Bòrd na Gàidhlig
Encyclopedia
Bòrd na Gàidhlig is a quango
(quasi-autonomous non-governmental organisation) appointed by the Scottish Government with responsibility for Scottish Gaelic
. It is not to be confused with Comunn na Gàidhlig
or An Comunn Gaidhealach
, which are much older.
Bòrd na Gàidhlig was established in 2006 as the body responsible for implementing the Gaelic Language (Scotland) Act 2005
and specifically, as stated in the Act, "securing the status of the Gaelic language as an official language of Scotland commanding equal respect to the English language". The Bòrd represents a cornerstone of the Scottish Government's implementation of their duties under the European Charter for Regional or Minority Languages
.
Its primary aims are
Its duties are
Following a consultation period from October 2003 to January 2004, during which many respondents expressed their concern that any advice Bòrd gives would be likely to be ignored by largely hostile authorities, it was announced in September 2004 that the Bòrd was to be strengthened in several areas:
The first cathraiche (chair-person) of the eight member Bòrd was Donnchadh MacFhearghais (Duncan Ferguson) from Islay
, rector
of Plockton
High School, former convenor of Comunn Luchd-Ionnsachaidh
, Comunn na Gàidhlig
, and director of the steering committee for BBC
Gaelic programming. The current cathraiche is Arthur Cormack
, who was appointed in February 2009 after holding the position of Interim Chairperson from July 2008. Mr Cormack is also Chief Executive of the National Gaelic Arts Tuition Festivals, Fèisean nan Gàidheal
. Arthur Cormack is from Portree
, Isle of Skye and was educated at Portree High School
. He was also formerly on the Board of Directors of Eden Court Theatre
in Inverness and the Scottish Arts Council
.
Quango
Quango or qango is an acronym used notably in the United Kingdom, Ireland and elsewhere to label an organisation to which government has devolved power...
(quasi-autonomous non-governmental organisation) appointed by the Scottish Government with responsibility for Scottish Gaelic
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....
. It is not to be confused with Comunn na Gàidhlig
Comunn na Gàidhlig
Comunn na Gàidhlig abbreviated to "CnaG" is an organisation which seeks to promote Scottish Gaelic language and culture....
or An Comunn Gaidhealach
An Comunn Gàidhealach
An Comunn Gàidhealach , literally The Gaelic Association) is an organisation in Scotland which seeks to promote Scottish Gaelic language and culture, following in the footsteps of the Gaelic Athletic Association or GAA in Ireland....
, which are much older.
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....
and specifically, as stated in the Act, "securing the status of the Gaelic language as an official language of Scotland commanding equal respect to the English language". The Bòrd represents a cornerstone of the Scottish Government's implementation of their duties under the European Charter for Regional or Minority Languages
European Charter for Regional or Minority Languages
The European Charter for Regional or Minority Languages is a European treaty adopted in 1992 under the auspices of the Council of Europe to protect and promote historical regional and minority languages in Europe...
.
Its primary aims are
- to increase the number of Gaelic speakers
- to strengthen Gaelic as a language of community and home
- to promote Gaelic in ScotlandScotlandScotland 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...
's cultural life, and - to develop the use of Gaelic in every aspect of Scottish life
Its duties are
- to develop a strategic National Gaelic Plan
- to work with organisations with an interest in the language
- to consult on a strategy for Gaelic Medium EducationGaelic medium educationGaelic medium education is a form of education in Scotland that allows pupils to be taught primarily through the medium of Scottish Gaelic, with English being taught as the secondary language. Education projects in other Gaelic countries; Ireland Gaelic medium education (G.M.E. or GME; Scottish...
Following a consultation period from October 2003 to January 2004, during which many respondents expressed their concern that any advice Bòrd gives would be likely to be ignored by largely hostile authorities, it was announced in September 2004 that the Bòrd was to be strengthened in several areas:
- the Bòrd's guidance to local authorities on Gaelic medium education will be statutory;
- it can advise all public, private and voluntary bodies;
- it will decide on how to focus Gaelic language development and will determine which organisations should produce language plans.
The first cathraiche (chair-person) of the eight member Bòrd was Donnchadh MacFhearghais (Duncan Ferguson) from Islay
Islay
-Prehistory:The earliest settlers on Islay were nomadic hunter-gatherers who arrived during the Mesolithic period after the retreat of the Pleistocene ice caps. In 1993 a flint arrowhead was found in a field near Bridgend dating from 10,800 BC, the earliest evidence of a human presence found so far...
