Kate Forbes MSP Speaking Scottish Gaelic in Scottish Parliament

[@agushll74]

Don’t stop speaking our minority languages in Europe. It makes us very rich. Don’t let them disappear.

[@mikhailabunidal9146]

They shall be preserved and kept that way

[@Oak6]

I'm from America but I couldn't agree more!

[@mikhailabunidal9146]

@@Oak6 With all languages, hell look at the Hebrew language which today is used as a spoken language in the State of Israel 🇮🇱 along side with it's sister language Arabic who played and still plays a key role in the language especially words used in the spoken language that cannot be found in the literal and biblical grammer since the language is so old.

[@agushll74]

@@Oak6 Do you know Euskera which is a language spoken in the Basque Country region of Spain, is also spoken in Boise, Idaho?

[@hueyfreeman1983]

@@mikhailabunidal9146 You had to ruin it by mentioning thar illegitimate state

[@tanzanos]

I am Greek and hearing her fight for her language made me tear up. No language deserves to become extinct. All languages are human heritage and deserve to be preserved.

[@somescottishguy191]

Don't have Greek characters on my pc keyboard so I'm gonna have to thank you in English as I hate typing Greeklish. Thank you Yiannis! Sincerely from a Scot who learned more Greek from one year in Cyprus than I learned Gaelic my whole life in Scotland. Currently trying to fix this.

[@andrewelphick2304]

Languages become extinct because no one uses them or their language base dies off. Simple social evolution, regrettable maybe, but neither good nor bad. Scots Gaelic is a dead language at this point.

[@marcellomancini6646]

​@@andrewelphick2304Spart

[@maxi6457]

Are you doing your part in protecting Tsakonian and Aromanian?

[@kalleidemation]

@@andrewelphick2304Languages are brutally suppressed by colonizers who literally beat indigenous children for speaking their own language and practicing any of their culture. They are not “dead” languages. They are suppressed languages.

[@thecampercook]

I speak Spanish and I don't know what I would think/say/do if I had to fight for my language to be preserved. This woman's language--Scots Gaelic--is so incredibly beautiful that it makes ME want to learn how to speak it! May she be victorious in her attempts to help the country understand the need to preserve their culture through language.

[@drServitis]

No cal mirar gaire lluny a Espanya per veure un idioma que es mor i a ningú li importa ............

[@Kurdedunaysiri]

Speak and teach your children

[@daynegilbey3674]

vamos a aprender

[@dannicatzer305]

Unless you plan on moving to the north of Scotland I wouldn't bother learning Gaelic.. I think a total of 70,000 or so in the world can speak it.. It's also becoming an elitist language in some circles only spoken by the ruling elite and their children.

[@JozeManuLOL]

@@drServitis El catalán no está realmente muriendo, lenguas que sí están en peligro son el vasco, valenciano y el gallego. Pero el catalán es súper usado y promovido en Cataluña.

[@johng810]

Will never understand the comments from people against it 😂. What's the actual harm in teaching it as a second language or to people who just want to learn it? None whatsoever

[@Sabhail_ar_Alba]

If only life was so simple.

[@ayrshireman1314]

No problem as long as its taught, BUT in context with the many other languages the people of Scotland has spoken over the last x000's of years, or the last 2000 at least.

[@BenjaminMazs]

@@ayrshireman1314 this is the dominant language that we've spoken throughout our history though so it would make sense that this is what we learn as a second language, rather than... I dunno, pictish? If that's a language. Scottish people didn't know/identify themselves as Scottish until much later than the Romans/English did.

[@ayrshireman1314]

@@BenjaminMazs It isnt. In parts of Scotland, yes. In other parts, no. I am using Scotland as shorthand.

[@DonFlufflesPrime]

I see people against teaching Gaelic and I'm just confused, what's the harm? Being bilingual is only a benefit, and keeping the language of your ancestors alive is very important, especially with most Celtic languages being in the endangered state they are.

[@islastorrar]

As a Scot, I don't personally speak Gaelic but I so wish I did. It's such a beautiful language and I'm frankly saddened by the fact that my school neither speaks nor teaches it. I'm attempting to learn via duolingo but it isn't going great so far, haha. I wish more Scottish schools talk Gaelic.

[@DonFlufflesPrime]

Good to see more people are learning the language, good luck with Duolingo!

[@davidcheater4239]

@@DonFlufflesPrime I'm taking the course through Duolingo. I came to this video to see if could recognise any of the spoken language. Now, Duolingo aims to give basic understanding - not fluency - with the completion of the course. I'm around 40% of my way through the course and could understand about 25% of what she said. I think the full course will give a decent basis to understand and speak the language.

[@DonFlufflesPrime]

@@davidcheater4239 Agreed, Duolingo definitely falls short of full fluency, but it can certainly help as a starting point to get conversational fluency. Also, good luck with Duolingo!

[@davidcheater4239]

@@DonFlufflesPrime At this point, the Scottish Gaelic course is one of the courses that doesn't check the learner's pronunciation. I use Hebrew liturgically, and used to live in Germany so I have some experience in different grammar/pronunciation. But Duolingo is quite clear that it's no substitute to using a language with fluent speakers.

[@mallyx8171]

I’m from Edinburgh but I was luckily brought up fluent in Gaelic as my gran is from Stornaway and it’s good to see how many people are interested in learning it😊

[@Peacefulpreface6323]

In Dublin, road signs are in Irish first and English underneath. It's like this in many parts of Wales as well, no reason it shouldn't be the same in Scotland.

[@adamfinnegan735]

Ceapaim go bhfuil na focail Gaeilge ró-beag, is maith liom ag léamh na comharthaí bóthar as Gaeilge, ach uaireanta is féidir leis deacair dom a dhéanamh :(

[@JoeDueterte]

And in Los Angeles and New York, they’re in Chinese.

[@dutchskyrimgamer.youtube2748]

The problem is Scots too. Which one should be in top? Maybe in the Highlands Gaelic and in the Lowlands Scots. In either way English is gonna be down

[@michaelroche6181]

The signs are in Gaelic and English in the Highlands and Islands.

