Seeing our language: The effects of media representation on Scottish Gaelic learners

Abstract

Though it was once the third most-spoken language in Canada, Scottish Gaelic is now recognized as an endangered language. While previous scholarship has analyzed the causes of Gaelic’s decline, little has discussed how Gaelic is portrayed in recent filmography, and how these representations affect the community they represent. What narratives remain associated with Scottish Gaelic today in film? Do these portrayals affect or influence Gaelic learners? Has film representation had an impact on Gaelic learning methods? Is media in demand by this community, and is it accessible to learners? I address these questions through a thematic analysis of recent film and television depictions of Gaelic. Additionally, I interviewed language students at the Gaelic College (Colaisde na Gàidhlig) as well as Gaelic media professionals. My research explores the most prominently associated narratives surrounding Gaelic in popular media, and how they discuss, enable, or deconstruct language stereotypes.