[Dòmhnall Angaidh Moireasdan - Preseantair] Nise, sheall figearan bhon chunntas-sluaigh mu dheireadh gu bheil a' Ghàidhlig am measg na h-òigridh fada air dheireadh na tha i do dhaoine nas sine air taobh tuath Leòdhais, a’ gabhail a-steach Steòrnabhagh, An Rubha agus Nis. 'S ann an Uibhist a Deas a tha i nas làidire air feadh nan aoisean. Anns an Eilean Sgitheanach, tha i a’ crìonadh am measg nan daoine as sine, ach ag èirigh am measg na h-òigridh. Tha an aithris seo aig Iain MacDiarmaid.
[Iain MacDiarmaid – Neach-aithris] Nuair a chaidh an soitheach seo a chur air bhog, bha staid na Gàidhlig tòrr na b’ fhallaine na tha i an-diugh. Ach, a’ cleachdadh figearan ùra bhon chunntas-sluaigh, ‘s urrainn dhuinn tomhas a dhèanamh air ciamar a tha a’ dol dhi anns na sgìrean far a bheil i aithnichte airson a bhith làidir. Chleachd sinn na figearan sinn son tomhas fhaighinn air aois san Eilean Sgitheanach agus na h-Eileanan an Iar.
[Iain MacDiarmid – Neach-aithris] Choinnich sinn buidheann-còmhraidh aig Oilthigh Ghlaschu agus tha iad a’ meòrachadh air staid na Gàidhlig. Ann an Ceann a Tuath Leòdhais, a’ toirt a-steach Steòrnabhagh agus an Rubha, chunnacas am beàrn as motha eadar sean agus òg, le comas Gàidhlig air choireigin. Tha trì fichead ‘s a h-ochd deug às a’ cheud de dhaoine nas sine na trì fichead ‘s a chòig bliadhna a dh’ aois aig a bheil comas Gàidhlig. An taca ri dà fhichead ‘s a ceithir per cent de dhaoine fo aois ochd bliadhn’ deug.
[Anndra Dunn] Chanainn-sa gu bheil e fhathast, mothaichidh tu fhathast gu bheil e an ìre mhath làidir, ged a tha tòrr a bharrachd dhaoine ann a-nis na bha fiù ‘s nuair a bha mise nas òige a tha bruidhinn Beurla a-mhàin a-nise.
[Iain MacDiarmid – Neach-aithris] Tha Uibhist a Deas nas fhallaine a’ coimhead na sgìre sam bith eile. Chan eil mòran eadar-dhealachaidh eadar na h-aoisean. Ach, a bheil na h-àireamhan sin a’ toirt dhuinn an dealbh slàn?
[Alana NicAonghais] Daoine a tha nas sine na tha mi, cha cluinnidh tu Beurla aig mòran aca sin a bharrachd air feadhainn, ‘s dòcha, a bha air shifteadh ann no aig nach robh i co-dhiù. Ach, tha mi a’ smaointinn anns an aois agam fhèin, ged a tha na figearan a’ coimhead glè mhath, tha mi a’ smaointinn gu bheil fhathast tòrr obrach ri dhèanamh aig daoine a bhith caran cofhurtail a bhith bruidhinn le chèile agus barrachd Gàidhlig agus dìreach Gàidhlig nàdarra a bhith ann.
[Iain MacDiarmid – Neach-aithris] Tha àireamh luchd-labhairt na Gàidhlig air a bhith crìonadh san Eilean Sgitheanach tòrr nas fhaide na tha sna h-Eileanan an Iar, ach le sealladh nas mionaidiche, tha sinn a’ faicinn gu bheil iad ag èirigh am measg na h-òigridh.
