GAELIC – THE OLDER MOTHER TONGUE OF SCOTLAND
GAELIC – THE OLDER MOTHER TONGUE OF SCOTLAND
Author(s): Dorin ChiraSubject(s): Language studies, Language and Literature Studies, Applied Linguistics, Language acquisition, Translation Studies
Published by: Universitatea »1 Decembrie 1918« Alba Iulia
Keywords: language; Celtic languages; mother tongue; identity; Gaelic; Gaidhealtachd;
Summary/Abstract: Welsh, Gaelic and Irish are languages that are known today as the older mother tongues of the British Isles. The three languages existed some time before the languages of the 20th century settlement (e.g. languages of South Asia). Undoubtedly, in Scotland the language issue is extremely complex; language is an intrinsic constituent of our identity. The focus of my paper is on the way in which Gaelic functions as an indicator of identity (ethnic, religious, political, etc.). Will this language survive beside other languages (e.g. English)? Does its survival depend on political or religious factors? Can one regard Gaelic as the language of Scottish nationalism? Is this language an endangered language? Which is the current status of Gaelic? A brief survey of the linguistic features of Scotland may be of interest at a time when national identity is of great concern to many Scots.
Journal: Annales Universitatis Apulensis. Series Philologica
- Issue Year: 19/2018
- Issue No: 2
- Page Range: 193-200
- Page Count: 8
- Language: English