ref>}}

The Nova Scotia government maintains the Office of Gaelic Affairs ({{lang|gd|Iomairtean na Gàidhlig}}), which is dedicated to the development of Scottish Gaelic language, culture and tourism in Nova Scotia, and which estimates about 2,000 total Gaelic speakers to be in the province.<ref name="Province of Nova Scotia"/> As in Scotland, areas of North-Eastern Nova Scotia and Cape Breton have bilingual street signs. Nova Scotia also has {{lang|gd|Comhairle na Gàidhlig}} (The Gaelic Council of Nova Scotia), a non-profit society dedicated to the maintenance and promotion of the Gaelic language and culture in [[Maritime Canada]]. In 2018, the Nova Scotia government launched a new Gaelic vehicle licence plate to raise awareness of the language and help fund Gaelic language and culture initiatives.<ref name="plate">{{cite news|title=Nova Scotia unveils Gaelic licence plate, as it seeks to expand language|url=https://atlantic.ctvnews.ca/nova-scotia-unveils-gaelic-licence-plate-as-it-seeks-to-expand-language-1.3910559#_gus&_gucid=&_gup=Facebook&_gsc=sEr8tNZ|access-date=2 May 2018|work=Atlantic CTV News|agency=The Canadian Press|publisher=Bell Media|date=1 May 2018|language=en-CA|archive-date=16 August 2021|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210816082804/https://atlantic.ctvnews.ca/nova-scotia-unveils-gaelic-licence-plate-as-it-seeks-to-expand-language-1.3910559#_gus&_gucid=&_gup=Facebook&_gsc=sEr8tNZ|url-status=live}}</ref>

In September 2021, the first Gaelic-medium primary school outside of Scotland, named {{lang|gd|Taigh Sgoile na Drochaide}}, opened in Mabou, Nova Scotia.<ref name="primary">{{cite web|url=https://www.gaidhlig.scot/en/gaelic-education-in-nova-scotia/|title=Gaelic Medium Education in Nova Scotia|author=<!--Not stated-->|date=8 Sep 2021|publisher=Bòrd na Gàidhlig|access-date=8 Sep 2021|archive-date=8 September 2021|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210908183357/https://www.gaidhlig.scot/en/gaelic-education-in-nova-scotia/|url-status=live}}</ref>

===== Outside Nova Scotia =====
Maxville Public School in [[Maxville, Ontario|Maxville]], [[Glengarry County, Ontario|Glengarry]], [[Ontario]], offers Scottish Gaelic lessons weekly.<ref>{{Cite web|last=International|first=Radio Canada|date=2015-01-28|title=Gaelic language slowly gaining ground in Canada|url=https://www.rcinet.ca/en/2015/01/28/gaelic-language-slowly-gaining-ground-in-canada/|access-date=2020-06-09|website=RCI {{!}} English|language=en-US|archive-date=9 June 2020|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20200609213435/https://www.rcinet.ca/en/2015/01/28/gaelic-language-slowly-gaining-ground-in-canada/|url-status=live}}</ref>

In [[Prince Edward Island]], the [[Colonel Gray High School]] now offers both an introductory and an advanced course in Gaelic; both language and history are taught in these classes. This is the first recorded time that Gaelic has ever been taught as an official course on Prince Edward Island.<ref>{{Cite web |last= |first= |date=2015-01-28 |title=Gaelic language slowly gaining ground in Canada |url=https://www.rcinet.ca/en/2015/01/28/gaelic-language-slowly-gaining-ground-in-canada/ |access-date=2023-12-23 |website=[[Radio Canada International]] |language=en-US}}</ref>

The province of [[British Columbia]] is host to the {{lang|gd|Comunn Gàidhlig Bhancoubhair}} (The Gaelic Society of Vancouver), the Vancouver Gaelic Choir, the Victoria Gaelic Choir, as well as the annual Gaelic festival {{lang|gd|Mòd}} ''Vancouver''. The city of [[Vancouver]]'s Scottish Cultural Centre also holds seasonal Scottish Gaelic evening classes.

