Highland Council Seeks Linguistic Significance Status
Highland Council has proposed utilizing powers granted by the new Scottish Languages Act to designate its region as an area of linguistic significance (ALS).
According to a recent report, this status would affirm the council's "clear commitment" to the Gaelic language.
The report highlighted evidence from Irish Gaeltacht areas indicating that such a designation could yield economic and educational advantages.
Based on the latest census data, there are 18,552 individuals within the Highland Council area who possess Gaelic language skills.
Scottish Languages Act and Its Provisions
Gaelic and Scots were officially recognized as official languages under a series of measures that took effect on St Andrew's Day in November last year.
The Scottish Languages Act, approved by Members of the Scottish Parliament (MSPs) in June 2022, also grants parents the right to request the establishment of a Gaelic school in their locality and aims to increase the availability of qualifications in Gaelic.
The legislation empowers ministers to commission research into the use of Gaelic and Scots and to set teaching standards for these languages.
At the time, Scotland's deputy first minister, Kate Forbes, who is a Gaelic speaker, described the Act as a "historic milestone."
Next Steps and Council's Perspective
The Gaelic committee of Highland Council is scheduled to review the ALS designation plans in the upcoming week.
In a report prepared for this meeting, officials stated:
"In the Highland Council area, supporting Gaelic growth directly contributes to economic resilience by creating opportunities for skilled employment, encouraging population retention and strengthening links between education, culture and enterprise."
