Dual-language station names
SIR, – The purpose of a sign is to convey information in as clear a way as possible. On a recent train journey from Nairn to Glasgow, I could not but notice that the majority of station names were in dual languages (some, I suspect, recent interpretations).
Did anyone starting out from Nairn or Inverness ask for their destination in Gaelic? I suspect not. Would the ticket issuer at Nairn have understood if a destination had been requested in Gaelic? I suspect not. Did any of the passengers on the train memorise the Gaelic place names? I suspect not.
In times of financial stringency, it is incumbent on our authorities to focus on essential needs and set aside what are desirable aims. I do not suspect that the substantial monies spent on promoting Gaelic has been on non-essentials. I know it to be a fact.
Gaelic will survive in the arts, its music, poetry, stories and traditions, not in its enforced promotion.
Russell Foley,
Nairn.
Gaelic ‘excellent value for money’
SIR, – I must refute the allegation in recent letters to the Press and Journal that Gaelic is a “waste of money”. It may interest these nay-sayers that in a recent review of pupils from Gaelic medium school units in the Highland Council area, they consistently performed better in all subjects (and especially English and maths) than pupils in English medium schools.
In addition, these children are fluent in two languages, which has the added benefit of greatly facilitating the acquisition of other languages.
Academic achievement aside, it was, for many Gaelic and non-Gaelic speakers alike, a sheer delight to witness the confident, lively, talented musical performances of so many of our Gaelic-speaking young people in the recent Blas Festival. They are a credit to their communities.
Scots Gaelic is again adding a vibrant new strand to Scotland’s rich cultural mix, and this is being noticed and celebrated internationally, if not always in Scotland.
Bearing in mind the billions spent in providing services and promotions through the medium of English, the relatively small sums in fostering an exemplary, confident new generation of Gaelic speakers is excellent value for money.
Roy N. Pedersen,
Inverness.
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