Does anyone speak Scots Gaelic?
 

I have been watching Speaking Our Language on BBC Alba (it's a Gaelic programme for beginners) and need someone to practice with. So I was wondering does anyone here speak Scots Gaelic?

I cant offer anything but virtual cookies, unless you want to converse with me in Welsh!

i learnt it in school for quite a long time ( a few years in primary of fortnightly classes and then 2 years compulsory in secondary school) but sadly i dont really remember much, it wasnt something i used much or felt i needed to continue into my exams so only know the basics if i put my mind to it

I wish I could say yes, having a cottage in the Western Isles, but it really does seem to be a dying language. When I first knew the Islands in the 1960s most of the middle-aged and all of the elderly spoke Gaelic as their everyday language. But the impact of radio, TV and the internet have turned this totally around for the young. Now only the elderly can be heard speaking it at all - the young, as elsewhere in UK, seem only to communicate by text!

Tony.

The other halfs family live in Orkney, they seem to have a language all of their own up there!

I could speak Welsh to you, but I would be rubbish at Gaelic!

And Toby is right - Gaelic really does seem to be dying. I hope Welsh doesn't turn out the same way (gobeithio ddim, beth bynnag!)

Welsh won't die because the Welsh Assembly won't let it. Similarly with Irish. Scots Gaelic hasn't been spoken outside of the Western Isles for quite a long time, and even there it has fallen away.

Other than "Hello, how are you?", "I'm well, thanks", and numbers up to ten, I know no Gaelic. I would whole-heartedly recommend watching a children's programme called "Dot-a-Man" if you can, probably on YouTube. That was a staple of any Scottish childhood.

Who's Toby, Minotaur? Is it the Gaelic for Tony?

Tony.

Oh, sorry dude! I misread your name - my apologies.

You're doing better than me so far. I have only watched one programme of Speaking Our Language (but recorded about 6), so my Gaelic is still a bit non existant.

I do watch Seonaidh (Shaun the Sheep) on BBC Alba, but that has no dialogue, so it doesnt count.

Thanks everyone who has replied!

Apologies entirely accepted, Miniature!

Tony (or Toby!)

Orkney has it's own special type of foreign.

Oh I remember "dot-a-man". I don't speak gaelic, but I loved the way he enthusiastically said "Hallo" and "cheery" at the start and end. And don't get me started on his hats!!!! Your mentioning this has put a smile on my face.

I also remember on tv they started showing "Danger mouse" in gaelic, but it was called "Donnie Murdo".

I see what you did there.