[Iain MacDiarmid – Neach-aithris] Ann an Trondairnis, Port Rìgh agus Sniosairt, tha na h-àireamhan sean agus òg, cha mhòr co-ionann, dàrna leth dhen t-sluagh. Cha robh Gàidhlig idir aig teaghlach Keir Gibb, ach dh’ionnsaich e i sa sgoil. Tha e a’ moladh sgìrean Gàidhealtachd oifigeil a chruthachadh mar a th’ aca ann an Èirinn.
[Keir Gibb] Bhiodh sin san Eilean Sgitheanach, leis na figearan a th’ againne a-nis, bhiodh sin gu math doirbh ach tha mi a’ smaointinn gu bheil feum anns na h-Eileanan an Iar, gu h-àraidh air rudeigin de leithid, sgeama mar sin, far a bheil buannachdan ann a bhith cleachdadh na Gàidhlig agus gu bheil cothroman eacanomaigeach is a h-uile càil mar sin. Agus a thaobh foghlam, chan eil mise a’ faicinn gum bu chòir Foghlam tro Mheadhan na Beurla a bhith anns na h-Eileanan an Iar. Tha mi a’ smaointinn gu bheil sinn feumach air beachd gu math nas làidire na th’ againne an-dràsta.
[Iain MacDiarmid – Neach-aithris] Cà’ bheil na h-àireamhan seo gar fhàgail ma-thà agus dè tha dhìth airson an cànan fhàgail nas fhallaine? Sin na ceistean a bhios air na buidhnean-leasachaidh air a bheil dleastanas Gàidhlig a neartachadh. Iain MacDiarmaid BBC An Là Glaschu
[Donald Angie Morrison - Presenter] Now, figures from the last census showed that there are far fewer younger people with Gaelic than older people on the North end of Lewis, taking in Stornoway, Point and Ness. It’s in South Uist that the numbers are strongest in the ages. In the Isle of Skye, it is falling amongst older people, but rising amongst the youth. This report is with John McDiarmid.
[John McDiarmid – Reporter] When this ship was launched, the state of Gaelic was far healthier today. But, using new figures from the census, we can measure how it is in the areas where it is known to be strong. We used the figures to measure age in the Isle of Skye and the Western Isles.
[John McDiarmaid – Reporter] We met a conversation group at the University of Glasgow and they are chatting about the state of Gaelic. In the North End of Lewis, taking in Stornoway and Point, you can see the biggest gap between old and young with some Gaelic use. 75% of older people. Compared with 44% of people under 18.
[Andrew Dunn] I would say still, you still notice that it is at quite a good level, although there are more people now than there was when I was young speaking just English.
[John McDiarmaid – Reporter] South Uist is healthier compared with any other area. There is not much difference between the ages. But do these snapshots give us the full picture?
[Alana MacInnes] People who are older than me, you won’t hear English from many of them, maybe thosewho have moved here or who never had it anyway. But, I think amongst people my own age, although the figures look very good, I think that there is lots of work to de be done to ensure people are comfortable to talk together and speak more Gaelic and naturally.
[John McDiarmaid – Reporter] The number of Gaelic speakers has been decreasing in the Isle of Skye more than in the Western Isles, but taking a closer look, we see that it has increased amongst the youth.
[John McDiarmaid – Reporter] In Trotternish, Portree and Snizort, the numbers of old and young are almost equivalent levels in the population. There was no Gaelic in Keir Gibb’s family, but he learned it in school. He recommends creating official areas in the Highlands, as they have in Ireland.
[Keir Gibb] That would be really good in the Isle of Skye, with the figures that we have now, it would be really hard, but I think it is necessary in the Western Isles, especially for something of that kind, a scheme like that, where there is advantages to using Gaelic and that there are economic opportunities and everything like that. And on the education side, I don’t see why there is Education through the Medium of English in the Western Isles. I think we need a much stronger view than what we have now.
[John McDiarmaid – Reporter] Where do these figures leave us then and what is missing to make our language healthier? That’s the questions ahead of the development groups who have duty to strengthen Gaelic. John McDiarmaid, BBC An Là, Glasgow.