===Media===
{{main|Gaelic broadcasting in Scotland}}
The [[BBC Scotland|BBC]] operates a Gaelic-language radio station {{lang|gd|[[BBC Radio nan Gàidheal|Radio nan Gàidheal]]}} as well as a television channel, {{lang|gd|[[BBC Alba]]}}. Launched on 19 September 2008, BBC Alba is widely available in the UK (on [[Freeview (UK)|Freeview]], [[Freesat]], [[Sky UK|Sky]] and [[Virgin Media]]). It also broadcasts across Europe on the [[Astra 28.2°E|Astra 2 satellites]].<ref name="astra">[https://web.archive.org/web/20070717172145/http://www.bbc.co.uk/reception/info/sat_frequencies.shtml BBC Reception advice] – BBC Online</ref> The channel is being operated in partnership between BBC Scotland and {{lang|gd|[[MG Alba]]}} – an organisation funded by the Scottish Government, which works to promote the Gaelic language in broadcasting.<ref name="aboutbbcalba">[https://www.bbc.co.uk/alba/about/ About BBC Alba] {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20110817073934/http://www.bbc.co.uk/alba/about/ |date=17 August 2011 }}, from BBC Online</ref> The ITV franchise in central Scotland, [[Scottish Television|STV Central]], has, in the past, produced a number of Scottish Gaelic programmes for both [[BBC Alba]] and its own main channel.<ref name="aboutbbcalba"/>

Until BBC Alba was broadcast on Freeview, viewers were able to receive the channel {{lang|gd|[[TeleG]]}}, which broadcast for an hour every evening. Upon BBC Alba's launch on Freeview, it took the channel number that was previously assigned to TeleG.

There are also television programmes in the language on other BBC channels and on the [[ITV (TV network)|independent commercial channels]], usually subtitled in English. The [[ITV (TV network)|ITV]] franchise in the north of Scotland, [[Grampian Television|STV North]] (formerly ''Grampian Television'') produces some non-news programming in Scottish Gaelic.

===Education===
====Scotland====
{{Main|Scottish Gaelic medium education}}

[[File:Sgoil Ghàidhlig Ghlaschu.jpg|thumb|left|{{lang|gd|Sgoil Ghàidhlig Ghlaschu}} ([[Glasgow Gaelic School]])]]

