Why is television so important for Gaelic?

[Gràisg]

Litir a nochd sa Hearald

January 15, 2011
Why is television so important for Gaelic?

Jim McKenzie complains about the BBC Trust s decision to remove 13 radio
stations from Freeview to make way for the Gaelic television channel, BBC Alba
(Letters, January 10).

It is clear that the BBC Trust based their decision, following extensive and
prolonged consultation, on the public value of the service. There is strong and
consistent demand for the high quality news, sport, documentary and children s
programmes offered by BBC Alba..

Freeview, as the name suggests, is primarily a television platform and the Trust
is clear that each of the radio services affected can still be accessed on
various other platforms. What isn t yet clear is how an enhanced television
service will help Gaelic. It is precisely because Gaelic is an endangered
language that it needs investment in infrastructure. However, the contribution
of television to revitalising the language has never been explained and the lack
of investment in adult literacy and print media remains a mystery.

John Angus Mackay, the boss of the Gaelic development body, Bòrd na Gàidhlig has
been challenged by the grassroots organisation TAIC, to a public debate on
official plans for the language. With an OBE for his services to Gaelic
television he would seem well qualified to explain why television is so
important to Gaelic speakers.

John Campbell,
Oak Cottage, Lynwilg, Aviemore.

[Seonaidh]

Inntinneach. Ach dè an sgudal mu dheidhinn "grass roots organisation"? Gu dearbh 's ann a tha telbhisean glè chudromach ri Gàidhlig - air sgàth 's gur ann mar seo a sgaoileas cultar poblach san latha an-diugh. Agus mura bi TBh ri fhaighinn sa Ghàidhlig tron àm coltach ris na seanalan Beurla cha bhi cultar Gàidhlig o chionn ghorid. 'S e amadan a th' ann an John Campbell Lynwilg.

[Gràisg]

Tha moran den chultar againn a' crochadh mu thimchioll Telebhisean, 's e sin an fhìrinn glan. Gus cothrom na Fèinne a thoirt don Ghàidhlig bi e deatamach gum bi sianail Gàidhlig ann ach saoilidh mi gu bheil Seon ceart gus guth a thogail mu dheidhinn litearrachd.
Co-dhiù, ceist a th'agamsa cia mheud daoine a tha ag ionnsachadh beagan le Speaking Our language, ann an àite sam bith far a bheil sianail 168 ri fhaighinn air Sky TV? 'S dòcha gur e BBC Alba a rud as inntinneach ann am badan taobh a-muigh Alba cuideachd? Tha mi eòlach air duine shìos ann an Sasainn a tha air a bheò glacadh leis a' cheòl a tha ri fhaighinn air BBC Alba ged nach eil facal Gàidhlig aige idir, idir. Mar a sheinn Brus Sprinstein, "57 channels and nothing on."

[Níall Beag]

Hm... I don't think Mr Mackay was looking to discuss TV strategy in this public debate....

[Neas Olc]

Cia mheud daoine òga a th'ann a bhios ag eisteachd ri radio? 'Se 'seann' mheadhan a th'ann nach e? Chan eil mi cho eòlach idir air a' chuis telebhisein 'sa RA ('freeview' etc = Greugais dhomhsa) ach nach biodh Gàidhlig ri fhaighinn do bharrachd daoine nam biodh i air TV nas àbhaistiche?

[GunChleoc]

freeview = TBh digiteach sa Bhreatainn. Chan fheum thu ach digital receiver beag fhaighinn, chan e saideal no caball a th' ann. http://www.freeview.co.uk/

Cha bu chòir dhuinn amadan a ràdh ris an duine ud, tha e a' smaoineachadh air a' chuspair agus a' sgrìobhadh a bheachd ann an dòigh ciallach.

Tha an sianal TBh cudromach a thaobh "normalisation" a ' chànain (Dè a Ghàidhlig air an fhacal ud? )

Tha "grassroots organisations" air leth cudromach cuideachd co-dhiù, mar a sheall an rannsachadh aig Joshua Fishman. Nach e buidhean den leithid a tha sinn fhìn ann an dòigh

Bhiodh e glè mhath co-dhiù pàipear-naidheachd fhaighinn sa Ghàidhlig a-rithist, is dòcha rud a bhiodh air fhoillseachadh na bu trice na bha anns a' Ghàidheal ùr.