[Dòmhnall Angaidh Moireasdan - Preseantair] Nise, sheall figearan bhon chunntas-sluaigh mu dheireadh gu bheil a' Ghàidhlig am measg na h-òigridh fada air dheireadh na tha i do dhaoine nas sine air taobh tuath Leòdhais, a’ gabhail a-steach Steòrnabhagh, An Rubha agus Nis. 'S ann an Uibhist a Deas a tha i nas làidire air feadh nan aoisean. Anns an Eilean Sgitheanach, tha i a’ crìonadh am measg nan daoine as sine, ach ag èirigh am measg na h-òigridh. Tha an aithris seo aig Iain MacDiarmaid.
[Iain MacDiarmaid – Neach-aithris] Nuair a chaidh an soitheach seo a chur air bhog, bha staid na Gàidhlig tòrr na b’ fhallaine na tha i an-diugh. Ach, a’ cleachdadh figearan ùra bhon chunntas-sluaigh, ‘s urrainn dhuinn tomhas a dhèanamh air ciamar a tha a’ dol dhi anns na sgìrean far a bheil i aithnichte airson a bhith làidir. Chleachd sinn na figearan sinn son tomhas fhaighinn air aois san Eilean Sgitheanach agus na h-Eileanan an Iar.
[Iain MacDiarmid – Neach-aithris] Choinnich sinn buidheann-còmhraidh aig Oilthigh Ghlaschu agus tha iad a’ meòrachadh air staid na Gàidhlig. Ann an Ceann a Tuath Leòdhais, a’ toirt a-steach Steòrnabhagh agus an Rubha, chunnacas am beàrn as motha eadar sean agus òg, le comas Gàidhlig air choireigin. Tha trì fichead ‘s a h-ochd deug às a’ cheud de dhaoine nas sine na trì fichead ‘s a chòig bliadhna a dh’ aois aig a bheil comas Gàidhlig. An taca ri dà fhichead ‘s a ceithir per cent de dhaoine fo aois ochd bliadhn’ deug.
[Anndra Dunn] Chanainn-sa gu bheil e fhathast, mothaichidh tu fhathast gu bheil e an ìre mhath làidir, ged a tha tòrr a bharrachd dhaoine ann a-nis na bha fiù ‘s nuair a bha mise nas òige a tha bruidhinn Beurla a-mhàin a-nise.
[Iain MacDiarmid – Neach-aithris] Tha Uibhist a Deas nas fhallaine a’ coimhead na sgìre sam bith eile. Chan eil mòran eadar-dhealachaidh eadar na h-aoisean. Ach, a bheil na h-àireamhan sin a’ toirt dhuinn an dealbh slàn?
[Alana NicAonghais] Daoine a tha nas sine na tha mi, cha cluinnidh tu Beurla aig mòran aca sin a bharrachd air feadhainn, ‘s dòcha, a bha air shifteadh ann no aig nach robh i co-dhiù. Ach, tha mi a’ smaointinn anns an aois agam fhèin, ged a tha na figearan a’ coimhead glè mhath, tha mi a’ smaointinn gu bheil fhathast tòrr obrach ri dhèanamh aig daoine a bhith caran cofhurtail a bhith bruidhinn le chèile agus barrachd Gàidhlig agus dìreach Gàidhlig nàdarra a bhith ann.
[Iain MacDiarmid – Neach-aithris] Tha àireamh luchd-labhairt na Gàidhlig air a bhith crìonadh san Eilean Sgitheanach tòrr nas fhaide na tha sna h-Eileanan an Iar, ach le sealladh nas mionaidiche, tha sinn a’ faicinn gu bheil iad ag èirigh am measg na h-òigridh.
