Community conversations on Gaelic’s future as a community language in the Outer Hebrides, Skye and Tiree will create an open forum for discussion to determine appropriate actions in addressing this situation.

The recent publication of a comprehensive sociolinguistic study into the use of Gaelic in the vernacular island communities, titled The Gaelic Crisis in the Vernacular Communities, concluded that the social use and transmission of Gaelic is at the point of collapse.

Alasdair Allan MSP is working with the authors of the study from the Soillse research team based at the University of the Highlands and Islands (UHI) and a cross-party group of MSPs and researchers including Kate Forbes MSP, Michael Russell MSP, Donald Cameron MSP, Rhoda Grant MSP, John Finnie MSP and Dr Michael Foxley.

In addition to the meetings, residents will also have the option to submit written opinions as part of the process (see below).

As well as discussions about Gaelic usage in the home and community, the meetings will also gauge opinion on whether such ideas in the report such as a Gaelic community cooperative – Urras na Gàidhlig – could be an appropriate structure to coordinate and drive forward local development actions under the direct control of the Gaelic-speaking community.

Meeting Dates

Due to coronavirus guidelines, meetings will be held virtually through Zoom. Meetings will be in Gaelic, with simultaneous interpretation available, and are open to all those who self-affiliate with a community located in the consultation area. The meetings will be recorded for minuting purposes. To register to attend, please click on the meeting below. This will take you to an Eventbrite form to fill in.

Written Submissions

To submit written opinions as part of this process, please follow the following links. Submissions close 20 November 2020.

• Gaelic version
• English version