Assistance needed

[auld argonian]

Check these out:

Gaelic:

http://www.bbc.co.uk/scotland/alba/

Welsh:

http://news.bbc.co.uk/welsh/default.stm

obviously there is some sensitivity to these languages at the Beeb....although it could be that they are obliged by law to provide it.

Best

AA

[Valencian Kilted]

Apart of the use of gaelic in Ireland, scottish isles and some parts of Wales, there's also a gaelic language spoken in French Brittany.

...yes... I can just call this "my cent".

¡Salud!

T O N O

[starbkjrus]

Another example for you is the British Royal Website (www.royal.gov.uk) . It's available in English, Welsh and Gaelic.

Interestingly HRH The Prince of Wales' website is only available in English.

[Ruanaidh]

The rough numbers of native speakers are for Scotland 65,000; Wales 600,000; Nova Scotia 1, 000; Republic of Ireland 1,500,000; Northern Ireland 142,000; Isle of Man 650; Britanny 1,000,000.

[Scott Gilmore]

Well, as Clan Morrison is an Isle of Lewis tribe, I'll chime in on this thread if you don't mind.

Many Hebridean Web sites carry an English and a Gaelic version. Here are a few examples:
The West Highland Free Press
An Lanntair (art center)
The Gaelic Arts Agency
Ness Historical Society

And even when the Web site is in English, Gaelic can clearly be seen as a part of the culture by its liberal use. In this example, for most of the place names: Ness - Isle of Lewis, which states that "Rural Lewis has traditionally been Gaelic speaking, which has largely shaped the unique culture and way of life of the Nisich – the people of Ness." And in this example: Fios - Ness Community Newspaper.

Gaelic is far from being a dead language.

Regards,
Scott Gilmore

[porrick]

Irish (Gaelic) is the official first language of the Irish Republic...

[M. A. C. Newsome]

Apart of the use of gaelic in Ireland, scottish isles and some parts of Wales, there's also a gaelic language spoken in French Brittany

Actually, this is one of my pet peeves. They don't speak Gaelic in Wales or in Brittany. I have to correct people on this point frequently.

Gaelic is one of several Celtic languages (Just like English is a Germanic language, and Spanish is a Romance language, etc.).

There are two main branches of Celtic languages, Q-Celtic and P-Celtic. Unless I have the reversed in my head (which is very well possible!), the Q-Celtic branch consists of the Gaelic languages spoken in Scotland and Ireland, and the Isle of Man. P-Celtic would consist of Welsh, Breton, Cornish, and more than likely the lost language of the Picts.

So the languages spoken in Scotland and Ireland, and the languages spoken in Wales and Brittany, can said to be *related* in the sense that they are both Celtic languages, but they are not the same language, and in fact Gaelic belongs to a completely different branch of the Celtic languages than do Welsh or Breton.

Aye,
Matt

[MacWage]

For what its worth,

many churches in Scotland (at least the ones not used for cafes, museums, and visitor centers ), have English and Gaelic services. For example, Grayfriars in Edinburgh has an early one in Gaelic and then one at the "normal" time in English. When I was there in 2000, I learned that the pastor's wife was from my hometown-> Lilburn, Georgia, USA!!!!!

It was DEFINATELY a living language!

Yet one I do not speak it me self.

(I am a Hitory and Religion double major and have a masters degree in Church History and a Masters of Divinity-> so let's say I have definate opinions on maters of contemporary religion -> BUT-> let's keep this out of being a religious discussion! I will keep my mouth shut, as long as anyone else will. If you want to discuss or argue with me, do it through PM or email NOT HERE!!!!!!!!!!)

[Colin]

Maybe somebody from the East Coast can confirm this, but I have heard there are still some Gaelic speakers in Nova Scotia and the maritimes of Canada.

[Barclay]

Maybe somebody from the East Coast can confirm this, but I have heard there are still some Gaelic speakers in Nova Scotia and the maritimes of Canada.

That is correct. See post #18.