Scottish Gaelic renaissance
Encyclopedia
The Scottish Gaelic Renaissance (Scottish Gaelic: Ath-Bheòthachadh na Gaidhlig) is a continuing movement concerning the revival of the Scottish Gaelic language
. Although the Scottish Gaelic language had been facing gradual decline in the number of speakers since the late 19th century, the number of young fluent Gaelic speakers is quickly rising. The movement has its origins in the Scottish Renaissance
, especially in the work of Sorley MacLean
, George Campbell Hay
, Derick Thomson
and Iain Crichton Smith
.
Sabhal Mòr Ostaig
is sometimes seen as being a product of this renaissance.
Although many of the products of the Renaissance were in poetry, or in traditional music, many such as MacLean and Iain Crichton Smith
, and more recently Aonghas MacNeacail
have blended these with modern international styles.
meeting in Scottish Gaelic in May 2010. Gaelic had long suffered from its lack of use in educational and administrative contexts, having been suppressed in the past but it has now achieved some official recognition with the passage of the Gaelic Language (Scotland) Act 2005
.
At the first Scottish Parliament, a number of people also swore their oaths in English and Scottish Gaelic. (A version of the oath had to be said in English)
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....
. Although the Scottish Gaelic language had been facing gradual decline in the number of speakers since the late 19th century, the number of young fluent Gaelic speakers is quickly rising. The movement has its origins in the Scottish Renaissance
Scottish Renaissance
The Scottish Renaissance was a mainly literary movement of the early to mid 20th century that can be seen as the Scottish version of modernism. It is sometimes referred to as the Scottish literary renaissance, although its influence went beyond literature into music, visual arts, and politics...
, especially in the work of Sorley MacLean
Sorley MacLean
Sorley MacLean was one of the most significant Scottish poets of the 20th century.-Early life:He was born at Osgaig on the island of Raasay on 26 October 1911, where Scottish Gaelic was the first language. He attended the University of Edinburgh and was an avid shinty player playing for the...
, George Campbell Hay
George Campbell Hay
George Campbell Hay was a Scottish poet and translator, who wrote in Scottish Gaelic, Lowland Scots and English. He used the patronymic Deòrsa Mac Iain Dheòrsa. He also wrote poetry in French, Italian and Norwegian, and translated poetry from many languages into Gaelic.-Life:He was born in...
, Derick Thomson
Derick Thomson
Professor Derick S. Thomson MA, BA, Dlitt, FRSE, FBA , known as Ruaraidh MacThòmais in his native Scottish Gaelic, is a Scottish poet, publisher, lexicographer, academic and writer. He is originally from Lewis, but has spent much of his life in Glasgow, where he was Professor of Celtic at the...
and Iain Crichton Smith
Iain Crichton Smith
Iain Crichton Smith was a Scottish man of letters, writing in both English and Scottish Gaelic, and a prolific author in both languages...
.
Sabhal Mòr Ostaig
Sabhal Mòr Ostaig
Sabhal Mòr Ostaig is a Scottish Gaelic medium college located about north of Armadale on the Sleat peninsula of the island of Skye in northwestern Scotland. It is part of the University of the Highlands and Islands and also has a campus on Islay known as Ionad Chaluim Chille Ìle.The college was...
is sometimes seen as being a product of this renaissance.
Although many of the products of the Renaissance were in poetry, or in traditional music, many such as MacLean and Iain Crichton Smith
Iain Crichton Smith
Iain Crichton Smith was a Scottish man of letters, writing in both English and Scottish Gaelic, and a prolific author in both languages...
, and more recently Aonghas MacNeacail
Aonghas MacNeacail
Aonghas MacNeacail , nickname Aonghas dubh or black Aonghas) is a contemporary writer in the Scottish Gaelic language. Born and brought up in the Isle of Skye, he was registered at birth as Angus Nicolson, but has changed his official name to his native Gaelic...
have blended these with modern international styles.
Politics
Mike Russell became the first person to address a European UnionEuropean Union
The European Union is an economic and political union of 27 independent member states which are located primarily in Europe. The EU traces its origins from the European Coal and Steel Community and the European Economic Community , formed by six countries in 1958...
meeting in Scottish Gaelic in May 2010. Gaelic had long suffered from its lack of use in educational and administrative contexts, having been suppressed in the past but it has now achieved some official recognition with the passage of the Gaelic Language (Scotland) Act 2005
Gaelic Language (Scotland) Act 2005
The Gaelic Language Act 2005 passed by the Scottish Parliament in 2005 is the first piece of legislation to give formal recognition to the Scottish Gaelic language....
.
At the first Scottish Parliament, a number of people also swore their oaths in English and Scottish Gaelic. (A version of the oath had to be said in English)
Literature
- Aonghas Pàdraig CaimbeulAngus Peter CampbellAngus Peter Campbell is a Scottish award-winning poet, novelist, journalist, broadcaster and actor.-Early life:...
- Author - Somhairle MacGill-EainSorley MacLeanSorley MacLean was one of the most significant Scottish poets of the 20th century.-Early life:He was born at Osgaig on the island of Raasay on 26 October 1911, where Scottish Gaelic was the first language. He attended the University of Edinburgh and was an avid shinty player playing for the...
- Poet - Iain Mac a' GhobhainnIain Crichton SmithIain Crichton Smith was a Scottish man of letters, writing in both English and Scottish Gaelic, and a prolific author in both languages...
- Intellectual, poet and author. - Ruaraidh MacThòmaisDerick ThomsonProfessor Derick S. Thomson MA, BA, Dlitt, FRSE, FBA , known as Ruaraidh MacThòmais in his native Scottish Gaelic, is a Scottish poet, publisher, lexicographer, academic and writer. He is originally from Lewis, but has spent much of his life in Glasgow, where he was Professor of Celtic at the...
- Academic, author, poet and publisher.
Books
- A Waxing Moon: The Modern Gaelic Revival by Roger Hutchinson, Mainstream Publishing 2005, ISBN 1-84018-794-8