[@Enjay001]

It is like that in parts of Scotland. However, it is also worth remembering that, despite political attempts to give the impression that Gaelic is the natural "our own language" choice for all of Scotland, it isn't. The areas where you are likely to find a Gaelic-first speaker are quite small, and the number of people is also very small. In very large parts of Scotland, no one speaks Gaelic at all, and in many of those areas, no one ever did. Bilingual English/Gaelic signs would be utterly inappropriate for large parts of Scotland where Gaelic simply isn't even spoken at all by anyone. Indeed, in many parts of Scotland, promotion of Gaelic, rather than the more natural local languages and dialects, is regarded as somewhat insulting. In parts of Scotland where Gaelic has never been spoken, we still have ambulances with "Ambaileans" written on them, or police cars with "Poileas" and I've really got to ask why. No one in the area speaks Gaelic and no one, Gaelic speaking or not, needs the "clarification" that the white car with the blue and yellow chequered vinyls, flashing blue lights and sirens is in fact a "Poileas" car. If it only said "Police", it would not be confusing. What's important here? There are millions of £ spent in Scotland propping up Gaelic, and doing so in areas where it is not naturally spoken. You can get significant grants to make your signage and information English/Gaelic bilingual in museums, natural sites (e.g. forestry) etc for... tourists! No tourists needs Gaelic. It's a political initiative, rather than one that is wanted or needed in many areas. I get that it's "part of the experience" but it's not actually readable by the visitors. I'm not saying that Gaelic shouldn't be supported (in areas where it is appropriate to do so), but it is being supported, even pushed, in areas where it is not needed, not appropriate, and large sums of money are being spent on that support. Pet theory: Alec Salmond visited Wales and saw all the bi-lingual signs and thought "I'll have some of that to help me carve out a new Scottish identity" regardless of the cost, or appropriateness of doing so. It's a false political narrative that Gaelic=Scotland's language. Indeed, I live near where the advance of the Gaelic speaking hordes was stopped in battle several hundred years ago. ;)

[@jonathancoleman3003]

C'mon scotland keep your native tongue alive "A nation without it's native language is a nation without a soul" it all begins with you, individual people learning and speaking it every day. From one Celtic brother to another🇮🇪

[@adamfinnegan735]

We need our language in Ireland to be kept alive too sadly

[@jonathancoleman3003]

@@adamfinnegan735 I literally only started brushing up on mine a couple months ago bro Ive got a 1 year old son and I'll be sending him to an irish school when he's old enough..I'm gunna make sure every generation after me is fluent, it all begins with us, the people.🇮🇪

[@ayrshireman1314]

ONE of the languages our ancestors spoke, and as for native, it was transplanted from Ireland. People in what is now Scotland, spoke other Celtic tongues before Gaelic appeared on the scene.

[@ayrshireman1314]

@Sean Richardson Simply to remind people that whilst a great language, Gaelic was/is just one of the great languages, the people of this country have spoken. To celebrate the other languages. To put Gaelic in context historically, esp as a Lowlander. Where the Gaelic had and has never had the same relationship as in the Highlands. To be blunter, to correct the modern and romantic tosh that Gaelic is 'oor language', as if the others have no relevance. I see a Gaelicisation of our culture and lingustic history, and I find it both factually wrong and culturally reductive. I would even argue it been used as a socio-political weapon and imo it deserves better, we all do.

[@ayrshireman1314]

@Sean Richardson Hi, I agree, the Picts are such a huge part of our history, yet we have relatively little of them to look at. And nobody has spoken Pictish for 1000 years at least. Sad. Gaelic appeared in the Lowlands probably around the first millenium, and dies away as a lingustic force 500 yrs later, although it would linger on until about 200 yrs ago. of course it had a big impact, but was far from the first (Brythonic/Cymric, Galloway Celtic). Brythonic and Gaelic probably overlapped for 100-200 yrs until the end of the Kingdom of Strathclyde. Galloway would essentially be independent until the 1300s. So Galldovidian-Gaelic overlap there as well? So even though Gaelic came south, it was always combatting other tongues, firstly Brythonic/Cymric, then most notably Anglo-Saxon/English/its Scots variant.

[@shanwyn]

As a swiss, I am truly amazed by this. We have four national languages in my country, the smallest one is romansh which is spoken only by 40'000 people these days. Yet it is protected and taught in schools in the regions where it was spoken traditionally. I don't understand why minority languages aren't protected and supported in other countries. It enriches your country so much

[@MisterallstarCH]

My grandmother came from a place in Graubünden where people speak Pus'ciavin. As far as I know, it's not Romansh but rather an Italian dialect. I wish she taught my mom how to speak it so i could learn it to. It would be cool to speak such a not widely spoken "language". But speaking swiss german is already coo/weirdl in its own way :D

[@shanwyn]

@@MisterallstarCH I am not sure, but I think I learned that there are even dialects amongst the romansh language itself. Which makes it, if that is accurate, pretty funny in my opinion. Years ago I heard a nice comparison, putting swiss german and the Scottish english dialect spoken in the highlands together. It's actually pretty truthful since most english speaker dont understand a word when highlanders speak . Kinda like germans with swiss german hihi

[@robwalsh9843]

Switzerland also has some Celtic history from what I understand. At one time there were languages spoken in the Alps that were somewhat distantly related to those of Scotland, Wales, Britain and Ireland.

[@shanwyn]

@@robwalsh9843 That's true. Ages ago switzerland was one of the core regions of the gaulish culture. But with the conquest of the romans and then the germanic tribes after them, every linguistic/culture roots were more or less wiped out. Don't quote me on that, but what is now called the celtic heartland region (UK and Ireland and Brittany) was once the most remote area of gaulish culture. Time has an interesting effect on things, doesn't it?

[@prm2335]

In Jamaica, so many people try so hard to make us believe that patois/patwa/Jamaican creole is a language to be ashamed of. Yes, English has it's place, but why should anyone be made to feel that their mother tongue is less important than yours?

[@jesseobrien5864]

This is the first time hearing my language. It sounds beautiful. Respectful. Honest. I love you all

[@dutchskyrimgamer.youtube2748]

kzbin.info/www/bejne/e6WrhJufjd2qarcsi=otxv_BbIrNh8Ndm9 The National anthem of Scotland, 'The Flower of Scotland', but then in Scottish Gaelic. Enjoy as much as this Dutchman (Saxon) does :)

[@hadorstapa]

I think my Grandmother would have been amazed by this. She was born on Skye in the 1930s and Gaelic was her first language. She taught me a very little, and I’d have loved to be able to have a conversation with her in Gaelic.

