Countering Objections to Scottish Gaelic

Learners across Scotland and beyond are proving that these statements are not only outdated – they’re just plain wrong.

If you’ve ever mentioned that you’re learning Scottish Gaelic, chances are you’ve been met with a raised eyebrow or a well-meaning scoff.

"Isn’t that language dead?""Nobody speaks that anymore.""It’s a waste of time – you should be learning Mandarin!"

But learners across Scotland and beyond are proving that these statements are not only outdated – they’re just plain wrong. Here’s a list of common criticisms and powerful counterarguments that Gaelic students can use to confidently defend their choice.

“Gaelic is dead.”

Hardly. Gaelic is still spoken in communities throughout the Western Isles, including Lewis, Harris, Uist, and parts of Skye.

• Over 57,000 people in Scotland reported some Gaelic ability in the last census.

• The language is used in home
  

“It’s not spoken anywhere.”

Actually, it is – and not just in the islands.

• Gaelic Medium Education is thriving in Glasgow, Edinburgh, Inverness, and more.

• Gaelic signage and announcements can be seen on trains, ferries, and airports.

• Gaelic communities are also vibrant online, with podcasts, courses, YouTube channels, and global social media groups.

“Nobody likes to hear it.”

That’s simply not true.

• Gaelic adds authenticity and atmosphere to Scotland’s tourism and storytelling.

• Tourists love hearing Gaelic songs, place names, and expressions.

• The popularity of Gaelic artists at events like Celtic Connections and the Royal National Mòd proves otherwise.

“It’s distracting.”

In fact, it’s the opposite.

• Learning Gaelic improves memory, focus, and problem-solving skills.

• Bilingualism strengthens cognitive flexibility and mental agility.

• For motivated learners, Gaelic isn’t a distraction – it’s a source of deep engagement and pride.

“You’d be better off studying Mandarin.”

That depends on your goals.

• Mandarin might open certain global career doors, but Gaelic connects people to place, identity, culture, and community.

• They’re not mutually exclusive – you can learn both.

• Learning your own country’s heritage language has emotional, social, and historical value that can’t be replaced by economic logic alone.

“There’s no career in it.”

Think again.

• Gaelic supports careers in teaching, translation, broadcasting (BBC Alba), community work, the arts, and tourism.

• It adds an edge to CVs in culture-focused industries, rural development, and education.

• Many learners use Gaelic as an asset alongside another profession – not as a limitation.

“Stop dreaming. Be realistic.”

Gaelic learners are dreamers, yes – but they’re also doers.

• No language revival ever began without a bold vision and tenacious people.

• The Welsh, Māori, and Hawaiian revivals all began with community efforts that looked unrealistic at the time.

• Gaelic learners today are building something powerful, one word, one conversation, one lesson at a time.

Final Thoughts

Objections to Scottish Gaelic aren’t just about practicality – they’re often about power, perception, and cultural value. When someone says, “Gaelic is dead,” they’re not just questioning a language – they’re questioning the worth of a people’s identity, history, and dreams.

But language is not measured in numbers alone. It’s measured in connection, in expression, and in quiet moments of understanding. A poem remembered. A song sung. A child hearing their grandparents’ stories in the words they were born into.

The effort to keep Gaelic alive is not naïve – it’s necessary. In a world of disappearing voices, we need more people who are willing to stand up for the ones that are still whispering. Learners are not wasting time. They are planting seeds. They are guardians of something fragile, beautiful, and defiantly alive.

And if keeping a language alive sounds unrealistic, then maybe it’s time we stopped expecting reality to be so limited.

So next time someone questions your decision to learn Gaelic, remember: You’re not just learning a language – you’re protecting a legacy, connecting with a living culture, and writing a future that honours the past.

Tha Gàidhlig beò – and so is the spirit of those learning it.