{| class="wikitable" style="float:right; margin-left:1em;"
|-
! Year !! Number of<br />students in <br />Gaelic medium<br />education !! Percentage<br />of all<br /> students<br />in Scotland
|-
| 2005 || 2,480 || 0.35%
|-
| 2006 || 2,535 || 0.36%<ref>[http://www.scotland.gov.uk/Publications/2007/02/27083941/20 Pupils in Scotland, 2006] {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20081201074958/http://www.scotland.gov.uk/Publications/2007/02/27083941/20 |date=1 December 2008 }} from scot.gov.uk. Published February 2007, Scottish Government.</ref>
|-
| 2007 || 2,601 || 0.38%
|-
| 2008 || 2,766 || 0.40%<ref>[http://www.scotland.gov.uk/Publications/2009/04/01090908/1 Pupils in Scotland, 2008] {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20110607080846/http://www.scotland.gov.uk/Publications/2009/04/01090908/1 |date=7 June 2011 }} from scot.gov.uk. Published February 2009, Scottish Government.</ref>
|-
| 2009 || 2,638 || 0.39%<ref>[http://www.scotland.gov.uk/Resource/Doc/293700/0090772.pdf Pupils in Scotland, 2009] {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20110607080948/http://www.scotland.gov.uk/Resource/Doc/293700/0090772.pdf |date=7 June 2011 }} from scotland.gov.uk. Published 27 November 2009, Scottish Government.</ref>
|-
| 2010 || 2,647 || 0.39%<ref name="scotland.gov.uk">{{cite web |url=http://www.scotland.gov.uk/Topics/Statistics/Browse/School-Education/pupilsupdata |title=Scottish Government: Pupils Census, Supplementary Data |publisher=Scotland.gov.uk |date=14 June 2011 |access-date=27 March 2014 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20111121222525/http://www.scotland.gov.uk/Topics/Statistics/Browse/School-Education/pupilsupdata |archive-date=21 November 2011 |url-status=live}}</ref>
|-
| 2011 || 2,929 || 0.44%<ref>[http://www.gov.scot/Topics/Statistics/Browse/School-Education/supppupils2011 Pupil Census, Supplementary data 2011] {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20150227162446/http://www.gov.scot/Topics/Statistics/Browse/School-Education/supppupils2011 |date=27 February 2015 }} Spreadsheet published 3 February 2012 (Table 1.13)</ref>
|-
| 2012 || 2,871 || 0.43%<ref>[http://www.gov.scot/Topics/Statistics/Browse/School-Education/dspupcensus/pupcensus2012 Pupil Census, Supplementary data 2012] {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20150227162201/http://www.gov.scot/Topics/Statistics/Browse/School-Education/dspupcensus/pupcensus2012 |date=27 February 2015 }} Spreadsheet published 11 December 2012 (Table 1.13)</ref>
|-
| 2013 || 2,953 || 0.44%<ref>[http://www.gov.scot/Topics/Statistics/Browse/School-Education/dspupcensus/pupcensus2013 Pupil Census, Supplementary data 2013] {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20150227170233/http://www.gov.scot/Topics/Statistics/Browse/School-Education/dspupcensus/pupcensus2013 |date=27 February 2015 }} Spreadsheet (Table 1.13)</ref>
|-
| 2014 || 3,583 || 0.53%<ref>[http://www.gov.scot/Topics/Statistics/Browse/School-Education/dspupcensus/dspupcensus Pupil Census, Supplementary data 2014] {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20150227162443/http://www.gov.scot/Topics/Statistics/Browse/School-Education/dspupcensus/dspupcensus |date=27 February 2015 }} Spreadsheet (Table 1.13)</ref>
|-
| 2015 || 3,660 || 0.54%<ref>[http://www.gov.scot/Topics/Statistics/Browse/School-Education/dspupcensus/dspupcensus15 Pupil Census, Supplementary data 2015] {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160301030947/http://www.gov.scot/Topics/Statistics/Browse/School-Education/dspupcensus/dspupcensus15 |date=1 March 2016 }} Spreadsheet (Table 1.13)</ref>
|-
| 2016 || 3,892 || 0.57%<ref>[http://www.gov.scot/Topics/Statistics/Browse/School-Education/dspupcensus/dspupcensus16 Pupil Census, Supplementary data 2016] {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20170214181332/http://www.gov.scot/Topics/Statistics/Browse/School-Education/dspupcensus/dspupcensus16 |date=14 February 2017 }} Spreadsheet (Table 1.13)</ref>
|-
| 2017 || 3,965 || 0.58%<ref>[http://www.gov.scot/Topics/Statistics/Browse/School-Education/dspupcensus/dspupcensus17 Pupil Census, Supplementary data 2017] {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20180517223422/http://www.gov.scot/Topics/Statistics/Browse/School-Education/dspupcensus/dspupcensus17 |date=17 May 2018 }} Spreadsheet (Table 1.13)</ref>
|-
| 2018 || 4,343 || 0.63%<ref>[https://www2.gov.scot/Topics/Statistics/Browse/School-Education/dspupcensus/dspupcensus18 Pupil Census, Supplementary data 2018] {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20190404150300/https://www2.gov.scot/Topics/Statistics/Browse/School-Education/dspupcensus/dspupcensus18 |date=4 April 2019 }} Spreadsheet (Table 1.13)</ref>
|-
| 2019 || 4,631 || 0.66%
|-
| 2020 || 4,849 || 0.69%
|-
| 2021 || 5,066 || 
|-
| 2022 || 5,110 || 
|-
| 2023 || 5,461 || <ref>[https://www.statista.com/statistics/331849/scotland-gaelic-language-student-figures/ Number of primary and high school students taught using the Gaelic language in Scotland from 2018 to 2023]</ref>
|}