[@eilidhmorrison2856]

My grandmother was also born on Skye a decade later, gaelic was also her first language. In her final years, she got dementia and started slipping back into it more and more often. So I took it upon myself to learn so I could still communicate with her to some extent and hang on to every last minute with her. Tha gaol agam ort Seanmhair

[@shadetreader]

How's your language journey coming along?

[@hadorstapa]

@@shadetreader I'm advancing through Duolingo's programme quite well. I finished the original programme and then came back to it when they expanded it. Still very basic, but I'm only doing about 15 minutes a day.

[@Sierraomega1991]

I wish it was taught in schools when i was younger but thankfully now it is and its booming in glasgow there opening new gealic schools

[@niallragnarsson]

Wales had a bit of a head start with that but now the native language apparently has 500,000 first language speakers and aims to have a million by 2050 😊 it’s possible for Scotland too and I hope it can happen

[@gamewalkthroughuk8919]

As someone who lives in Glasgow this isn’t true. There’s only ever been 1 Gaelic school in Glasgow and I’ve been campaigning for more for years

[@niallragnarsson]

@@gamewalkthroughuk8919 Wales has apparently made their optional Cymru language lessons compulsory in secondary education, maybe Scotland will do the same post-independence?

[@niallragnarsson]

*Cymraeg

[@gamewalkthroughuk8919]

@@niallragnarsson unfortunately I don’t really see if, even if independence comes. Very few people speak the language but you never know.

[@but_iWantedTo_speakGerman]

Our race and our language matters.

[@JoeDueterte]

So join your local organization.

[@pedrapgwilym1341]

Wonderful to hear Gaelic spoken in the Scottish Parliament. I wish you the same development as Welsh enjoys in Wales.

[@martinwilliams9776]

Sylwadau da👍

[@fieldagentryan]

kzbin.info/www/bejne/o4Oskn-JmbeAg9U&pp=ygUXZG9uYWxsIGhlYWxsaWEgdGVkIHRhbGs%3D

[@hooverbaglegs]

Cytuno - am iaith hyfryd!

[@GusJKlaus]

I'm brazilian, so i can't speak for the gaelic speakers and the sadness of having their language undermined, but as a languages lover, i say that a language as old and beautiful and yet survived all the way till these days, overcoming cultural assimilation and cultural oppression, is something that must be protected, and kept alive by their people, please Scots, don't let your language die.

[@MegaDonostia]

Could not have put it better my self.

[@ereno5475]

Concordo completamente com você

[@charlestaylor3027]

@aust r not Gaelic then.

[@Alan_Mac]

'kept alive by the people? Eh? It was the people themselves who abandoned it.

[@ayya5107]

@@Alan_Mac i think you mean they were forced to abandon it by the english

[@cameron8946]

The confidence in her voice when she opens with "Tapadh leibh" is incredible 💙

[@ЧеркасДніпровський]

Scots, take care of your language, this is the most valuable heritage of your ancestors! "Nations don't die of a heart attack. First they lose their language." (Lina Kostenko)

[@peadarocoileain902]

Exactly-Tir gan Tanga, Tir gan Anam'. a Nation without its own Language, is a Nation without a Soul' Thomas Davis.

[@Mns_87]

Greetings from Nova Scotia / Alba Nuadh

[@biddyearly9262]

Beautiful language given to the Scots by the Irish we don't realize how close we actually are us Irish and Scots God protect our language.

[@susan-marypryor5697]

It is actually a Celtic language and the Celts inhabited Ireland, Scotland, Isle of Mann, Brittony and other places...there is a shared thread running through all these seemingly seperate cultures. Language is one of the many things they have in common.

[@vadoksam9235]

Gaelic was not given to us by Ireland. If it was then Gaelic was given to you by french bell beaker folk pre rome.

[@HyperBoreana-mf4ql]

the scots were from ireland but it wasn't given to them by the irish. they were different.

[@brucecollins641]

@@HyperBoreana-mf4ql lol.....the scots never came from ireland.....a mythical made up tale. it's gallic in scotland which came from the frankish regions of europe. the gauls/galls were always at war with the romans there so they fled to england. when the romans invaded england they then fled to and settled in scotland..

[@MrFelimoneill]

Mathú Kate. Óráid íontach. Am bhféidir níos mó aontas idir nGael na hÉireann, Alba agus Manna a spreagadh agus a molladh. Le chéile muid. Bídeach in aonar, cúmhachdach le chéile!❤

[@kloewe6069]

Even written the language is so beautiful... Tapabh leat..? Is that a correct way to give thanks? I hope to learn this beautiful language now 🙏✨

[@LW-ng1fl]

gu math thuirt!

[@jamesflemming5182]

​@@kloewe6069 'Tapadh leat.' Felim was writing in Irish, not Scottish Gaelic btw. Bha e a' sgrìobhadh anns a' Ghàidhlig na h-Èireann, chan e Gàidhlig na h-Alba a bh' ann.

[@catherinecampbell9746]

@@LW-ng1fl

[@douglascampbell4993]

@jamesflemming5182 how different actually is irish and scots gaelic? are they close enough that they can kind of understand each other? or are they too far apart?

[@kyivstuff]

Scottish Gaelic is such a beautiful language! It’s so sad that more people don’t speak it. I’m Ukrainian and Russians tried to extinguish our language, but thank God they were only partly successful and we were able to restore its free usage as official state language. Now, almost all of Ukrainians understand it, 64% give it as their only native language, and 46% speak only or mostly Ukrainian in everyday life. The ongoing hybrid war with Russia only accelerated this process. Alba gu bràth!

[@stsk1061]

Well, now you're doing the same thing to Russian speakers in Ukraine.

[@kyivstuff]

@@stsk1061 Nope

[@stsk1061]

@@kyivstuff Official documents are only in Ukrainian, businesses have to operate in Ukrainian, schools are only in Ukrainian and Russian TV channels are banned. Meanwhile, in the Soviet Union, all those things were presented in both languages.

[@kyivstuff]

@@stsk1061 Official documents in Ukraine are in Ukrainian and not in the language of a colonizing country that even now occupies Ukrainian territories and wages hybrid war on Ukraine part of which is media propaganda through its TV channels? I guess it was better during the Soviets when the rulers in Moscow could just continue to dictate the colonized peoples of the former Russian Empire what to do and freely kill all those opposed.

[@stsk1061]

@@kyivstuff What does this have to do with your citizens who happen to speak Russian? Shouldn't they be free to speak their own language?

