Periphery of the periphery? : adult learners of Scottish Gaelic and reversal of language shift
Due to the advanced state which Gaelic-English language shift has reached in Scotland, Gaelic learners are now increasingly recognised as having a central role in reversing this process. The present detailed study of adult learners of Scottish Gaelic was undertaken in order to provide an overview of the contemporary world of the Gaelic learner with particular reference to reversing language shift [RLS]. The infrastructure for Gaelic learning is investigated in detail. It is shown that the present facilities for learning the language and for attracting learners tend to be limited, ad-hoc, fragmented and uncoordinated with several significant gaps in provision and with no overall framework or strategic direction. The weaknesses of the Gaelic learning infrastructure have been reflected in the fact that very few Gaelic learners reach fluency. The social identity of the Gaelic learner is investigated next, looking at the position of the learner within the Gaelic speech community and linking this to the question of RLS. It is argued that the learner occupies a somewhat ambiguous social standing within this community, creating both advantages and disadvantages for the individual learner, but offering many advantages
MacCaluim, Alasdair
Periphery of the periphery? : adult learners of Scottish Gaelic and reversal of language shift. Due to the advanced state which Gaelic-English language shift has reached in Scotland, Gaelic learners are now increasingly recognised as having a central role in reversing this process. The present detailed study of adult learners of Scottish Gaelic was undertaken in order to provide an overview of the contemporary world of the Gaelic learner with particular reference to reversing language shift [RLS]. The infrastructure for Gaelic learning is investigated in detail. It is shown that the present facilities for learning the language and for attracting learners tend to be limited, ad-hoc, fragmented and uncoordinated with several significant gaps in provision and with no overall framework or strategic direction. The weaknesses of the Gaelic learning infrastructure have been reflected in the fact that very few Gaelic learners reach fluency. The social identity of the Gaelic learner is investigated next, looking at the position of the learner within the Gaelic speech community and linking this to the question of RLS. It is argued that the learner occupies a somewhat ambiguous social standing within this community, creating both advantages and disadvantages for the individual learner, but offering many advantages
periphery periphery adult_learner scottish_gaelic reversal language_shift due advance state gaelic english_language shift reach scotland gaelic learners increasingly recognised central_role reverse process present_detail study adult_learner scottish_gaelic undertaken_order provide_overview contemporary world gaelic learner particular_reference reverse language_shift infrastructure gaelic learning investigate_detail show present facility learn_language attract learner tend limited hoc fragment several significant gap provision overall framework strategic direction weakness gaelic learning infrastructure reflect fact gaelic learners reach fluency social_identity gaelic learner investigate next look position learner within gaelic speech_community link question argue learner occupies somewhat ambiguous social_standing within_community create advantage disadvantage individual learner offer many advantage