Highland Council policy change on bilingual signs - urgent!
Posted: Tue Jun 23, 2009 10:08 am
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Scroll down for the English.
'Tha Comhairle na Gàidhealtachd am beachd am poileasaidh atharrachadh air soidhnichean dà-chànanach. Aig an ìre seo bu chòir do shoidhnichean ùra, seann shoidhnichean agus feadhainn a tha deiseil a bhith dà-chànanach. Tha seo ann am Plana Gàidhlig na Comhairle a bha a' chiad phlana a chaidh aontachadh agus a tha, aig an ìre seo, glè làidir ged tha duilgheadasan ga chur an gnìomh. Tha coinneamh den làn chomhairle Diardaoin an t-seachdain seo far a bheil gluasad ann nach bi ach soidhnichean far a bheil ainmean-àite Gàidhlig. Bidh seo a' ciallachadh nach bi ach daoine ag argamaid air dè th' ann an ainm Gàidhlig. Aig deireadh an là, bidh tòrr nas lugha soighnichean Gàidhlig a' dol suas agus ni seo cron air a' Ghàidhlig. Tha iad fhathast ag ràdh gu bheil speis co-ionnan aca dhan Ghàidhlig ach chan eil seo idir a' dèanamh ciall mura h-eil dùil aca dèiligeadh ris an dà chànan san aon dòigh. Tha mi a' moladh gun sgrìobh sinn uile thuca ag ràdh gu bheil am poileasaidh glè mhath 's ceart mar a tha e agus nach gabh iad ris a' ghluasad seo. Ma ghabhas, thèid cron a dhèanamh air a' Ghàidhlig agus Comhairle na Gàidhealtachd.
This is a critical time for Gaelic Development and for the use of bilingual signs in Scotland. Highland Council are about to consider a change to their Gaelic Language Plan and their policy on bilingual signs. The current policy states that new signs, old signs needing replaced and others will be bilingual. This is stated in the Highland Council Gaelic Language Plan which was the first plan to be agreed in Scotland and is currently assisting the growth of Gaelic. There will be a meeting of the full council on Thursday this week where they will consider a motion which proposes to weaken the current policy so that "Bi-lingual signage will only be used where this is a true Gaelic name or established tr*nsl*t**n". This means that there will be a huge reduction in the amount of bilingual signs with a correspoding effect on Gaelic. It will also produce endless arguments about what constitutes a Gaelic place-name thus stalling progress. They are still saying, in this new motion, that they are affording equal respect to Gaelic and English even though the motion means that both languages will be dealt with in different ways, once receiving priority. I urge you all to write an email to all Highland Councillors advising them that this motion, if accepted, will significantly hamper the growth of Gaelic and will damage the language as well as The Highland Council's reputation. If accepted the Highland Council Gaelic Language Plan will no longer provide the basis for Gaelic Development in the Highlands. I have copied Highland Councillor's email addresses below. This information is in the public domain. Please be polite but firm.
Dùrachdan, Dòmhnall
Scroll down for the English.
'Tha Comhairle na Gàidhealtachd am beachd am poileasaidh atharrachadh air soidhnichean dà-chànanach. Aig an ìre seo bu chòir do shoidhnichean ùra, seann shoidhnichean agus feadhainn a tha deiseil a bhith dà-chànanach. Tha seo ann am Plana Gàidhlig na Comhairle a bha a' chiad phlana a chaidh aontachadh agus a tha, aig an ìre seo, glè làidir ged tha duilgheadasan ga chur an gnìomh. Tha coinneamh den làn chomhairle Diardaoin an t-seachdain seo far a bheil gluasad ann nach bi ach soidhnichean far a bheil ainmean-àite Gàidhlig. Bidh seo a' ciallachadh nach bi ach daoine ag argamaid air dè th' ann an ainm Gàidhlig. Aig deireadh an là, bidh tòrr nas lugha soighnichean Gàidhlig a' dol suas agus ni seo cron air a' Ghàidhlig. Tha iad fhathast ag ràdh gu bheil speis co-ionnan aca dhan Ghàidhlig ach chan eil seo idir a' dèanamh ciall mura h-eil dùil aca dèiligeadh ris an dà chànan san aon dòigh. Tha mi a' moladh gun sgrìobh sinn uile thuca ag ràdh gu bheil am poileasaidh glè mhath 's ceart mar a tha e agus nach gabh iad ris a' ghluasad seo. Ma ghabhas, thèid cron a dhèanamh air a' Ghàidhlig agus Comhairle na Gàidhealtachd.
This is a critical time for Gaelic Development and for the use of bilingual signs in Scotland. Highland Council are about to consider a change to their Gaelic Language Plan and their policy on bilingual signs. The current policy states that new signs, old signs needing replaced and others will be bilingual. This is stated in the Highland Council Gaelic Language Plan which was the first plan to be agreed in Scotland and is currently assisting the growth of Gaelic. There will be a meeting of the full council on Thursday this week where they will consider a motion which proposes to weaken the current policy so that "Bi-lingual signage will only be used where this is a true Gaelic name or established tr*nsl*t**n". This means that there will be a huge reduction in the amount of bilingual signs with a correspoding effect on Gaelic. It will also produce endless arguments about what constitutes a Gaelic place-name thus stalling progress. They are still saying, in this new motion, that they are affording equal respect to Gaelic and English even though the motion means that both languages will be dealt with in different ways, once receiving priority. I urge you all to write an email to all Highland Councillors advising them that this motion, if accepted, will significantly hamper the growth of Gaelic and will damage the language as well as The Highland Council's reputation. If accepted the Highland Council Gaelic Language Plan will no longer provide the basis for Gaelic Development in the Highlands. I have copied Highland Councillor's email addresses below. This information is in the public domain. Please be polite but firm.
Dùrachdan, Dòmhnall