[@alasdairblack393]

She speaks so clearly it makes it much easier to understand, this encourages learners.

[@edenparadysa]

I started duolingo course after finding out of this language in danger. It is amazing and I'm so proud to have caught and understood parts of her speech here and there!

[@blindknitter]

Try glossika too, for 'mass sentence' learning and pronunciation. It's Scottish Gaelic course is free.

[@edenparadysa]

@thebrit2517 Tapadh leat! ^_^ Tha do faclan snog!

[@paulgannon3261]

We have to keep these languages alive, Welsh sounds wonderful and is quite widely spoken now but Gaelic needs more speakers as does original Cornish and Irish Gaelic. All have a place

[@jgdooley2003]

While I could not understand any Welsh I could see a striking similarity between Scots Gaelic and Irish, especially the Irish of Donegal. The education system in Ireland has had compulsory Irish for all pupils since 1927, there even being a time when ALL instruction in schools was through the medium of Irish. It has had mixed results. 95% of Irish people do not use Irish in their everyday lives and only 50,000 people are native born Irish speakers who are totally fluent in Irish and use English as a secondary language outside the home. The areas where Irish is still spoken suffer from high emigration and high unemployment and this is leading to a decline in the language.

[@雪走-m7z]

@@jgdooley2003 Do Welsh come back to school as the language of instruction now? Coz Schools are the biggest influence on children, and children are the future of this culture

[@eliyahushvartz2167]

Kernow bys vyken

[@paulgannon3261]

@@eliyahushvartz2167 👍

[@chanleymuir6469]

@@jgdooley2003the reason for that is language heritage. While Welsh, Cornish & Breton (spoken in Brittany) are 3 of the 6 Celtic languages, they are Brythonic Celtic and so they share similarities amongst eachother. Scottish, Irish & Manx (spoken on the Isle of Man) on the other hand are the 3 Goidelic Celtic languages and derive from Old Irish and therefore have a mutual intelligibility- similar to the three Scandinavian languages or the Slavic or the Iberian lanaguages have shared heritage and are similar looking/sounding.

[@classicalsrock]

That was amazing to listen to, I loved every moment, from her little pauses to answering questions it was beautiful.

[@francescoroych3984]

I can understand, as a Sardinian, how is really important and crucial to protect and study a minority language. Respect and love for the Scottish culture.

[@62hwvgvekaihvevevj]

Parles del Sard o del Català?

[@francescoroych3984]

@@62hwvgvekaihvevevj de ambos

[@62hwvgvekaihvevevj]

@@francescoroych3984 No sabía que el sardo estava en desuso en Serdenya...

[@francescoroych3984]

@@62hwvgvekaihvevevj su sardu si arrejonat in Sardigna, ma bisonzat a l'istudiare in iscola Ca venit arrejonatu male. Translation: Sardinian is being spoken in Sardinia, but it needs to be studied in school because we don't speak it properly.

[@superstructure23]

​@francescoroych3984 A problem Sardinian faces (which is similar for Scottish Gaelic), is that there is no standardised version. This makes it difficult to educate the language widely in schools, as the dialects can vary quite a lot (especially in Sardinian), and educational materials are sparse and difficult to produce.

[@razawarrior]

Kate Forbes is wonderful. What a display of Gaelic! My family is Mexican-American and my daughters loved hearing songs in Gaelic and tried to learn them. I love how Gaelic sounds :)

[@Starryplough1916]

Very similar to our ulster dialect of Irish Gaelic in Donegal! Great to see! Hopefully it can grow even more in both countries 🇮🇪🤝🏴󠁧󠁢󠁳󠁣󠁴󠁿

[@pieterchristiaandentoom2554]

This is one of the most beautiful languages I have ever heard😍

[@rabby-u]

She's a beautiful lady in soul and word.

[@heartsmyfaceforever8140]

I’ve been learning Gaelic on Duolingo and I cannot express how helpful it is to listen to parliament talks spoken in Gaelic with the subtitles. It really helps with cadence and pronunciation. Thank you.

[@stephro74]

Me too, that was so cool! I understood a lot of words and got a lot of the context.

[@stephro74]

@@Michael-bf1dt Tapadh leat, a Mhicheal, agus deagh dhùrachd dhut. (luckily we can translate the Gaeilge and the Gidhlig!)

[@Michael-bf1dt]

@@stephro74 Is deas bualadh leat

[@stephro74]

@@Michael-bf1dt No, I'm in the US. My husband has Scottish ancestry, as well as Irish and English. That's really the only reason I can think of for why I decided to learn Scots Gaelic 😆

[@stephro74]

@@Michael-bf1dt Tapadh leat!

[@marcobozzo7192]

Be proud of this aboriginal beautiful languace

[@ASMM1981EGY]

Very beautiful language. Regards from EGYPT ❤

[@willaimforbes1508]

Well done Kate as one of the clan I am proud of this it should be taught in our schools as our main launguage

[@islastorrar]

Agreed! The only languages they teach at my school are French, Spanish and German, and sometimes Scots when it comes round to Burns' Day. I wish they'd teach Gaelic.

[@ayrshireman1314]

It should be taught, but this obsession with it as our language/main language/native language is wrong and misguided and actually reductive to our knowledge of our languages, cultures and history. We are fantastically richer than one culture and one tongue. . And English has been the main language of the majority of Scotland for centuries. Highlands yes, but the Lowlands and Borders, Galloway and even the far north, it has not been for equally centuries.

[@islastorrar]

@@ayrshireman1314 what they mean is it should be the main language taught in schools. instead of french, or german, or spanish, or whatever, it should be gaelic.

[@ayrshireman1314]

@@islastorrar why?. Those are major languages spoken by hundreds of millions across the world, they are far more valuable to teach our children than a minor Celtic language. It would be a waste of money and time to choose Gaelic over those languages in schools. By all means, people can learn Gaelic on their own.

[@ayrshireman1314]

@@mmzddx96 No it wasnt. Thats the point I and others have been trying to make. There was no one national language, Gaelic was the language of some of Scotland. My Ayrshire ancestors spoke other Celtic languages for nearly 1000 (+?) years before Gaelic showed up in Ayrshire centuries after Brythonic/Cymric. Same for Galloway/SW Scotland, the Borders and frankly the entire Lowland Scotland. Which were a mix of non-Gael Celtic kingdoms, and Anglo-Saxon kingdoms like Northumbria and Bernicia. Latin and French also spoken, the latter hugely influenced by the Normans marrying into Scottish society. Gaelic, Galldovidian, Anglo-Saxon, Norse, Pictish, Brythonic, Doric.............these are the languages of Scotland, not just one.

