David Mitchell on Scots Gaelic

This was posted on Slugger and caught my attention. The question being asked over there was whether this would have application to Irish and to Ulsterscots.

Actually, I'm not sure that it would have universal acceptance in the language communities but I think the answer is "yes".

Personally, I agree that the primary purpose of language is as a communication tool and it has always seemed compelling to me that the people who speak Irish/Ulsterscots also speak English. Therefore, the existence/perpetuation of the language is not vital. Well, not for the purpose of communication anyway.

However, language also gives expression to identity - and that is where its survival is, in my view, essential. However - and this is something we tend to lose sight of - language is PART only of the tapestry of identity. Language must be viewed in its cultural context. That is where we have perhaps been weak. We have not promoted enough the fact that the Ulsterscots have a rich history and culture - true, it is shared with others in these Isles - but it is the product of our past and something we should hold on to and be proud of. That includes the language.

I have to agree that randomly sticking minority languages onto street signs and using it in the all-too-familiar "weaponised" form is neither desirable nor wise, but well placed use, study and preservation is something we should be willing to spend a modest amount of money on.