The Education (Scotland) Act 1872, which completely ignored Gaelic and led to generations of Gaels being forbidden to speak their native language in the classroom is now recognised as having dealt a major blow to the language. People still living in 2001 could recall being beaten for speaking Gaelic in school.<ref>{{cite book |last=Pagoeta |first=Mikel Morris |title=Europe Phrasebook |publisher=[[Lonely Planet]] |year=2001 |page=416 |isbn=978-1-86450-224-4}}</ref> Even later, when these attitudes had changed, little provision was made for Gaelic medium education in Scottish schools. As late as 1958, even in Highland schools, only 20% of primary students were taught Gaelic as a subject, and only 5% were taught other subjects through the Gaelic language.<ref name="O'Hanlon 2012"/>

Gaelic-medium playgroups for young children began to appear in Scotland during the late 1970s and early 1980s. Parent enthusiasm may have been a factor in the "establishment of the first Gaelic medium primary school units in Glasgow and Inverness in 1985".<ref>{{Cite thesis |last=O'Hanlon |first=Fiona |year=2012 |title=Lost in transition? Celtic language revitalization in Scotland and Wales: the primary to secondary school stage |publisher=The University of Edinburgh |page=48 }}</ref>

The first modern solely Gaelic-medium secondary school, {{lang|gd|[[Glasgow Gaelic School|Sgoil Ghàidhlig Ghlaschu]]}} ("Glasgow Gaelic School"), was opened at Woodside in [[Glasgow]] in 2006 (61 partially Gaelic-medium primary schools and approximately a dozen Gaelic-medium secondary schools also exist). According to {{lang|gd|Bòrd na Gàidhlig}}, a total of 2,092 primary pupils were enrolled in Gaelic-medium primary education in 2008–09, as opposed to 24 in 1985.<ref>{{cite web |url=http://thescotsman.scotsman.com/scotland/Gaelforce-wind-of-change-in.4637948.jp |title=Gael-force wind of change in the classroom |work=The Scotsman |date=29 October 2008 |access-date=8 June 2011 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20081030114836/http://thescotsman.scotsman.com/scotland/Gaelforce-wind-of-change-in.4637948.jp |archive-date=30 October 2008 |url-status=live}}</ref>

The [[Columba Initiative]], also known as {{lang|gd|colmcille}} (formerly {{lang|gd|Iomairt Cholm Cille}}), is a body that seeks to promote links between speakers of Scottish Gaelic and Irish.

In November 2019, the language-learning app [[Duolingo]] opened a [[Software testing|beta]] course in Gaelic.<ref>{{Cite news|url=https://www.bbc.com/news/uk-scotland-50579327|title=Thousands sign up for new online Gaelic course|date=28 November 2019|work=BBC News|access-date=30 November 2019|archive-date=30 November 2019|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20191130131550/https://www.bbc.com/news/uk-scotland-50579327|url-status=live}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web|url=https://www.scotsman.com/news/scottish-gaelic-course-on-duolingo-app-has-20-000-signups-ahead-of-launch-1-5053411|title=Scottish Gaelic course on Duolingo app has 20,000 signups ahead of launch|website=www.scotsman.com|date=28 November 2019|access-date=30 November 2019|archive-date=29 November 2019|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20191129165941/https://www.scotsman.com/news/scottish-gaelic-course-on-duolingo-app-has-20-000-signups-ahead-of-launch-1-5053411|url-status=live}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web|url=https://www.thecourier.co.uk/fp/news/scotland/1030484/tens-of-thousands-sign-up-in-matter-of-hours-as-duolingo-releases-scottish-gaelic-course/|title=Tens of thousands sign up in matter of hours as Duolingo releases Scottish Gaelic course|first=Blair|last=Dingwall|date=28 November 2019 |access-date=30 November 2019|archive-date=29 November 2019|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20191129144602/https://www.thecourier.co.uk/fp/news/scotland/1030484/tens-of-thousands-sign-up-in-matter-of-hours-as-duolingo-releases-scottish-gaelic-course/|url-status=live}}</ref>