[@adamender9092]

In Ireland, everyone has to learn Irish from Junior infants (age 4/5) to 6th year (age 17/18)

[@danielcowan87]

And it's taught awfully, it's taught like a subject and not like a language

[@adamfinnegan735]

@@danielcowan87 exactly, I've been learning German since 1st year and Irish since junior infants, to put it into context, I know way more German than Irish (I'm about 60% fluent) and I've been learning Irish for 13 years, last week we needed to write a 4 page essay meanwhile I can barely hold up a conversation in irish, that sums it up

[@danielcowan87]

@sarah lilburn Yeah Gaelic wasn't even the original Celtic language of Scotland, it was a Brythonic language like Pictish if I'm not mistaken

[@seriascannain6675]

@@adamfinnegan735 I learned more Irish in 3 weeks in the Gaeltacht than in a year or two in school despite the fact that we only did an hours class during the day and spent the rest of the time playing sports, talking as Gaeilge, dancing during the Ceili's, etc. I was asked by my Bean an Ti, is your German as good as your Irish? I replied "Nios Maith". She was surprised and mentioned that I had been doing Irish since I was in Infants!

[@EpicTutorialTips]

@@danielcowan87 - Correct, Scots Gaelic today is a blend of Old Irish and Old Norse. Irish Gaelige modernised through the centuries but Scots Gaelic remained stuck in its roots, there's a lot of similarities still between the two, just as there are similarities between Norse and Scots Gaelic. But the language was never really accepted by Scotland, as they had their own (Pictish, as you mentioned), and Scots Gaelic remained consistent amongst the Isles. Quite remarkable really when you think about it, that the small cluster of islands which at times would have had no more than a couple of thousand people living there have managed to keep the language going for over a thousand years.

[@MewlusK]

Started to learn scottish gaelic on duolingo its fun to be able to suddenly recognize some words.

[@IanBoyterJazzsax]

My Grandfather Hugh Macdonald who was born in Polin, near Kinlochbervie, spoke Gaelic to me when i was a child in Cellardyke.

[@StarlingASMR]

English subtitles are awesome

[@draigporffor3288]

Yes, but the message is there without translation. Scottish is their own people and the English are controlling and suppressing their language through education.

[@ayrshireman1314]

@@draigporffor3288 Drivel.

[@nigelpilgrim4232]

@@draigporffor3288 English has become the global language!! It was of the greatest English exports!! But it's now the global language of in the world of communication !!!! One kingdom 1 language !! Too many languages just like different tribes/ races in the same country create barriers !!!

[@draigporffor3288]

@@nigelpilgrim4232 not the point

[@izzyoranges8005]

@@nigelpilgrim4232 “1 kingdom, 1 language” maybe we’d want to be part of your so-called kingdom if you didn’t rip away our language and belittle our people. Scotland is her own country, yous are just feart of losing the income we generate. Saor Alba! 🏴󠁧󠁢󠁳󠁣󠁴󠁿

[@11lvr11]

I'm russian and i find Scottish Gaelic very beautiful!

[@jangowan5742]

Its heartening to see Gaelic making a comeback.Although the official figures still remain 1%..Padraig Pearce said,a people who abandon their language,have abandoned their souls

[@ayrshireman1314]

Not sure I would use an IRA fanatic as a reference point.

[@ronaldobrien6870]

@@ayrshireman1314 There was no IRA in 1916 and Pearse was widely regarded as one of the leading Irish language academics. It was said he was one of the two main scholars on the history of the language at the time he was executed.

[@ayrshireman1314]

@@ronaldobrien6870 Yes, he was a brilliant man, but also a nationalist blood-obsessed fanatic, the two arent mutually exclusive. And whilst the IRA didnt exist in 1916, the IRB did. Two cheeks of the same arse, to be crude.

[@ronaldobrien6870]

@@ayrshireman1314 But his point on language is not an invalid one. He was a linguistics expert and one of the leading figures in the revival of the Irish language (something acknowledged even by the likes of Lady Gregory and WB Yeats after his death).

[@jangowan5742]

@@ayrshireman1314 ..its important to keep our language alive,no matter what you say

[@matrixhalox]

I watched this so many times it gives me so much courage when learning Gaelic.

[@joefrascino4546]

I’m lost but this shit cool, I can relate with Italian dialects that are dying and we really should be trying to saves these languages

[@Raven-ci8pk]

yes dialects are very important, but this is a completely different language, similar to Irish but also completely unique

[@fulviolumachi4940]

Italian onés are languages. Old like italian and with the same identical dignity

[@pnkcnlng228]

I speak lombard language (a separate language from Italian) and we are reviving the language to some extent!

[@JillyMacKenzie]

I’m British and I stand with the people of Veneto and their fight for the beautiful Venetian language! ✊🏻

[@pnkcnlng228]

@@JillyMacKenzie We all stand for an independent Veneto, from Lombardy, another oppressed nation

[@BartlomiejDmowski]

Few people know there is also a Scots language. I like that one but, obviously, it's a very important goal to make these old languages flourish again. In Ireland and Scotland in the first place, also in Orkney

[@pyropilled]

After I get fluent in learning German I'm planning to learn Gaelic! It's such a pretty language

[@gabrieldettmannb4509]

All for them speaking it! Why not, it is their historical language.

[@pamelaadam9207]

Even as far down as Ballater in the shire the gaelic was spoken over doric

[@YoungT18]

As a Scot/Celt, I want to teach all Celtic languages and I will teach my children Gaelic at first

[@YoungT18]

@Jake Barton I think we need to restore our Gaelic traditions and culture in UK, instead of voting for independence. Cause if we will join the EU, our traditions will be lost, when people bring their religions and culture in our country

[@brainwilson7125]

Do you want Scotland to remain majority Scottish/Celtic? Without this, any attempt to preserve Scotland’s culture and heritage is futile and pointless. Scotland should have a nation state law passed. Ensuring a Scottish majority in Scotland. Obviously the rights of minority groups who obey are laws and customs will be respected.

[@brainwilson7125]

@@YoungT18 Scotland needs a deal that keeps us separate from Westminster but in the U.K, similar to Guernsey. If this isn’t allowed then true independence from both Westminster and the EU is the way to go.