, rector
Rector
The word rector has a number of different meanings; it is widely used to refer to an academic, religious or political administrator...
of Plockton
Plockton
Plockton is a village in the Highlands of Scotland with a population of 378 .- Details :Plockton is a picturesque settlement on the shores of Loch Carron...
High School, former convenor of Comunn Luchd-Ionnsachaidh
Comunn Luchd-Ionnsachaidh
Clì Gàidhlig formerly known as Comann an Luchd-Ionnsachaidh , or CLI, is an organisation based in Inverness which seeks to support learners of the Scottish Gaelic language and has campaigned actively to promote the language....
, Comunn na Gàidhlig
Comunn na Gàidhlig
Comunn na Gàidhlig abbreviated to "CnaG" is an organisation which seeks to promote Scottish Gaelic language and culture....
, and director of the steering committee for BBC
BBC
The British Broadcasting Corporation is a British public service broadcaster. Its headquarters is at Broadcasting House in the City of Westminster, London. It is the largest broadcaster in the world, with about 23,000 staff...
Gaelic programming. The current cathraiche is Arthur Cormack
Arthur Cormack
Arthur Cormack is a Scots Gaelic singer and musician from Portree, Isle of Skye.-Music:Cormack started competing in Gaelic singing competitions when he was 8 and competing at Mods when he was 11...
, who was appointed in February 2009 after holding the position of Interim Chairperson from July 2008. Mr Cormack is also Chief Executive of the National Gaelic Arts Tuition Festivals, Fèisean nan Gàidheal
Fèisean nan Gàidheal
Fèisean nan Gàidheal is the National Association of Scottish Gaelic Arts Youth Tuition Festivals. Established in 1988, it is the support organisation for the Fèisean which are local Gaelic Arts tuition festivals....
. Arthur Cormack is from Portree
Portree
Portree is the largest town on Skye in the Inner Hebrides of Scotland. It is the location for the only secondary school on the Island, Portree High school. Public transport services are limited to buses....
, Isle of Skye and was educated at Portree High School
Portree High school
Portree High School is a state co-educational comprehensive school in Portree, on the Isle of Skye in Scotland. The school currently enrolls 640 pupils and employs 60 teachers...
. He was also formerly on the Board of Directors of Eden Court Theatre
Eden Court Theatre
Eden Court Theatre is a large theatre, cinema and arts venue situated in Inverness, Scotland. The theatre has recently undergone a complete refurbishment and major extension, adding a second theatre, two dedicated cinema screens, two performance/dance studios, improved dressing room and green room...
in Inverness and the Scottish Arts Council
Scottish Arts Council
The Scottish Arts Council is a Scottish public body that distributes funding from the Scottish Government, and is the leading national organisation for the funding, development and promotion of the arts in Scotland...
.
See also
- Cornish Language PartnershipCornish Language PartnershipThe Cornish Language Partnership is a representative body that was set up in Cornwall, United Kingdom in 2005 to promote and develop the use of the Cornish language in Cornwall...
- Languages in the United KingdomLanguages in the United KingdomThe de facto official language of the United Kingdom is English, which is spoken as the primary language of 95% of the UK population. Welsh is the second most spoken language in the United Kingdom.-Living:...
- Language revivalLanguage revivalLanguage revitalization, language revival or reversing language shift is the attempt by interested parties, including individuals, cultural or community groups, governments, or political authorities, to reverse the decline of a language. If the decline is severe, the language may be endangered,...
- Foras na GaeilgeForas na GaeilgeForas na Gaeilge is the governing body of the Irish language, responsible for the promotion of the language throughout the island of Ireland. Its name can be translated into English as "The Irish Language Body", although the body has no official English-language name...
- Irish language board - Welsh Language BoardWelsh Language BoardThe Welsh Language Board is a statutory body set up by the UK Government as part of the Welsh Language Act 1993. It is now an Assembly Sponsored Public Body...
- Ulster-Scots AgencyUlster-Scots AgencyThe Ulster-Scots Agency is a cross-border body in Ireland which seeks "promote the study, conservation and development of Ulster-Scots as a living language; to encourage and develop the full range of its attendant culture; and to promote an understanding of the history of the Ulster-Scots...