Starting from summer 2020, children starting school in the [[Outer Hebrides|Western Isles]] will be enrolled in GME (Gaelic-medium education) unless parents request differently. Children will be taught Scottish Gaelic from P1 to P4 and then English will be introduced to give them a bilingual education.<ref>{{Cite news|url=https://www.bbc.com/news/uk-scotland-highlands-islands-51221475|title=Gaelic to be 'default' in Western Isles schools|date=2020-01-23|work=BBC News|access-date=2020-01-24|language=en-GB|archive-date=24 January 2020|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20200124024444/https://www.bbc.com/news/uk-scotland-highlands-islands-51221475|url-status=live}}</ref>

====Canada====
In May 2004, the Nova Scotia government announced the funding of an initiative to support the language and its culture within the province. Several public schools in Northeastern Nova Scotia and Cape Breton offer Gaelic classes as part of the high-school curriculum.<ref>{{cite news |url=http://www.cbc.ca/news/canada/nova-scotia/gaelic-core-class-increasingly-popular-in-nova-scotia-1.2932151 |title=Gaelic core class increasingly popular in Nova Scotia |publisher=Canadian Broadcasting Corporation |date=26 January 2015 |access-date=4 November 2015 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20151115085959/http://www.cbc.ca/news/canada/nova-scotia/gaelic-core-class-increasingly-popular-in-nova-scotia-1.2932151 |archive-date=15 November 2015 |url-status=live}}</ref>

Maxville Public School in [[Maxville, Ontario|Maxville]], [[Glengarry County, Ontario|Glengarry]], [[Ontario]], offers Scottish Gaelic lessons weekly. In [[Prince Edward Island]], the Colonel Gray High School offer an introductory and an advanced course in Scottish Gaelic.<ref>{{Cite news|url=http://www.rcinet.ca/en/2015/01/28/gaelic-language-slowly-gaining-ground-in-canada/|title=Gaelic language slowly gaining ground in Canada|last=International|first=Radio Canada|date=28 January 2015|work=RCI {{!}} English|access-date=2018-02-03|language=en-US|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20170623060243/http://www.rcinet.ca/en/2015/01/28/gaelic-language-slowly-gaining-ground-in-canada/|archive-date=23 June 2017|url-status=live}}</ref>

====Higher and further education====
A number of Scottish and some Irish universities offer full-time degrees including a Gaelic language element, usually graduating as Celtic Studies.

In [[Nova Scotia]], Canada, [[St. Francis Xavier University]], the [[Gaelic College of Celtic Arts and Crafts]] and [[Cape Breton University]] (formerly known as the "University College of Cape Breton") offer Celtic Studies degrees and/or Gaelic language programs. The government's Office of Gaelic Affairs offers lunch-time lessons to public servants in Halifax.

In Russia the [[Moscow State University]] offers Gaelic language, history and culture courses.

The [[University of the Highlands and Islands]] offers a range of Gaelic language, history and culture courses at the National Certificate, Higher National Diploma, Bachelor of Arts (ordinary), Bachelor of Arts (Honours) and Master of Science levels. It offers opportunities for postgraduate research through the medium of Gaelic. Residential courses at {{lang|gd|[[Sabhal Mòr Ostaig]]}} on the Isle of Skye offer adults the chance to become fluent in Gaelic in one year. Many continue to complete degrees, or to follow up as distance learners. A number of other colleges offer a one-year certificate course, which is also available online (pending accreditation).

[[Lews Castle College]]'s [[Benbecula]] campus offers an independent 1-year course in Gaelic and Traditional Music (FE, SQF level 5/6).