[@YoungT18]

@@brainwilson7125 I think we need to deal with our culture and heritage at first, then we can think about independence, cause there can be no country without culture and there is no nation without language

[@brainwilson7125]

@@YoungT18 I agree, I’ve gone off the SNP for being far to left wing culturally these days. In many ways they’re more of a threat to the Scottish people and culture than the Westminster establishment.

[@vinz9000]

Great Kate! I understood nothing, but I loved your passion! Cheers from Italy!

[@elizabethharris3445]

I am an American teacher of British Literature, and I find this fascinating. I hope that the UK will promote the preservation of these rich languages. One day, I hope to travel and hear people speaking this language; it is enchanting.

[@bradleyrobinson7552]

Official languages in Canada are foreign immigrant languages, recent arrivals here. For over a century, the Canadians have deliberately tried to eradicate the indigenous Native American languages, and they've succeeded at that for some of them. Even now, Canada puts multi-millions of dollars into universities for language instruction in various languages from around the planet, but comparatively they put a drop in the bucket if it's indigenous languages.

[@pamelaadam9207]

My great grandfather was treated very badly for being a gaelic speaker when he came to Aberdeen from Caithness. The language was lost to us in the family because of the shame he was made to feel

[@eloise919]

same both my great grandmother on my mums side spoke it but refused to speak because of how it was presived as being backwards or barbaric unfortunetly one of my great grandmothers could be Argyll elic which is one of the most beutiful dialects of our language which is now barely spoken

[@bekaebrown]

This is so weird to my brain.

[@michaelhalsall5684]

Very sad to hear that. It was from time when all the Celtic languages were considered "peasant languages" and looked down on. Ironically when Scots learned English they were often ridiculed for not speaking properly! Nowadays it's "cool to be Celtic" Nowadays there are English speakers who are learning Celtic languages. Prince Charles, heir to the British throne, is the first Prince of Wales, in centuries, who can speaker Welsh and apparently has some skill in Scots Gaelic too.

[@connorwheatley5640]

That's a large reason of why the language died out. During the Clearances most Teuchters ended up living as industrial workers in the Central Belt, and because Celtic culture was seen as synonymous with banditry and rebellion against the crown Gaelic was heavily suppressed. Lots of Gaels learned English and took Anglo-Saxon/Lowland names in order to get on with it. Same thing happened in Ireland but it never got to the same level of suppression as it did in Scotland, largely because the Scots benefited from the Empire more than the Irish did due to larger amounts of industrialization.

[@nledaig]

@@eloise919 Tha am Bìoball Gàidhlig lan den chanain muinntir Earra-Ghàidheal

[@Ja-uu9ep]

Lovely, really lovely. Such a great language. Love from 🏴󠁧󠁢󠁥󠁮󠁧󠁿

[@GerardMartin-zg7dr]

Is fìor thoil leam a’ bhidio seo. Tha mi ag ionnsachadh Gàidhlig a-nis, ged a tha mi trì fichead bliadhna a dh'aois. I love this video. It inspired me to learn some Gaelic even though I am 60 years old. We need our younger ones to learn it to keep it relevant to our culture and heritage for many years to come..

[@romeisfallingagain]

of course you should preserve and protect your language

[@coppertopv365]

I am American, and I was in Germany 2 Years.. I cant even catch on but a few words of this, half way in. I like other languages, i know bits of Some. This Gaelic seems very hard. Also yet in NE Scotland there is another difficult language known as Doric .. I applaud this woman for speaking out.

[@y2kelly66]

Yes please preserve our cultural heritage

[@Shazzyhtown]

Anybody find it insane that Scots have to fight for their language's recognition? What an odd and pitiful thing. It sounds beautiful! I am aware of the history of why most Scots can't speak fluently today, but times have changed and this shouldn't even be a fight. It should be a badge of honor and respected.

[@Alan_Mac]

The major reason why most Scots can't speak Gaelic is that the Gaels stopped passing it on to their kids. I was brought up in Glasgow in the 1960s and could list 100 people (including my own father) with at least one native Gaelic-speaking parent - none of whom can speak the language. The ScotchNats will try and fool you with made-up tales of persecution but it's mostly nonsense. BTW there is no 'fight for their language's recognition' in the slightest. There is, though, objection to it being politicised by a shower of small-minded Anglophobes .

[@Shazzyhtown]

@@Alan_Mac Well what a pity😑. This is part of your heritage. I don't understand 😔

[@bishno6229]

@@Alan_Mac it fell out of use because of systematic "cleansing" and continued prejudices and conditioned social-attitudes that deemed it to be inferior to English or "cringey". Stop with the Unionist shite.

[@Alan_Mac]

@@bishno6229 I have a hefty wager that you don't speak Gaelic and don't have family from the Gàidhealtachd. Such is so often the case from daft wee Natters.

[@bel6967]

It is still spoken here in the Highlands and Islands! Unfortunately it’s a hard fight to keep it as one of our first languages as many people move up to here from England and they like to tell us to speak their language and West Minister has no interests in our history or culture. It’s about money and control over Alba.💔 This woman speaking is my local MP and is doing fab in her fight for Scots Gaelic, we have it now on all of our signs and public vehicles and buildings!! Slàinte mhath agus tapadh leibh a charaid💙💙💙

[@kensmaman]

I live in France but I am so in love with the sound of Scottish Gaelic that I’m trying to learn some through Duolingo. I don’t really know how far one can hope to go with Duolingo because I haven’t used it before but I guess any amount of Gaelic that I manage to learn from it will be more than I knew before. I don’t know if I will ever really get to use it because apparently even in Scotland there aren’t a lot of people that speak it fluently. Either way I’m so happy to learn it. I hope the Scottish people don’t let their language die. It is a real treasure.

[@JenXOfficialEDM]

Agreed. I feel this way about my beloved Cymraeg. Duolingo is great for beginners, and then Glossika is good for intermediate learners, using real speakers instead of synthesized voices. Scottish, Manx and Cymraeg are free on it. The lessons get repetitive however it's nice to learn from a real human's voice, and not a robot.

[@haggismuncher429]

Katy is my local msp! Legend!

[@maharencall3219]

I've been doing the Scottish Gaelic course on Glossika and I'm absolutely stoked how much of this I could understand already

[@millair]

I‘m not even from Scotland. I just like how this language sounds and hope it doesnt disappear

[@nicka.papanikolaou9475]

Beautifull language. Please preserve and spread it!