[Iain MacDiarmid – Neach-aithris] Ann an Trondairnis, Port Rìgh agus Sniosairt, tha na h-àireamhan sean agus òg, cha mhòr co-ionann, dàrna leth dhen t-sluagh. Cha robh Gàidhlig idir aig teaghlach Keir Gibb, ach dh’ionnsaich e i sa sgoil. Tha e a’ moladh sgìrean Gàidhealtachd oifigeil a chruthachadh mar a th’ aca ann an Èirinn.
[Keir Gibb] Bhiodh sin san Eilean Sgitheanach, leis na figearan a th’ againne a-nis, bhiodh sin gu math doirbh ach tha mi a’ smaointinn gu bheil feum anns na h-Eileanan an Iar, gu h-àraidh air rudeigin de leithid, sgeama mar sin, far a bheil buannachdan ann a bhith cleachdadh na Gàidhlig agus gu bheil cothroman eacanomaigeach is a h-uile càil mar sin. Agus a thaobh foghlam, chan eil mise a’ faicinn gum bu chòir Foghlam tro Mheadhan na Beurla a bhith anns na h-Eileanan an Iar. Tha mi a’ smaointinn gu bheil sinn feumach air beachd gu math nas làidire na th’ againne an-dràsta.
[Iain MacDiarmid – Neach-aithris] Cà’ bheil na h-àireamhan seo gar fhàgail ma-thà agus dè tha dhìth airson an cànan fhàgail nas fhallaine? Sin na ceistean a bhios air na buidhnean-leasachaidh air a bheil dleastanas Gàidhlig a neartachadh. Iain MacDiarmaid BBC An Là Glaschu
[Donald Angie Morrison - Presenter] Now, figures from the last census showed that there are far fewer younger people with Gaelic than older people on the North end of Lewis, taking in Stornoway, Point and Ness. It’s in South Uist that the numbers are strongest in the ages. In the Isle of Skye, it is falling amongst older people, but rising amongst the youth. This report is with John McDiarmid.
[John McDiarmid – Reporter] When this ship was launched, the state of Gaelic was far healthier today. But, using new figures from the census, we can measure how it is in the areas where it is known to be strong. We used the figures to measure age in the Isle of Skye and the Western Isles.
[John McDiarmaid – Reporter] We met a conversation group at the University of Glasgow and they are chatting about the state of Gaelic. In the North End of Lewis, taking in Stornoway and Point, you can see the biggest gap between old and young with some Gaelic use. 75% of older people. Compared with 44% of people under 18.
[Andrew Dunn] I would say still, you still notice that it is at quite a good level, although there are more people now than there was when I was young speaking just English.
[John McDiarmaid – Reporter] South Uist is healthier compared with any other area. There is not much difference between the ages. But do these snapshots give us the full picture?
[Alana MacInnes] People who are older than me, you won’t hear English from many of them, maybe thosewho have moved here or who never had it anyway. But, I think amongst people my own age, although the figures look very good, I think that there is lots of work to de be done to ensure people are comfortable to talk together and speak more Gaelic and naturally.
[John McDiarmaid – Reporter] The number of Gaelic speakers has been decreasing in the Isle of Skye more than in the Western Isles, but taking a closer look, we see that it has increased amongst the youth.
[John McDiarmaid – Reporter] In Trotternish, Portree and Snizort, the numbers of old and young are almost equivalent levels in the population. There was no Gaelic in Keir Gibb’s family, but he learned it in school. He recommends creating official areas in the Highlands, as they have in Ireland.
[Keir Gibb] That would be really good in the Isle of Skye, with the figures that we have now, it would be really hard, but I think it is necessary in the Western Isles, especially for something of that kind, a scheme like that, where there is advantages to using Gaelic and that there are economic opportunities and everything like that. And on the education side, I don’t see why there is Education through the Medium of English in the Western Isles. I think we need a much stronger view than what we have now.
[John McDiarmaid – Reporter] Where do these figures leave us then and what is missing to make our language healthier? That’s the questions ahead of the development groups who have duty to strengthen Gaelic. John McDiarmaid, BBC An Là, Glasgow.