Some musings to conclude Seachdain na Gàidhlig / World Gaelic Week 2026.

A’ Ghàidhlig (English below)

Dé a th’ann an cànain? ’Se an fhreagairt leanabail dha sin, “meadhan conaltraidh,” ach tha fada nas mò na siud innte. Chan eil faclan ’nan eileanan-céill ach ’nan drochaidean eadar seaghan, beachdan, agus còmhraidhean a mhair feadh ghinealaichean. Bheir cànain dhuinn freumhan, feallsanachd, fiosrachadh stàthail mu dhòigh-beatha shinnsirean, agus dòighean sealltainn an t-saoghail.

Mur b’e gum bheil cànain ’na stéidh bhunaiteach am beatha mac an duine agus an eagarachadh a’ cho-chomainn, cha bhiodh daoine cho dìorrasach a’ dìonadh agus a’ leasachadh an teangaidh-san, agus cha bhiodh riaghaltasan cho dìcheallach a’ stéidheachadh na “cànaine oifigil” le reachdan, ionadan foghlaim, agus làmhachas làidir.

Tha seanfhacal ann: “Am fear a chailleas a chànain, caillidh e ’shaoghal.” Faodar “saoghal” a thuigsinn ann an dà sheagh: “beatha duine” agus “an domhan.” Nuair a théid dara cànain an àite cànain eile, chan e a-mhàin gum bheil duine a’ cleachdadh fhaclan eile air-son an aon rud a ràdh ach gum bheil e a’ leughadh an t-saoghail tro shùilean dùthchais eile.

Fad iomadh ceud bliadhna, chuir saoghal na Beurla a chumhachd agus ’ùghdarrais fhéin an gnìomh gus toirt air dùthchasaich creidsinn gum bheil a’ Bheurla agus a chultar nas barraichte ’na gnè na ’n cultar a bh’aca, a bu chòir dhaibh a tréigsinn chum am math fhéin.

Ach o chionn ginealaich no dha, thòisich dùthchasaich air piseach a thoirt air an dùthchas, agus mar as trice, tha cànain air fear de na ceud rudan air an toir iad feart. Tha seanfhacal anns a’ Bheurla: “Is cumhachd an t-eòlas.” Nach iomchaidh gum bheil cothrom aig dùthchasaich a-nis an cuid eòlais agus an cuid cumhachd a chur gu stàth air an ceann fhéin? An dèan sìol nan Gàidheal mar an ceudna?

English

What is language? The naïve answer to that is “a medium of communication,” but there is far more to it than that. Words are not islands of meaning but bridges between senses, concepts, and dialogues that have persisted through generations. Language provides us with roots, basic principles, practical knowledge about our ancestor’s way of life, and ways of seeing the world.

If it weren’t the case that language is such a fundamental aspect of our personal lives and social structures, people would not be so determined to protect and defend their mother tongue, and governments would not be so rigorous in their attempts to establish “the official language” through legislation, educational institutions, and brute force.

There is a Gaelic proverb which says, “The man who loses his language loses his reality.” The word which I have rendered as “reality” in English can, in Gaelic, be interpreted in two ways: “personal life” and “the world.” When one language takes the place of another, it’s not just that a person uses other words to say the same thing, but that he interprets reality through the eyes of another culture.

For many centuries, the English-speaking world exercised its power and authority over native peoples to convince them that the English language and culture is inherently superior to their own, which they should abandon for their own good.

But in the last generation or two, native peoples have begun to revitalize their cultures, and as often as not, language is one of the first things on which they focus. There is a proverb in English: “Knowledge is power.” Isn’t it appropriate that native peoples now have the opportunity to put their knowledge and their power to good use for themselves? Will people of Gaelic descent do likewise?

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