Re-Thinking Language Revitalisation:
New Dynamics in Europe’s Minority Languages
Despite the growing salience of language endangerment and revitalisation movements worldwide, the study of language revival has remained a relatively marginal topic in broader discussions of urban multilingualism and a specialty niche in sociolinguistics and folklore studies. Sociologists, geographers and political scientists have not played enough attention to linguistic diversity, and minority languages specifically. Similarly, mention of struggles to redress language domination in minority language contexts has been absent from discussions about the nature of urban-based social movements, power, cultural activism and structured forms of inequality. This project takes the study of Europe’s minority languages out of its niche area and situates it within scholarly theorising and debates around a sociolinguistics of mobility, the dynamics of urban multilingualism and urban- based social movements.
For this current research project we are looking for Gaelic speakers living in Glasgow or Greater Glasgow to assist us in a new research project beginning in late August or early September.
Our previous research work including the recent Gaelic in Glasgow Survey which was launched in collaboration with Glasgow City Council confirmed that the Glasgow Gaelic community is made up of people with diverse backgrounds and experiences speaking the language.
This project will build on the understanding we have gained from these previous projects. Our primary research aims are to study how and where the language is spoken in Glasgow and whether there are currently unknown ‘hotspots’ within the city where Gaelic is spoken more often.
The project is part of a larger Leverhulme research project on minority language revitalisation in the 21st century and has received funding and support from Bòrd na Gàidhlig.
Volunteers in this study will be asked to record their movements across the city and their language use over a week. They will then be asked to discuss this data in a brief follow-up interview.
We are looking to hear from Gaelic speakers who
Are aged 18 and over
Have different levels of fluency
Have different learning backgrounds, including native speakers and those who have learned Gaelic either in school or as adult learners.
If you are interested in helping us, then we would love to hear from you.
For more information about the project please contact Bernadette.ORourke@glasgow.ac.uk [Principal Investigator], or Euan.Dickson@glasgow.ac.uk if you are interested in participating in this study.
Tapadh leibh gu mòr!
