Gaelic Language (Scotland) Act 2005
Encyclopedia
The Gaelic Language Act 2005 (Scottish Gaelic: Achd na Gàidhlig (Alba) 2005) passed by the Scottish Parliament
in 2005 is the first piece of legislation to give formal recognition to the Scottish Gaelic language
.
The Gaelic Language Act aims to secure Gaelic as an official language
of Scotland
, commanding "equal respect" with English
, by establishing Bòrd na Gàidhlig
as part of the framework of government in Scotland and also requiring the creation of a national plan for Gaelic to provide strategic direction for the development of the Gaelic language.
The Act also gives Bòrd na Gàidhlig a key role in promoting Gaelic in Scotland, advising Scottish Ministers on Gaelic issues, driving forward Gaelic planning and preparing guidance on Gaelic education. The Act also provides a framework for the creation of Gaelic language plans by Scottish public authorities.
Former Education Minister Peter Peacock
, who, at the time of the Act coming into force, had ministerial responsibility for Gaelic, said: "This is a momentous day for Gaelic as we open a new chapter in the language's history. We have come a long way since the dark days of 1616 when an Act of Parliament ruled that Gaelic should be 'abolishit and removit' from Scotland."
While the Act is most certainly considered by most as being a step in the right direction, one key weakness is that it applies only to public bodies operating in Scotland and whose business is classed as being a devolved matter (outlined by the Scotland Act 1998
). Other public bodies (such as the Royal Mail, the DVLA and London-based governmental departments) are not bound by the act and have on the whole failed to embrace its spirit and proactively prepare Gaelic language plans.
Scottish Parliament
The Scottish Parliament is the devolved national, unicameral legislature of Scotland, located in the Holyrood area of the capital, Edinburgh. The Parliament, informally referred to as "Holyrood", is a democratically elected body comprising 129 members known as Members of the Scottish Parliament...
in 2005 is the first piece of legislation to give formal recognition to the Scottish Gaelic language
Scottish Gaelic language
Scottish Gaelic is a Celtic language native to Scotland. A member of the Goidelic branch of the Celtic languages, Scottish Gaelic, like Modern Irish and Manx, developed out of Middle Irish, and thus descends ultimately from Primitive Irish....
.
The Gaelic Language Act aims to secure Gaelic as an official language
Official language
An official language is a language that is given a special legal status in a particular country, state, or other jurisdiction. Typically a nation's official language will be the one used in that nation's courts, parliament and administration. However, official status can also be used to give a...
of Scotland
Scotland
Scotland is a country that is part of the United Kingdom. Occupying the northern third of the island of Great Britain, it shares a border with England to the south and is bounded by the North Sea to the east, the Atlantic Ocean to the north and west, and the North Channel and Irish Sea to the...
, commanding "equal respect" with English
English language
English is a West Germanic language that arose in the Anglo-Saxon kingdoms of England and spread into what was to become south-east Scotland under the influence of the Anglian medieval kingdom of Northumbria...
, by establishing Bòrd na Gàidhlig
Bòrd na Gàidhlig
Bòrd na Gàidhlig is a quango appointed by the Scottish Government with responsibility for Scottish Gaelic...
as part of the framework of government in Scotland and also requiring the creation of a national plan for Gaelic to provide strategic direction for the development of the Gaelic language.
The Act also gives Bòrd na Gàidhlig a key role in promoting Gaelic in Scotland, advising Scottish Ministers on Gaelic issues, driving forward Gaelic planning and preparing guidance on Gaelic education. The Act also provides a framework for the creation of Gaelic language plans by Scottish public authorities.
Former Education Minister Peter Peacock
Peter Peacock
Peter Peacock has been a Labour regional list Member of the Scottish Parliament for Highlands and Islands since 1999. Peacock was appointed a deputy minister when first elected in 1999, and promoted to Minister for Education and Young People in the Scottish Executive after the 2003 election...
, who, at the time of the Act coming into force, had ministerial responsibility for Gaelic, said: "This is a momentous day for Gaelic as we open a new chapter in the language's history. We have come a long way since the dark days of 1616 when an Act of Parliament ruled that Gaelic should be 'abolishit and removit' from Scotland."
While the Act is most certainly considered by most as being a step in the right direction, one key weakness is that it applies only to public bodies operating in Scotland and whose business is classed as being a devolved matter (outlined by the Scotland Act 1998
Scotland Act 1998
The Scotland Act 1998 is an Act of the Parliament of the United Kingdom. It is the Act which established the devolved Scottish Parliament.The Act will be amended by the Scotland Bill 2011, if and when it receives royal assent.-History:...
). Other public bodies (such as the Royal Mail, the DVLA and London-based governmental departments) are not bound by the act and have on the whole failed to embrace its spirit and proactively prepare Gaelic language plans.