A’ sgrìobhadh aig deireadh Seachdain na Gàidhlig feumaidh mi a ràdh gur e tlachd a bh’ ann dhomh a bhith nam phàirt de chuid de na thachair.
Tha mi a’ creidsinn gum bu chòir dhuinn a tha nar luchd-taice dhan Ghàidhlig a bhith a’ meas gach seachdain den bhliadhna mar àm a tha sònraichte dhan chànan, agus a bhith a’ daingneachadh sin le bhith ga foillseachadh agus ga cleachdadh anns gach dòigh as urrainn dhuinn. Gu mì-fhortanach tha eadar-dhealachadh cèille air tighinn eadar “luchd-taice” agus “luchd-cleachdaidh” agus b’ e aon de na teachdaireachdan làidir a chuala mi fhìn tron t-seachdain gum bheil cunnart nach bi adhbhar taice ann mura tèid ìre cleachdaidh a’ chànain am meud gu mòr agus gu grad. Agus ’s i a’ cheist dhùbhlanach ciamar a ghabhas luchd-labhairt agus luchd-ionnsachaidh a bhrosnachadh, agus a chuideachadh, gus an ìre cleachdaidh sin a choileanadh. Chan e ceist ùr a tha seo idir, agus saoilidh mi gum bheil mòran a’ tuigsinn co-dhiù cuid de na h-adhbharan a dh’fhàg ìre cleachdaidh a’ chànain a’ crìonadh. Chaill cuid misneachd ri linn ’s mar a bhathas gam burraidheachd agus a’ magadh air “teuchters”, neo “maws”, anns an sgoil, agus dh’fhuiling feadhainn eile tomhas den aon seòrsa damaiste mar inbhich. Theagamh ge-tà gur e aon de na h-adhbhair as bitheanta agus as milltiche an ìre ’s gum bheil luchd-labhairt cho sgapte a’ toirt bhuapa cothrom crac gach latha, neo co-dhiù cho bitheanta ’s a dh’iarradh iad.
Aig a’ cho-labhairt CnaG@40 ann an Steòrnabhagh Diardaoin seo chaidh, fhuair sinn uile misneachadh a bhith a’ sealltainn air ais air toradh obrach na buidhne thar ceathrad bliadhna, agus mothachadh a ghabhail air na th’ air tachairt ri linn obair-buidhinn-carthannais aig nach eil ùghdarras sònraichte sam bith. Shaoileam gun do dhearbh àireamh na bha an làthair ann an Steòrnabhagh, agus ag èisteachd air-loidhne, gun robh feum air tachartas den t-seòrsa, bha còrr air fichead bliadhna bho nach do thachair a leithid. Cha robh e na annas dhomh fhìn aig m’ aois gun robh feadhainn òga an làthair nach b’ aithne dhomh, ach abair togail as an àireamh a bh’ ann dhiubh, agus cho misneachail ’s a bha iad. Mar a dh’innis mi dhuibh roimhe bha e na phrìomh amas aig a’ cho-labhairt seo beachdachadh air innleachdan leasachadh a’ chànain agus gu sònraichte mar a tha iad sin a’ frithealadh òigridh. Rinneadh sin, agus chaidh aithneachadh gum bheil dùbhlan air leth mòr aig cuibhreann den chloinn a tha a’ tighinn tro fhoghlam Gàidhlig cumail a’ cleachdadh a’ chànain aig ìre fileantais. Ged a bha rabhadh làidir anns an teachdaireachd aig Ceannard ChnaG air a’ chuspair, agus beachd aige gum bheil grad-fheum air innleachd leasachaidh ùr mar thaic dhan t-siostam foghlaim a th’ ann, gu h-iongantach cha robh faireachadh dubhach sam bith air a’ chruinneachadh.
Chaidh aontachadh gun tèid na molaidhean aig CnaG fa chomhair Bòrd na Gàidhlig a dh’aithghearr, le dòchas a dh’aindeoin gainnead maoine poblaich, gun gabh greimeachadh gu sgiobalta agus gu h-èifeachdach air suidheachadh crìonaidh a tha air leth cunnartach dhan Ghàidhlig.
It was a pleasure to be involved in part of the celebrations of Scottish Gaelic Week, although I believe supporters and users of Gaelic should celebrate their language and culture every week by using it and promoting it in every way possible.
Unfortunately, there is some difference now between the meaning of “supporter” and “user”, and one of the strong messages throughout the week was that use of Gaelic must grow in every possible situation. The challenge, however, is how users and learners can be motivated to deliver that level of usage.
Many understand some of the influences which have led to an erosion in language use, such as bullying and name-calling at school where “teuchter” and “maw” were denigrating labels which in some cases followed into adult workplaces.
However, perhaps the most common reason for a decline in language use is the scattered nature of speakers which prevent opportunities for daily or at least regular blethers.
Attendees at Comunn na Gàidhlig’s (CnaG’s) 40th Anniversary Conference in Stornoway last Thursday were encouraged in reviewing the organisation’s activities since 1984 and appreciating the achievements of a charity that has no formal authority.
The number of participants in Stornoway and attending online confirmed community desire for such an event - the last national conference on Gaelic took place over 20 years ago.
As a delegate of more mature years I was not surprised to see many who were strangers to me, but I was impressed and greatly encouraged by the number of young people present, and their positivity.
As well as marking its achievements to date the principal focus of the conference was to publish research and discuss current policy and provision of Gaelic language promotional support to young people. It was reported that some young people have difficulty in being able to use fluent Gaelic regularly after exiting Gaelic medium education, but despite a strong warning from CnaG’s CEO that this challenge requires urgent attention and that further levels of support are required, the conference ended in a positive mood.
CnaG’s proposals will be considered by Bòrd na Gàidlig shortly, and despite public funding pressures it is hoped that an effective structure can quickly be implemented to counter a worrying erosion in Gaelic usage.
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