Language and culture as a societal asset: Strategic alignment of language policy to a sustainable socio-economic market for gaelic

Assuming that languages, in particular threatened or minority languages, require<br/>supportive socio-economic markets in order to thrive (Grin, 2003a), this thesis<br/>explores language and culture as societal assets, specifically for the extant<br/>Gàidhealtachd Gaelic-speaker group. The core of this doctoral work lies in<br/>understanding how these assets may be strategically aligned with national language<br/>policy to create the beneficial socio-economic market conditions required to develop<br/>a more secure, sustainable future for Gaelic, given its currently imperilled situation<br/>(Ó Giollagáin et al., 2020).<br/>The study objectives included defining the extent of the active speaker group,<br/>particularly in the Gàidhealtachd; characterising Gaelic’s socioeconomy, and how its<br/>participants understand its scope and dimensions; and identification of language<br/>policy spheres viewed as successful in relation to sustaining Gaelic as a societal<br/>practice or supporting linguistic and economic attainment.<br/>This thesis breaks new ground by outlining an au courant depiction of the Gaelic elite<br/>cohort’s private observations and thought processes regarding Gaelic’s socioeconomic<br/>condition. These opinions highlight contradictions with the public<br/>pronouncements of the leadership cluster which constructs and dispenses national<br/>language policy. Concurrently, the priorities, successes and weaknesses of such<br/>policy as perceived by participants in Gaelic’s purported socioeconomy are<br/>assessed, meaning themes pivotal to the language’s future emerge. These matters<br/>are further scrutinised in relation to contemporary debates on Gaelic, which are<br/>broadly centred on the mechanics of language policy and provision, and the<br/>problematised ideological contestation of individual and group identity. Such<br/>discussion is largely disengaged from the lived societal realities and concerns of the<br/>Gàidhealtachd group.<br/>Emergent findings depict a dysfunctional Gaelic development and leadership<br/>system, in which sub-optimal results arise from confusion over the purpose of<br/>revitalisation, a lack of cohesive planning, the misplaced prioritisation of sectoral interests over communal concerns, and the failure to identify solutions to pressing<br/>problems. There has been a simultaneous apparent policy shift away from<br/>positioning the Gàidhealtachd communities as ‘the most valuable resource we have’<br/>for developing and sustaining a social market for Gaelic (Bòrd na Gàidhlig, 2007a:<br/>23) to focus instead on numerical growth predicated on increasing enrolments in<br/>Gaelic-medium education by attracting an urban population which may have little or<br/>no prior connection to Gaelic language and culture (McLeod, 2018: 86).<br/>While the socio-economic participants identify home and community as priority<br/>areas, they perceive Gaelic language policy as privileging sectoral interests and<br/>individual attainment while the Gaelic leadership continues to pursue public sector<br/>language planning which fails to afford the Gàidhealtachd group any real agency in<br/>addressing socio-economic challenges.<br/>This research offers evidence-based recommendations for action which may change<br/>how Gaelic policy-makers engage with their work, and how such recalibrated policy<br/>could be implemented in societal situations to benefit the workforce of a putative<br/>Gaelic socioeconomy and have a tangible impact on how the Gàidhealtachd group<br/>faces its future challenges with confidence.<br/>It is intended that the research outcomes will be shared with leaders in all strata of<br/>Gaelic society in the hope that the supportive socio-economic conditions necessary<br/>for Gaelic to survive and flourish, particularly in the Gàidhealtachd, can be attained.

Name dc:type.qualificationname

Doctor of Philosophy (awarded by UHI)

Level dc:type.qualificationlevel

Doctoral Thesis

Grantor dc:publisher.institution

University of the Highlands and Islands

Year dc:date.issued

2023

Author dc:creator

• Cameron, Gordon

Advisors dc:contributor.advisor

• Ó Giollagáin, Conchúr
• Caimbeul, Iain

Language dc:language

eng

Identifier

oai:pure.atira.dk:studenttheses/50d8080e-5f9b-488e-8746-7d7a8469d755

OAI identifier oai:identifier

oai:pure.atira.dk:studenttheses/50d8080e-5f9b-488e-8746-7d7a8469d755