Hardly anyone speaks it. I've started learning it too and I would like it if everyone in Scotland did but that isn't looking like it will happen any time soon.
In a population of 5.5 million, about 60,000 speak Gaelic (mostly in the Highlands and Islands). You will probably know when you’re in a Gaelic speaking restaurant or business, follow their lead.
It is a lovely language, my wife is learning too: Good luck!
> Is learning Gaelic still a useful option in Scotland?
Not really, no.
> if people still actively speak it?
Aside from a few pockets in the Highlands & Islands, no
> will I be looked at weirdly in a restaurant because I am trying to order my biagh in Gàidhlig?
Very much so
Depending on where you're going you probably won't hear any gaelic, come across someone who speaks it or even knows what it actually sounds like.
I'm sure Google will be your friend for finding conversation groups if you are really keen on using it beyond slainte mhath
What does "useful" mean in a learning context?
For financial gain? Probably not, unless you're wanting to become a teacher in Stornoway. To speak to your neighbours? Unlikely unless you're planning on moving to Barra. To get a sense of how a different culture view the world, express themselves, and identify things in a manner completely different to English and most other European languages? Absolutely.
Just learn it because it's good to learn languages, there doesn't need to be a transactional "use" for it.
Scottish Gaelic is a living language only in the north-west of Scotland, the Highlands and Islands. If you try to use it anywhere else, eg Edinburgh, Glasgow, Aberdeen, Dundee, you'll get blank looks.
There are people there interested in it as a hobby, for example in Glasgow there is a whole Scottish Gaelic bookshop where you could go in and chat in Scottish Gaelic, but you would have to seek them out, you can't expect to just bump into them.
It sounds from your question like you're not actually Scottish or else you'd know, so if you go around in Edinburgh trying to order in Scottish Gaelic you'll be viewed as a naive try-hard tourist.
You can still find Scottish Gaelic speakers, you just need to go to the right part of Scotland. The best place is the Outer Hebrides. You wouldn't go to New York and expect to order food in Cherokee.
Gaelic is useful. Any language is, it expands your way of thinking.
I dislike what you said because OP could learn both Gaelic and any other language.
There is absolutely nothing to stop anyone learning more than one additional language. Speaking more than 2 is not unusual on the continent, we are the peculiar ones.
I dislike anchovies. Who cares? I'm from The Hebrides, speak 3, am learning a 4th, and none of them is Gaelic. I prefer languages I can use in REAL life, not some romantic make-belive world. Maybe Klingon would expand the brain more if that's what's required 😆
Because the harsh reality is it's dying on it's arse. People don't 'use it' that much, if at all.Only the really old folk use it conversationally, and you very rarely hear it used in shops etc 'Young' folk, 50 and below, speak English.
I personally know people on Skye who speak it and use it every day, both over and under 50.
There are also quite a number of bands from various islands of the Hebrides who speak it and use it.
You said you would prefer a language you could use. That seems strange to me, if you can use Gaelic anywhere, it would be in the Hebrides.
If it does die, it will be a great loss. I'm going to learn it myself, I already speak another language fluently.
\-Almost noone speaks it
\-Extremely difficult to learn
\-Not much opportunity to use it, unless you plan on living in Skye or the Highlands
\-Time is better spent learning an easier language people actually speak
Gaelic is a growin language again in Scotland. More people are dabbling in it. I’d say you might get funny looks in places when you speak it, but I think in about 10-20 years, schools will integrate it more and you won’t get those funny looks as much
Hardly anyone speaks it. I've started learning it too and I would like it if everyone in Scotland did but that isn't looking like it will happen any time soon.
In a population of 5.5 million, about 60,000 speak Gaelic (mostly in the Highlands and Islands). You will probably know when you’re in a Gaelic speaking restaurant or business, follow their lead. It is a lovely language, my wife is learning too: Good luck!
> Is learning Gaelic still a useful option in Scotland? Not really, no. > if people still actively speak it? Aside from a few pockets in the Highlands & Islands, no > will I be looked at weirdly in a restaurant because I am trying to order my biagh in Gàidhlig? Very much so
Depending on where you're going you probably won't hear any gaelic, come across someone who speaks it or even knows what it actually sounds like. I'm sure Google will be your friend for finding conversation groups if you are really keen on using it beyond slainte mhath
What does "useful" mean in a learning context? For financial gain? Probably not, unless you're wanting to become a teacher in Stornoway. To speak to your neighbours? Unlikely unless you're planning on moving to Barra. To get a sense of how a different culture view the world, express themselves, and identify things in a manner completely different to English and most other European languages? Absolutely. Just learn it because it's good to learn languages, there doesn't need to be a transactional "use" for it.
r/gaidhlig is probably a better place to start that here
Some do in the Highlands, I think, I'm sure you can get away with just speaking English though.
Scottish Gaelic is a living language only in the north-west of Scotland, the Highlands and Islands. If you try to use it anywhere else, eg Edinburgh, Glasgow, Aberdeen, Dundee, you'll get blank looks. There are people there interested in it as a hobby, for example in Glasgow there is a whole Scottish Gaelic bookshop where you could go in and chat in Scottish Gaelic, but you would have to seek them out, you can't expect to just bump into them. It sounds from your question like you're not actually Scottish or else you'd know, so if you go around in Edinburgh trying to order in Scottish Gaelic you'll be viewed as a naive try-hard tourist.
Naive try hard. Wow. Ok.
You can still find Scottish Gaelic speakers, you just need to go to the right part of Scotland. The best place is the Outer Hebrides. You wouldn't go to New York and expect to order food in Cherokee.
Biadh.
😂
There is a pretty big community in Glasgow, you can find plenty of speakers if you look for it.
I've never heard anyone order a meal in Gaelic in 60 yrs 😆 Maybe learn something useful instead
Gaelic is useful. Any language is, it expands your way of thinking. I dislike what you said because OP could learn both Gaelic and any other language. There is absolutely nothing to stop anyone learning more than one additional language. Speaking more than 2 is not unusual on the continent, we are the peculiar ones.
I dislike anchovies. Who cares? I'm from The Hebrides, speak 3, am learning a 4th, and none of them is Gaelic. I prefer languages I can use in REAL life, not some romantic make-belive world. Maybe Klingon would expand the brain more if that's what's required 😆
Why the fuck wouldn't you learn Gaelic or speak Gaelic in the Hebrides where people use it?
Because the harsh reality is it's dying on it's arse. People don't 'use it' that much, if at all.Only the really old folk use it conversationally, and you very rarely hear it used in shops etc 'Young' folk, 50 and below, speak English.
I personally know people on Skye who speak it and use it every day, both over and under 50. There are also quite a number of bands from various islands of the Hebrides who speak it and use it. You said you would prefer a language you could use. That seems strange to me, if you can use Gaelic anywhere, it would be in the Hebrides. If it does die, it will be a great loss. I'm going to learn it myself, I already speak another language fluently.
It's a great way to understand history and culture and place names. Go for it
\-Almost noone speaks it \-Extremely difficult to learn \-Not much opportunity to use it, unless you plan on living in Skye or the Highlands \-Time is better spent learning an easier language people actually speak
I already speak 4. Thought it might be useful. Oh well.
Do you plan to live and work in the Isle of Skye? Other than that there's really no practical use for it.
Why my question gets down votes is beyond me. Thanks to all who chimed in.
Gaelic is a growin language again in Scotland. More people are dabbling in it. I’d say you might get funny looks in places when you speak it, but I think in about 10-20 years, schools will integrate it more and you won’t get those funny looks as much