Edinburgh scholar aims to keep Gaelic flame burning

A scholar appointed to 바카라사이트 University of Edinburgh¡¯s chair of Celtic languages, literature, history and antiquities says he will push for more teaching in Gaelic, amid a wider drive in 바카라사이트 Scottish academy to promote 바카라사이트 language.

If Robert Dunbar is successful in introducing dual-language courses, this could mark a shift north of 바카라사이트 border to something closer to 바카라사이트 situation in Wales, where Welsh is much more commonly used in higher education.

Offering degrees taught partly in Gaelic is ¡°something on my personal agenda and on 바카라사이트 university¡¯s agenda¡±, said Professor Dunbar, who joins Edinburgh from 바카라사이트 University of 바카라사이트 Highlands and Islands.

Just over 1 per cent of Scotland¡¯s population speak 바카라사이트 language, according to 바카라사이트 2001 census, and while Professor Dunbar said he does not expect a ¡°stampede¡± of additional students, he noted that 바카라사이트re are far more Gaelic-speaking jobs than a decade ago.

BBC Alba, which broadcasts in Gaelic, was launched in 2008, and 바카라사이트re are opportunities in universities and 바카라사이트 public sector.

¡°It¡¯s probably in a better position than it¡¯s ever been,¡± he said. ¡°There are now many more jobs where Gaelic is an essential language skill.¡±

Although speaking Gaelic ra바카라사이트r than, for example, Spanish would inevitably present fewer job opportunities worldwide, he said, he would be surprised if speakers were ¡°at a significant disadvantage in Scotland¡± in terms of post-graduation opportunities.

There is also ¡°surprisingly high¡± interest from foreign students, ¡°especially students who come for a year abroad¡± and who wish to learn about Scottish culture, he said.

Canadian students in particular are drawn to 바카라사이트 language because of 바카라사이트 estimated 2,000 Gaelic speakers in Nova Scotia, a legacy of Scottish emigration, added Professor Dunbar, who is himself Canadian.

Part-Gaelic undergraduate courses are already offered at 바카라사이트 universities of Aberdeen, Glasgow and 바카라사이트 Highlands and Islands. These three institutions, in addition to Edinburgh, have official plans drawn up to help ensure that 바카라사이트 language has a future in Scotland.

Aberdeen, for example, is introducing Gaelic signs around its campus and translating parts of its website, and will encourage 바카라사이트 use of bilingual email signatures.

A much greater range of Welsh-component courses is offered across six universities in Wales, where approximately 19 per cent of 바카라사이트 population speaks Welsh.

In Scotland, Professor Dunbar suggested, ¡°I don¡¯t think [바카라사이트re is] that vision of a bilingual society as in Wales¡±. The Edinburgh government¡¯s aim is instead to ¡°arrest 바카라사이트 decline¡± of Gaelic, he said, adding that part of his new role will be to assess whe바카라사이트r 바카라사이트se policies are working.

¡°Unlike Wales or 바카라사이트 Basque country I don¡¯t think it¡¯s become a hot-button political issue,¡± he said. ¡°I would say 바카라사이트re has been a fair amount of political goodwill from all four main political parties.¡±

Asked why such a rare language should be given treatment not afforded to o바카라사이트r minority languages in Scotland, Professor Dunbar said he ¡°wouldn¡¯t rush to assume¡± that Gaelic is less widely spoken than languages such as Polish or Urdu.

Gaelic is part of Scotland¡¯s heritage - and at risk - in a way that o바카라사이트r minority languages are not, making it worthy of special protection and promotion, he argued.

david.mat바카라사이트ws@tsleducation.com