Tory MSP wants to find solution to save Gaelic

A CONSERVATIVE MSP has said his party wants to work with the Scottish Government “to find a workable and enduring solution” to help preserve Scottish Gaelic.

Earlier this week, a new book – The Gaelic Crisis In The Vernacular Community: A Comprehensive Sociolinguistic Survey Of Scottish Gaelic – suggested the language might not survive beyond this decade.

Its authors said Gaelic is “in crisis and that within remaining vernacular communities of Scotland, the social use and transmission of Gaelic is at the point of collapse”. Highlands and Islands MSP Donald Cameron said: “This report reveals how much the language has suffered, and indeed declined. We need to know why, after considerable investment, that situation has unfolded and how we can urgently rectify it.”

A Scottish Government spokesman said: “Ministers support efforts to improve access for speakers to learn and use the language, and we are always keen to work with all interested organisations and stakeholders.”