Language Revitalisation in Gaelic Scotland: Linguistic Practice and Ideology - Paperback

by Stuart S. Dunmore (Author)

Situated within the interrelated disciplines of sociolinguistics and sociology of language, this book explores the language use and attitudinal perceptions of a sample of 130 adults who received Gaelic-medium education (GME) at primary school, during the first years of that system's availability in Scotland. As the first students to have attended GME are now in their late 20s and 30s, this volume offers a timely examination of the long-term outcomes of the system in its earliest years, and of the future prospects for Gaelic language maintenance and revitalisation in Scotland.

The book presents in-depth discussion and analysis of narratives in order to demonstrate former Gaelic-medium students' present-day relationships to the languages they speak, offering fascinating insights into the possible reasons - historical, ideological and personal - for these relationships. This book presents the first open assessment of the outcomes of Gaelic-medium education in Scotland, and offers suggestions for individuals and policymakers seeking to revitalise languages internationally.

Front Jacket

'With Scottish Gaelic in decline for almost a millennium, Dunmore's book fills a crucial gap in our understanding of the long-term social and linguistic outcomes of Gaelic medium education. It will inform policy makers and activists in Scotland and worldwide, where revitalization efforts are underway to create new speakers and domains through schooling.'　 Professor Emerita Suzanne Romain, University of Oxford The first open assessment of the outcomes of Gaelic-medium education in Scotland This is a timely examination of the long-term outcomes of the system in its earliest years and of the future prospects for Gaelic language maintenance and revitalisation in Scotland. The book presents in-depth discussion and analysis of narratives in order to demonstrate former Gaelic-medium students' present-day relationships to the languages they speak, which offers fascinating insights into the possible reasons - historical, ideological and personal - for these relationships. Stuart Dunmore assesses the outcomes of Gaelic-medium education in Scotland and offers suggestions for activists and policymakers seeking to revitalise languages internationally. Key Features - Outlines the history of Gaelic language use in Scotland and challenges popular misunderstandings around the language's heritage and contemporary relevance - Summarises the changing role of Gaelic in Scottish schools, particularly since the start of Gaelic-medium education in 1985 - Examines 130 participants' language practices, and the possible attitudinal and sociological correlates underlying these practices - Explores beliefs about the Gaelic language through detailed, close-reading of narratives using an innovative 'ethnography of speaking' approach to bilingual discourses concerning the Gaelic language and its community Stuart Dunmore is a British Academy Postdoctoral Fellow based at the University of Edinburgh and is currently undertaking research on Gaelic in Nova Scotia. Cover image: Cover design: [EUP logo] edinburghuniversitypress.com ISBN 978-1-4744-4311-1 Barcode

Back Jacket

'With Scottish Gaelic in decline for almost a millennium, Dunmore's book fills a crucial gap in our understanding of the long-term social and linguistic outcomes of Gaelic medium education. It will inform policy makers and activists in Scotland and worldwide, where revitalization efforts are underway to create new speakers and domains through schooling.' Professor Emerita Suzanne Romain, University of Oxford The first open assessment of the outcomes of Gaelic-medium education in Scotland This is a timely examination of the long-term outcomes of the system in its earliest years and of the future prospects for Gaelic language maintenance and revitalisation in Scotland. The book presents in-depth discussion and analysis of narratives in order to demonstrate former Gaelic-medium students' present-day relationships to the languages they speak, which offers fascinating insights into the possible reasons - historical, ideological and personal - for these relationships. Stuart Dunmore assesses the outcomes of Gaelic-medium education in Scotland and offers suggestions for activists and policymakers seeking to revitalise languages internationally. Key Features - Outlines the history of Gaelic language use in Scotland and challenges popular misunderstandings around the language's heritage and contemporary relevance - Summarises the changing role of Gaelic in Scottish schools, particularly since the start of Gaelic-medium education in 1985 - Examines 130 participants' language practices, and the possible attitudinal and sociological correlates underlying these practices - Explores beliefs about the Gaelic language through detailed, close-reading of narratives using an innovative 'ethnography of speaking' approach to bilingual discourses concerning the Gaelic language and its community Stuart Dunmore is a British Academy Postdoctoral Fellow based at the University of Edinburgh and is currently undertaking research on Gaelic in Nova Scotia. Cover image: Cover design: [EUP logo] edinburghuniversitypress.com ISBN 978-1-4744-4311-1 Barcode

Author Biography

Stuart S. Dunmore is a British Academy Postdoctoral Fellow in the School of Literatures, Languages and Cultures at the University of Edinburgh.