Is Gaelic a common language in Scotland?

Question

Do people speak it in everyday life, or is it just a few phrases that are still in use? I see where there are some guides, but they just have a few phrases. Is there somewhere to learn it online, and is it taught in Scottish schools?

Answer 1

I wouldnt say Gaelic is spoken in everyday life ,(certainly not in the larger cities anyway)maybe in smaller communities in the north.As a child we were given small phrases to learn at school ,but not able to take it as a language like French or German.There is a Gaelic speaking school in Edinburgh which is popular but i,d say on the whole the language is dying out which is a shame.

Answer 2

It is only really spoken as a mother tongue in everyday life in the Outer Hebrides - islands such as Lewis, Harris, Skye, etc., where people really do use it in ordinary, everyday life. However, much work is going on to revive it as a national language. The BBC broadcasts in it and is active in promoting it. http://www.bbc.co.uk/scotland/alba/foghlam/learngaelic/index.shtml
I have found some interesting articles for you about the revival of Gaelic. It is particularly interesting that a Gaelic speaking secondary school should be opened in Glasgow, where Gaelic is not traditionally spoken.
http://www.olestig.dk/scotland/scottishlanguages.html
http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/uk_news/scotland/3736709.stm
http://www.scotland.gov.uk/library/documents6/eid_ach_gisf_1.htm