[@m.m.shapero8788]

As a Scottish American, I find this to be nothing short of a miracle For centuries, the British government has tried to strip everything about the Scottish culture away to to oblivion To be forever lost to the winds of time Our music Our musical instruments Our Clan Tartans Much was outlawed Hearing her fight for the survival of our ancient language is awe inspiring and heroic Ms Forbes I thank you very much for keeping it alive

[@Valhalla88888]

Kate Forbes should be the Scottish CEO of Scotland!!!

[@iordanissavvoglou9942]

I wish the scottish language stays alive and thrives. And I wish you become independent, as the Irish did a century ago.

[@Skymaster.47]

Kate Forbes is amazing.

[@BengalLancer]

Not a Brit, not an European. But I belong to the nation who's people were shot and martyred for speaking their language. And I respect that all the tounges deserve to be preserved.

[@NyersKrem]

Most beautiful language I've ever heard. Sounds like the language of faeries

[@mlindsey2956]

🇮🇪🏴󠁧󠁢󠁳󠁣󠁴󠁿

[@JuniorFan08]

Very interesting to hear it spoken.

[@choicey2748]

Whoah.. really cool.. glad of the subtitles but this lingo's well easy on the old lugs.. x

[@latterrain3808]

I'm on my second year. I live in Oklahoma but I'm incredibly passionate about the preservation of the language.

[@p710]

I’ve recently moved to Ireland from England following Brexit, and I am trying to learn Gaeilge online, so I can speak some at the naturalisation process in about 3 years (not needed, but let’s show some respect and appreciation!). I already speak good Dutch, some French and German, but learning one of the Gaelic languages is the most exciting of them all. Very nice sound. So good to hear someone in parliament speak it too!

[@jaicotterill5226]

Make Gaelic compulsory in all schools in all schools across the country

[@edwinvanderkooij8713]

As a Dutchmen I like the sound of this perfect language, according to some people outside both our two countries Scottish Gaelic and Dutch sounds both very much alike ! In Irish Gaelic: " Is maith liom Gaeilge na hAlban". Tá Gaeilge na hÉireann agamsa ach tá mé in ann a thuiscint beagán "Ghàidhlig" .

[@voorwie]

Eerder Scandinavisch..

[@joemdee]

I always thought it sounded like double-Dutch!

[@edwinvanderkooij8713]

@@joemdee 🤣👍

[@wolfa5151]

I have to disappoint you there my friend. Dutch is a “ bastardised “ language comprised of many elements, its sounds crude, heavy, and I am sorry to say, vulgar. Gaeilge, on the other hand, is NOT a bastardised language. It is an original language. And it is for this reason, that it needs to be preserved. It is the language of poetry, spirituality, music, and the land it has evolved from. Nothing, to do with Dutch! And if I were you, never say this in the company of the Welsh or Irish, or other Celtic nations.

[@joemdee]

@@wolfa5151 I always thought it a poor language almost as boring and repetitive as the music and song that goes with it.

[@carolinemccullough9838]

Please keep the language alive. Sadly, many of us born in Australia don't even know we have another tongue, and we are taught nothing, literally nothing, of our ancestors or how we got here. Please, please, protect our heritage!

[@GrandmotherSunshine]

I'm Canadian and I agree with you on this.

[@MrsCKane]

Hearing Kate talk Gaelic reminds me of when my Nanna use to talk and sing to me in Gaelic when I was little. God I miss hearing her talk Gaelic to me. 😔

[@MrsCKane]

@@mmzddx96 Thank you, that's so kind of you to say and yes, both myself and my hubby are learning Gaelic. Or in my case, relearning/refreshing my knowledge of it and then we're going to introduce it to our young son. 😁

[@brendansaunders7823]

I live/born in America but my family is Scottish I have never heard Scottish Gaelic this is the first time this is such a cool language I want to learn it and visit Scottland

[@michaelhalsall5684]

Irish, the sister language to Scots Gaelic, is now one of the 24 official languages of the European Union. It's a test of any country the way they treat their minority language speakers, so hopefully Scots Gaelic will thrive in Britain!

[@nmezini7965]

I congratulate you good for you you never supposed to lose your mothers language my country was invaded for thousands of years. We still speak are native language everywhere.

[@robwalsh9843]

She's lovely.

[@bullsmoothtime]

This made me cry and I don't know why. I really wish I'd learned gaelic in school now.

[@stephro74]

Duolingo! I understood a lot of what she said and picked up on a lot of words and context, just with 15 minutes a day or so for the past few years.

[@sebastiallufriu7383]

those were your ancestors telling you to preserve that treasure. As a native Catalan speaker from the Balearics i think it is crucial to keep this incredible heritage. it expands your mind heart and soul.

[@samnicholson5051]

It sounds so like Irish! Even though I can't understand it past the odd word. I believe the Ulster Irish dialect is a lot closer to Scots Gaelic than standard Irish I would have learned in school.

[@veroniquegiraud624]

It is Irish. As my Irish friend tells me, "When the Scots speak English, they call it English but when they speak Irish, they call it Gaelic."

[@brucecollins641]

@@veroniquegiraud624 when the scots speak it's gallic which comes from the frankish regions of europe. the gauls /galls were always at war with the romanns there so they fled to england. then, when the romans invaded england they then fled to and settled in scotland.

[@miticogabry68]

Very amazing listen that woman speaking in Scottish Gaelic! 😃

[@jordanaus75]

Wow! A striking and beautiful sounding language. Why don't they teach schools in Gaelic-medium throughout all of Scotland?

[@sassykosmo1793]

I remember back when I was in high school, and was informed that Fife wasn't on the list of regions that teaches Gaelic, I almost walked out in protest.

[@JenXOfficialEDM]

I read that there is a shortage of teachers! :( Maybe if enough people learn it, they can get a job teaching it.

[@chrisprose]

That is absolutely beautiful. What a wonderful language.

[@richardkidd8825]

Brilliant let’s see more of this Gaelic language in Alba 🏴󠁧󠁢󠁳󠁣󠁴󠁿

[@charlestaylor3027]

But this is only one of the Gaelic dialects.

[@bresalibera7169]

A very fluent and lovely speaker. Comhghairdeas leat, a Kate!