===Church===
[[File:Church Services - geograph.org.uk - 35208.jpg|thumb|A sign indicating services in Gaelic and English at a [[Free Church of Scotland (post 1900)|Free Church of Scotland]] congregation in the community of [[Ness, Lewis|Ness]], [[Isle of Lewis]]]]
In the Western Isles, the isles of [[Isle of Lewis|Lewis]], [[Harris, Outer Hebrides|Harris]] and [[North Uist]] have a [[Presbyterianism|Presbyterian]] majority (largely [[Church of Scotland]] – {{lang|gd|Eaglais na h-Alba}} in Gaelic, [[Free Church of Scotland (post 1900)|Free Church of Scotland]] and [[Free Presbyterian Church of Scotland]]). The isles of [[South Uist]] and [[Barra]] have a [[Catholic Church|Catholic]] majority. All these churches have Gaelic-speaking congregations throughout the Western Isles. Notable city congregations with regular services in Gaelic are [[St Columba Church of Scotland, Glasgow|St Columba's Church, Glasgow]] and [[Greyfriars Kirk, Edinburgh|Greyfriars Tolbooth & Highland Kirk]], Edinburgh. {{lang|gd|Leabhar Sheirbheisean}}—a shorter Gaelic version of the English-language Book of Common Order—was published in 1996 by the Church of Scotland.

The widespread use of English in worship has often been suggested as one of the historic reasons for the decline of Gaelic. The Church of Scotland is supportive today,{{vague|date=April 2017}} but has a shortage of Gaelic-speaking ministers. The Free Church also recently announced plans to abolish Gaelic-language communion services, citing both a lack of ministers and a desire to have their congregations united at communion time.<ref>{{cite news |url=http://news.scotsman.com/scotland/Free-Church-plans-to-scrap.3644503.jp |location=Edinburgh |work=The Scotsman |first=Murdo |last=MacLeod |title=Free Church plans to scrap Gaelic communion service |date=6 January 2008 |access-date=19 January 2008 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20090111185835/http://news.scotsman.com/scotland/Free-Church-plans-to-scrap.3644503.jp |archive-date=11 January 2009 |url-status=live}}</ref>

===Literature===
{{main|Scottish Gaelic literature}}
From the sixth century to the present day, Scottish Gaelic has been used as a literary language. Two prominent writers of the twentieth century are [[Anne Frater]] and [[Sorley MacLean]].

===Names===
{{Main|Scottish Gaelic name}}

====Personal names====
Gaelic has its own version of European-wide names which also have English forms, for example: {{lang|gd|Iain}} (John), {{lang|gd|Alasdair}} (Alexander), {{lang|gd|Uilleam}} (William), {{lang|gd|Catrìona}} (Catherine), {{lang|gd|Raibeart}} (Robert), {{lang|gd|Cairistìona}} (Christina), {{lang|gd|Anna}} (Ann), {{lang|gd|Màiri}} (Mary), {{lang|gd|Seumas}} (James), {{lang|gd|Pàdraig}} (Patrick) and {{lang|gd|Tòmas}} (Thomas).
Not all traditional Gaelic names have direct equivalents in English: {{lang|gd|Oighrig}}, which is normally rendered as ''Euphemia'' (Effie) or ''Henrietta'' (Etta) (formerly also as Henny or even as Harriet), or, {{lang|gd|Diorbhal}}, which is "matched" with ''Dorothy'', simply on the basis of a certain similarity in spelling. Many of these traditional Gaelic-only names are now regarded as old-fashioned, and hence are rarely or never used.

Some names have come into Gaelic from [[Old Norse]]; for example, {{lang|gd|Somhairle}} ( < {{lang|non|Somarliðr}}), {{lang|gd|Tormod}} (< {{lang|non|Þórmóðr}}), {{lang|gd|Raghnall}} or {{lang|gd|Raonull}} (< {{lang|non|Rǫgnvaldr}}), {{lang|gd|Torcuil}} (< {{lang|non|Þórkell, Þórketill}}), {{lang|gd|Ìomhar}} ({{lang|non|Ívarr}}). These are conventionally rendered in English as ''Sorley'' (or, historically, ''Somerled''), ''Norman'', ''Ronald'' or ''Ranald'', ''Torquil'' and ''Iver'' (or ''Evander'').

