West Lothian is taking a “pragmatic and incremental” approach to developing the use of Gaelic, as a report revealed the number of local people who speak the language is rising.
But don’t look for bilingual road signs in Lodainn an Iar (West Lothian) - as there won’t be any - yet.
A report was presented to the Corporate Policy Development and Scrutiny Panel to detail a draft submission of the first monitoring report for West Lothian Council’s Gaelic Language Plan, prior to its submission to the Bord na Gaidhlig.
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The report revealed that the number of residents who can speak Gaelic rose from 573 in 2001 to 667 in 2011 - that’s a 16 % increase compared to a Scottish average of 1.8%. The number of Gaelic literate speakers is up by more than a quarter, from 276 in 2001 to 354 in 2011.
The Gaelic Language (Scotland) Act 2005 requires all Scottish local authorities to develop a Gaelic Language Plan and submit annual monitoring reports.
In a report to the panel Communications manager Garry Heron said: “The Gaelic Language (Scotland) Act 2005 establishes the “Bòrd na Gaidhlig” (the “Bòrd”) to promote and facilitate the promotion of the use and understanding of the Gaelic language, Gaelic education and Gaelic culture and to advise on matters relating to the Gaelic language. The functions conferred on the Bòrd by the Act are stated as being with a view to securing the status of the Gaelic language as an official language of Scotland commanding equal respect to the English language.”
The report added: “The Council received statutory notice to develop a Gaelic Language Plan and the Council’s plan was formally approved by Council Executive on 17 December 2021. The Council’s Gaelic language plan, and the actions contained in it recognised that the West Lothian Council area has not been one of Scotland’s traditional Gaelic speaking areas, nor has a large number of people who speak Gaelic today. The actions in the plan therefore focus on pursuing a pragmatic approach to help develop the Gaelic language in the West Lothian area.”
The Gaelic language plan will foster interest in schools in learning the language and seeks to further develop, support and encourage Gaelic learning opportunities for adults in West Lothian Council area, including an active and on-going dialogue with Newbattle Abbey College.
Signage on council buildings and areas such as country parks, as well as welcome signs to the county will eventually carry Gaelic translation but these will only be introduced as and when the signage needs to be renewed.
ScotRail has since 2008 carried bilingual signage on trains and station boards- one of the first actions of the SNP government elected the year before.
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