Say this in Gaelic (Can seo anns a’Ghàidhlig)

The Gaelic Language (Scotland) Act 2005 received Royal Assent on the 1st June 2005. Enshrined in the Act is the aspiration that Gaelic should enjoy equal respect with the English language in Scotland. The Diocese of Argyll and The Isles encompasses parts, or all, of the three District Councils initially chosen to spearhead the implementation of the Act – Argyll and Bute Council, The Highland Council and Western Isles Council. These Councils have all drawn up Language Plans to take forward this requirement.

Is Gaelic just for native speakers?

No. Many people from all over Britain and abroad are interested in keeping the Gaelic language alive. The Scottish Episcopal Church is often labelled the “English Church”, because of the many English people who find a natural cultural home in it, and one of the most important contributors to Gaelic education was an Englishman, Edward Dwelly, (1864-1939). He was born in southern England, near Arundel and he became interested in Gaelic when he was stationed in Scotland with the British Army. He compiled a Gaelic Dictionary, published in 1911, which is still in use today. For his efforts, he was awarded a civil pension by King Edward VII. The Germans are the most enthusiastic continental supporters of the language and Gaelic language classes are run on the Island of South Uist every summer, specially for German-speaking learners.

Can the Scottish Episcopal Church be part of helping to keep the language alive?

Yes. The repetitive nature of the Liturgy lends itself very well to learners using the language in that context. The complete text for both the 1970 and the 1984 Liturgies can be downloaded from the Provincial Website www.scotland.anglican.org free of charge.

Four places where Gaelic might be used with ease in the 1982 Liturgy are – the Peace, the Responses to Intercession Form 1, the Kyrie and Communion Song 1. On the Diocesan Website www.argyllandtheisles.org.uk it is now possible to hear how to pronounce some of these responses. This is a resource which will be added to in the future.

In this article we will look at ways of sharing the Peace in Gaelic.

The word for “peace” is “sìth”, pronounced “shee”. So, in exchanging a handshake, one could just say “shee”.

If one wished to be more adventurous then other options might be

Sìth maille ruit [shee maluh root]

Peace be with you

or

Gràs agus sìth dhut [grass ahgus shee dhoot]

Grace and peace to you

In the next edition of the magazine we shall look at ways of using Gaelic in the Intercessions.

Give Gaelic a helping hand. Support the language by accessing the material on the websites and look for opportunities to use it.

There is a Society, within the Episcopal Church, which promotes the use of Gaelic in its Liturgies. It is called the Gaelic Society of the Scottish Episcopal Church and its aims are:

1. To consolidate and develop the use of the Gaelic language in the Liturgies of the Scottish Episcopal Church in Gaelic-speaking areas and elsewhere.
2. To promote a wider awareness of the place of Gaelic in the history and traditions of the Scottish Episcopal Church, both within the Highland area and further afield.
3. To use the media to promote worship in Gaelic in accordance with the rites of the Scottish Episcopal Church.

Anyone who is interested in these aims is invited to the Annual General Meeting of the Society, at St Andrews Scottish Episcopal Church, Fort William, at 11.45 am on 28th November 2008. A “Gaelic” Eucharist will be celebrated at 12 noon, after which there will be lunch, followed by the Annual General Meeting at 2pm prompt.

David O McEwan

Lay Chaplain, St Kiaran’s, Campbeltown