|
|
|
Gaelic: The Question of the Right-To-Be
By Lewis MacKinnon
Mac-talla, May, 2003
For the first time in the history of this province a community consultation process is in progress concerning the future of the Gaelic language and culture. Importantly, it is a critical crossroads in the history of spoken Gaelic in Nova Scotia. The more than 80,000 speakers as of 1900 has now shrunk to approximately 1000 in 2003. Nova Scotia still maintains aspects of its Gaelic inheritance, and maintains a significant inventory of Gaelic presence. Gaelic placenames and phrases abound. Some signage exists. There are approximately 227,000 Nova Scotians of Highland Scottish ancestry, almost one third of the province’s population. Gaelic is taught in three Universities, o ne College, a Highland Village, four public schools, numerous evening/weekend classes, Fˇisean, and immersions. Yet there is a critical aspect of the discussion concerning the future of Gaelic language that requires further dialogue,investigation, and action.Scottish Gaelic, one of six other Celtic languages, has existed for more than 1500 years. Irish, its closest cousin, is older still, dating even further back into antiquity. In Nova Scotia, Gaelic was the communication medium of a unique community, holding a unique world-view. People working, interacting socially, praying, communing, singing songs, telling stories, playing music, and passing on through the medium of Gaelic. Gaelic had value to this community because it was the medium of expression of the collective. In the Nova Scotia of 2003, Gaelic has a place and is just as important to the people of this province as it was hundreds of years ago. Why? Because it continues to be the medium of expression of a collective — of human beings. It has value because it is what it is to the community. The equality of a language is not based upon the number of speakers, but on the rights which belong to them by dint of being human members of a society. Therefore, the question of "right" is a building block upon which all other policy discussion should be based. Gaelic, like Micmaq, Acadian French, and other lesser-used languages, has a right be represented and supported institutionally, educationally, culturally, and politically because it is the medium of expression of a cultural community, of human beings. A tremendous opportunity to recognize the inherent value of linguistic and cultural inheritances in this province lies before us. In this process, Gaelic’s "right"-to-be cannot be neglected, let alone negated.
|