Scotland/Alba - Bilingual signs controversy

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Scotland/Alba - Bilingual signs controversy

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The debate following a decision by a Scottish Council to have Gaelic
and English bilingual road signs is continuing this week, as some
Councillors argue that the idea is ridiculous.

The Highland Council approved the bilingual road signs in March 2008,
but since this time there have been numerous complaints from local
Councillors who have actively campaigned against the decision, which
has led commentators in Scotland to doubt the Scottish cultural committment
of some of its elected representatives in certain areas. The arguments
put forward by the councillors against the bilingual signs have been
largely spurious and ill thought out at best and include the ususal
'bilingual road signs are a saftey hazard for motorists', 'its a waste
of public money', 'there is no demand for them' and 'Gaelic was not
spoken in these areas'.

In response, it has been pointed out that bilingual signs will only
be erected as and when the old signs need replacing, that costs would
not amount to more than a few hundred pounds a year and that the idea
that there have never been Gaelic speakers in the area is a myth.


Consequently the Councillors who have expressed their opposition to
the bilingual signs have been described as anti Gaelic and against
Scottish culture. One area of local contention has been in the Caithness
area, where The National Mod will be held in 2010. The Mod is an annual
festival of Scottish Gaelic songs, art and culture and it has been
argued that the decision to erect bilingual road signs has come about
as a result of the planned event. The ongoing high profile campaign
against the Highland Council decision has led some to argue in Alba/Scotland
that it is undermining the efforts to provide a welcoming Scottish
image in the run up to the Mod and the promotion of Scottish Gaelic
in general.

Some of the local Councillors who have taken a lead in camapigning
against the decision have been Bower Councillor Alan Roberts, Landward
Councillor David Flear and Tannach and District Councillor Donald
Henderson, Landward Councillor David Bremner, Berriedale and Dunbeath
Councillor Neil Buchanan and Castletown and District Councillor Douglas
Fraser.

If some of the Councillors visted Cymru/Wales they would see that
the majority of road signs are bilingual and that even in Kernow/Cornwall,
one of the poorest 'regions' in Europe, they would also see bilingual
signs in some districts. In Scotland, Gaelic has official staus and
in the United Nations Year of International Languages 2008, local
Government has been encouraged to take a proactive stance in the promotion
and protection of its langues, especially endangered ones like Gaelic.
An on line survey has been set up by 'The John O'Groats Journal' asking
readers if Caithness should have bilingual road signs (see right hand
side of webpage) and can be found at the link below.

The General Secretary of the League has written to the Convenor of
the Highland Council Councillor Sandy Park expressing appreciation
for their initiative. The full text of the letter can be found below:

Councillor Sandy Park
Convener
Highland Council

Dear Councillor Sandy Park

Bilingual road signs

I am writing to you on behalf of the Celtic League to express our
thanks and appreciation to the Highland Council on its decision to
develop a Gaelic/English bilingual policy for road signs throughout
the area.

The promotion and protection of the Celtic languages is a main priority
for the Celtic Lague and new uses of the Gaelic language within the
public sphere in Scotland is particularly welcome and encouraging
news. We are aware that the Council has had a number of detractors
and criticisms from local councillors on its decision to develop a
bilingual road sign policy, but I would like to show to you by writing
that you also have strong international support for your decision.


During the year of the United Nations International Year of Languages
2008, your decision represents a means by which the Highland Council
can demonstrate its sensitivity and concern for Scotland's linguistic
heritage. As Mr. Koïchiro Matsuura, the Director General of the United
Nations Educational Scientific and Cultural Organisation (UNESCO),
said earlier this year:

"Languages are indeed essential to the identity of groups and individuals
and to their peaceful coexistence. They constitute a strategic factor
of progress towards sustainable development and a harmonious relationship
between the global and the local context.... UNESCO therefore invites
governments, United Nations organizations, civil society organizations,
educational institutions, professional associations and all other
stakeholders to increase their own activities to foster respect for,
and the promotion and protection of all languages, particularly endangered
languages, in all individual and collective contexts."

Once again I offer you our congratulations on behalf of our members
throughout the world and we look forward to seeing the bilingual road
signs in place on our visit to The National Mod in 2010.

Yours sincerely

Rhisiart Tal-e-bot
General Secretary"


There are a range of articles on this topic on CL News just type 'bilingual' into the search box on the home page.

J B Moffatt
Director of Information
Celtic League

30/05/08


The Celtic League has branches in the six Celtic Countries. It works
to promote cooperation between these countries and campaigns on a
broad range of political, cultural and environmental matters. It highlights
human rights abuse, monitors all military activity and focuses on
socio-economic issues.

TEL (UK)01624 877918 MOBILE (UK)07624 491609

Internet site at:

http://celticleague.net
http://groups.yahoo.com/group/celtic_league/