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Morning all, I have a few thoughts re: Scots, Gàidhlig and BBC ALBA.
I think the conversation regarding the commonalities and differences, historic and modern, between Gàidhlig and Scots is one worth having. (thread)
I think the conversation regarding the commonalities and differences, historic and modern, between Gàidhlig and Scots is one worth having. (thread)
Just to start: I’m an absolute mutt of Scottish regional identities, and I believe this gives me a pretty broad perspective. The opinions I am about to share have been informed by my own personal relationship with both languages.
Although I’m a Gael first and foremost, my identity also encompasses the Ayrshire, Glasgow and Ulster Scots in me.
I 100% welcome input from anyone else, variety of outlook is so important and this is something I just really wanna talk about :)
I 100% welcome input from anyone else, variety of outlook is so important and this is something I just really wanna talk about :)
So, to begin, both minority languages share a commonalities in that they’re 1.both Scottish and 2.their deterioration and decline in usage has been a direct result of anti-Scottish sentiment.
However, something that is very important and worth noting: I believe that modern discrimination against Scots and its speakers is largely rooted in class prejudice.
I.e. social and economic bias.
I.e. social and economic bias.
Whereas, historically, Gàidhlig was targeted to systematically destroy the culture, community and identity it encompasses - things we are still fighting for today.
Anti-Gàidhlig has always been anti-Gàidheal and therefore, in my opinion, has always been more motivated by racial/cultural prejudice.
Although, it’s worth saying that class, culture and geography all go hand in hand so there is obviously some overlap.
Although, it’s worth saying that class, culture and geography all go hand in hand so there is obviously some overlap.
As we’ve all seen on twitter this year, anti-Gàidhlig sentiments are typically more outright. There’s a-lot of fellow Scots who don’t see an issue with spewing blatant hatred against us - for centuries, people have largely gotten away with it.
I don’t believe that Scots was ever formally targeted by the law in the way that Gàidhlig was.
(I’m not as knowledgeable about Scots history so please correct me if I’m wrong)...
(I’m not as knowledgeable about Scots history so please correct me if I’m wrong)...
...But the modern day institutional bias against Scots is so widely accepted - the view that Scots is unprofessional and inappropriate in institutional settings has long gone largely unquestioned.
In my opinion the subtlety surrounding anti-Scots discrimination actually makes all the more dangerous - especially when you consider its roots in class prejudice.
Unity between both language communities is so important for Scotland’s culture as a whole, but I think BBC ALBA should be Gàidhlig only. Not because I don’t care about Scots...
...but because I believe that lumping them both together in such a formal, official sense would be detrimental to both in terms of financial support and developing their unique status’ respectively.
In summary, despite the appearance of some degree of commonality:
1. The issues facing each language, and the historical context behind them, are distinct.
2. Therefore, the support each requires, both in the media and in the community, will look different.
1. The issues facing each language, and the historical context behind them, are distinct.
2. Therefore, the support each requires, both in the media and in the community, will look different.
BBC ALBA is a channel for Gàidhlig and it’s speakers. It is something that was very long fought for. Scots deserves to be given the same media status, but BBC ALBA isn’t a Scots channel so that’s not their job. Scots should have its own channel 