Some Scottish names are Anglicized forms of Gaelic names: {{lang|gd|Aonghas}} → (Angus), {{lang|gd|Dòmhnall}}→ (Donald), for instance. {{lang|gd|Hamish}}, and the recently established {{lang|gd|Mhairi}} (pronounced {{IPA|[vaːri]}}) come from the Gaelic for, respectively, James, and Mary, but derive from the form of the names as they appear in the [[vocative case]]: {{lang|gd|Seumas}} (James) (nom.) → {{lang|gd|Sheumais}} (voc.) and {{lang|gd|Màiri}} (Mary) (nom.) → {{lang|gd|Mhàiri}} (voc.).

====Surnames====
The most common class of Gaelic surnames are those beginning with {{lang|gd|[[Irish surname prefixes|mac]]}} (Gaelic for "son"), such as {{lang|gd|MacGillEathain}}&thinsp;/&thinsp;{{lang|gd|MacIllEathain}}<ref>{{cite web |title=Alba air Taghadh – beò à Inbhir Nis |url=https://www.bbc.co.uk/programmes/p026xw3x/p026xvx0 |publisher=BBC Radio nan Gàidheal |access-date=19 January 2017 |archive-date=3 November 2018 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20181103005759/https://www.bbc.co.uk/programmes/p026xw3x/p026xvx0 |url-status=live }}</ref><ref name="SQA">{{cite web |title=Gaelic Orthographic Conventions|url=http://www.sqa.org.uk/files_ccc/SQA-Gaelic_Orthographic_Conventions-En-e.pdf |publisher=Bòrd na Gàidhlig |access-date=19 January 2017 |date=October 2009 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20170116081948/http://www.sqa.org.uk/files_ccc/SQA-Gaelic_Orthographic_Conventions-En-e.pdf |archive-date=16 January 2017 |url-status=live}}</ref> (MacLean). The female form is {{lang|gd|nic}} (Gaelic for "daughter"), so Catherine MacPhee is properly called in Gaelic, {{lang|gd|Catrìona Nic a' Phì}}<ref>{{cite web |title=Catrìona Anna Nic a' Phì |url=https://www.bbc.co.uk/alba/oran/people/catriona_anna_nic_a_phi/ |website=BBC |access-date=19 January 2017 |language=gd |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160910203707/http://www.bbc.co.uk/alba/oran/people/catriona_anna_nic_a_phi/ |archive-date=10 September 2016 |url-status=live}}</ref> (strictly, {{lang|gd|nic}} is a contraction of the Gaelic phrase {{lang|gd|nighean mhic}}, meaning "daughter of the son", thus {{lang|gd|NicDhòmhnaill}}<ref name="SQA"/><!-- cite is just for correct spelling of name --> really means "daughter of MacDonald" rather than "daughter of Donald"). The "of" part actually comes from the genitive form of the patronymic that follows the prefix; in the case of {{lang|gd|MacDhòmhnaill}}, {{lang|gd|Dhòmhnaill}} ("of Donald") is the genitive form of {{lang|gd|Dòmhnall}} ("Donald").<ref>{{cite web |last1=Woulfe |first1=Patrick |title=Gaelic Surnames |url=http://www.libraryireland.com/names/gaelic-surnames.php |publisher=Library Ireland |access-date=24 April 2017 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20170425204723/http://www.libraryireland.com/names/gaelic-surnames.php |archive-date=25 April 2017 |url-status=live}}</ref>

Several colours give rise to common Scottish surnames: {{lang|gd|bàn}} ([[Bain (surname)|Bain]] – white), {{lang|gd|ruadh}} (Roy – red), {{lang|gd|dubh}} (Dow, [[Duff (surname)|Duff]] – black), {{lang|gd|donn}} ([[Dunn (surname)|Dunn]] – brown), {{lang|gd|buidhe}} ([[Bowie (surname)|Bowie]] – yellow) although in Gaelic these occur as part of a fuller form such as {{lang|gd|MacGille}} 'son of the servant of', i.e. {{lang|gd|MacGilleBhàin, MacGilleRuaidh, MacGilleDhuibh, MacGilleDhuinn, MacGilleBhuidhe}}.