[@boredgrass]

That's how you protect your culture: You speak your language you delight your fellow country- women and man so that they fall in love with the music of your words and want to say them with you, want to taste the meal you cooked because it says "sit down, eat and tell a story." You are not convinced? Have you ever wanted to share a meal because someone stood in front of a flag and yelled "I hate other people"?

[@charlestaylor3027]

Using Gaelic protects Irish culture.

[@thedarkhugheshughes2640]

Absolutely brilliant

[@chrismarnoch8540]

I grew up in scotland. I havent stayed there for over 20 years but have decided to start learning. Such a shame its not taught in all schools, at least partly. Tha a ghaidlig breagha!

[@gavinmcinally8442]

I understood everything except the last bit. Im guessing "have a nice day".

[@dovahkiin7253]

@@gavinmcinally8442 I started learning not long ago it means Gaelic is beautiful

[@aldozilli1293]

I think the problem in Scotland (unlike Wales with Welsh) is that Gaellic was never spoken in all of Scotland with English always being spoken in the South and East of Scotland. Gaellic was brought over by the immigration of Irish peoples to the highlands and Islands. And before English came in to Southern/Eastern Scotland people had spoken Welsh (or the Northern Brythonic version of the time). Yr Hen Gogledd.

[@stecalcutt2596]

@@aldozilli1293 Rubbish Gaelic was spoken in the south of Scotland. Most definitely in the Dumfries and Galloway area. Please check you comments are correct before posting them.

[@jordansampson9530]

Make Gaelic strong again!!! Gaelic is also spoken in Canada! we have an entire island here that speaks Gaelic. In Cape Breton, Nova Scotia the signage is in English and Gaelic! I love my ancestral language and I am learning it here in Canada myself. You're a warrior! Tapadh leat agus slàinte!

[@Jim-si7wz]

I have never felt so ashamed to listen to my native tongue being spoken, and not understanding it one bit, we were offered French, German, or if lucky Italian, but not Gaelic, this must change our children should be given this opportunity in primary school and in deed all the way through education, bring back our language now not later. We talk of Independence but not in our language why because England or rather London makes the decision on what we Scottish learn, enough is enough, all Scottish people in futre should learn the language of our country, it is their right.

[@ayrshireman1314]

There is no one native tongue in Scotland. No national language. Gaelic is hugely important, but its just one of many languages in the history of our country. As an Ayrshireman, whose lowland ancestors will have spoken Brythnic also known as Brittonic or Cymric, I am acutely aware of that. Pictish, Cymric, Galldovidian Celtic, Anglo-Saxon, Norman French, Latin, Norse, as well as Gaelic.

[@Jim-si7wz]

@@ayrshireman1314 Thank you

[@generalkenobi5173]

@@Jim-si7wz but it was the scottish parlement that got rid of the language 🤔

[@martinwilliams9776]

I've been to Scotland maybe 8 times.Have not heard anyone speak it yet.But hopefully in the future😜The Scottish countryside is truly beautiful.Hope to learn a few more words next time I'm up there.Last time I learned that Dumfries is Dùn Phris. Cyfarchion o Eryri,Cymru. O bydded i hen ieithoedd barhau!😁😜

[@kgreene2533]

The more languages and knowledge you have ... how could that ever be a bad thing?

[@fulviolumachi4940]

👏👏👏👏👏👏👏

[@largandoapeca3735]

I'm learn gaelic scottish, i loved this language and who speak , beatiful!

[@ronangeoghegan3311]

as an irish speaker i can kinda understand some of this which is cool

[@Skunnt]

Scottish Gaelic is now on Duolingo. I’m American but my dad’s side of the family has Scottish roots. So I’m gonna try to learn it in my free time and someday I’ll save up to go visit Scotland.

[@brainwilson7125]

Should be taught instead of some other foreign language. They should teach our kids our history, our traditions and our languages. Most Scottish kids are taught about Martin Luther king and Rosa parks as supposed to Robert the Bruce and William Wallace. Two great men who literally preserved the existence of Scots a people.

[@carolineritchie9642]

I don't think this is true. I was taught a lot of Scottish history in primary and secondary school and my daughter is getting the same kind of lessons. And foreign languages are much more useful in the modern world. Learning a language they'll likely never use seems a waste of resources.

[@DemiB922]

@@carolineritchie9642 I disagree. I know more about America in the 60s than I do my own history and culture. Its shocking.

[@avenger1_gbo260]

I literally learned about both at school. In fact according to how SQA Highers for history work you MUST learn about a Scottish history topic and a world history topic such as the Atlantic slave trade. So it is misleading to imply that children are not being taught about the history of Scotland when in fact they most certainly will be. What do you have against learning foreign things?

[@callummiller5886]

@@avenger1_gbo260 for me it went: Scottish wars of independence, the rough wooing Mary Queen of Scots and the Protestant Reformation The Industrial Revolution The Atlantic slave trade Hitlers rise to power

[@robertbuckley3762]

Please keep your beautiful culture. Do not let Gaelic wither away. You sing. You sing. You sing.

[@casteretpollux]

Its so close to Irish, the same language really. 🙂

[@harrybedi8880]

I mean, it's just not is it.

[@jeffner1233]

It’s not the same language

[@MBTubesTitanic]

@@jeffner1233 I'm Irish, and it does sound very similar to Irish, some words are the same as in Irish, but some don't sound Gaelic at all. but you would understand its a form of Gaelic. It almost sounds like a mixture Gaelic and and Scandinavian language.

[@fearmor2056]

well no its not the same language, just similar. If you actually spoke either you'd probably know that

[@casteretpollux]

@@fearmor2056 Well yes, I was stretching a point. But I'll never forget the visceral shock in the local Irish audience when a poet from Scotland recited poems (on the subject of emigration) in Gaelic. There was no doubt he was understood. Irish and Scots Gaelic are much closer together than to Welsh is to either. But all have a common root. My grandmother's generation could chat to the Onion Men - "Sioni Wninwns" who spoke Breton when they came around South Wales on their bikes. Linguists I think tend to overemphaise differences and ignore commonalities.

[@raheemmajid8559]

As a Englishman of Pakistani descent I have grown up speaking my mother tongue of Mirpuri at home and English outside. Nowadays the Youth can't even speak the dialect much. I hope the Scottish can preserve their Gaelic language. It's fascinating to hear.

[@laki5717]

you're not an englishman

[@shadowxxe]

@@laki5717 Aye he is