BBC Alba

[Hibby Bairn]

Great to see so much live or recorded live coverage of Scottish Football on BBC Alba. But I wonder just what % of those tuning in actually speak Gaelic. I would imagine for the football it will be a tiny minority. Possibly still better option that listening to usual BBC commentators slavering on.

[lapsedhibee]

Great to see so much live or recorded live coverage of Scottish Football on BBC Alba. But I wonder just what % of those tuning in actually speak Gaelic. I would imagine for the football it will be a tiny minority. Possibly still better option that listening to usual BBC commentators slavering on.

Definitely better. And often very good pieces at half-time, mostly in English.

[Saturday Boy]

Great to see so much live or recorded live coverage of Scottish Football on BBC Alba. But I wonder just what % of those tuning in actually speak Gaelic. I would imagine for the football it will be a tiny minority. Possibly still better option that listening to usual BBC commentators slavering on.

I think live football is the " loss leader" of Alba. I think BBC obtained EC funding based on viewing figures - what do most people in Scotland watch? I suspect it's not Peppa! (A small pig if you really want to know).

All the same, I'm very greatfull for it.

[mca]

yeah it was Good coverage with quite a few camera angles (more than I expected) - but Like OP - I did also wonder ???


Just how big is the Gaelic speaking Blue nose community up North.. :greengrin

[Just Alf]

Definitely better. And often very good pieces at half-time, mostly in English.

:agree:

and if needed i get the brat to translate :greengrin

[Number69]

I actually feel ashamed that while listening to the gaelic I have no clue what they are saying. My grandmother was born and raised in Stornoway and her first language was gaelic which makes me even more ashamed I never learned it!

[7 Hills]

A large percentage of Gaelic speakers were exterminated in the trenches during the First World War, which we are being asked to "commemorate" this week - Lest We Forget.

[Northern Hibby]

Hibee Gaelic is doing no to bad up the sneck, if you'd told me whilst doing french at craigy that both my daughters would be fluent Gaelic speakers I'd have struggled to reply in English never mind any other language :-(

[7 Hills]

Hibee Gaelic is doing no to bad up the sneck, if you'd told me whilst doing french at craigy that both my daughters would be fluent Gaelic speakers I'd have struggled to reply in English never mind any other language :-(

13207

[Lewis77]

There are plenty of Gaidhlig classes and social clubs in town and all welcome beginners or fluent native speakers. All you have to do is go along.

[ACLeith]

I think live football is the " loss leader" of Alba. I think BBC obtained EC funding based on viewing figures - what do most people in Scotland watch? I suspect it's not Peppa! (A small pig if you really want to know).

All the same, I'm very greatfull for it.

'scuse me. Watching Peppa Pig last season with my granddaughter was SO much better than watching us :agree::flag:

[Highland_Hibby]

Thanks very much to all who participated in the pilot study about BBC ALBA and Gaelic in Scotland.

You're responses were very much appreciated and based on your feedback the survey has been re-designed and the final data collection study is now ready.

Having piloted the research study amongst only Hibbys during the summer, I have now requested supporters of other football clubs to participate. I will be interesting to see the difference in responses!

I'd greatly appreciate your participation: those who previously participated in the pilot study and those who didn't before.

Based on you're feedback the survey takes about 9 to 13 mins, and most of you agree that 'this was about right' time.

You can find the survey at:

https://www.surveymonkey.com/s/gaelic_media

As stated before, your completion will mean that you're entered into a draw for 'Love2Shop' vouchers ( for purchases at places likeArgos, Boots, Debenhams, Iceland, Toys 'R' Us, House of Fraser (http://houseoffraser.co.uk/), River Island, New Look and Waterstones (http://waterstones.com/), plus restaurants), and at the end it is explained how there are further research options, which you are paid in cash for.

Le gach deagh dhùrachd,
Gòrdan

[HUTCHYHIBBY]

'scuse me. Watching Peppa Pig last season with my granddaughter was SO much better than watching us :agree::flag:

The nephew and his uncle both enjoyed the one where they jump in the muddy puddles. He's moved onto The Simpsons now, I don't know what to do with myself! ;-)

[Hibernia&Alba]

There are plenty of Gaidhlig classes and social clubs in town and all welcome beginners or fluent native speakers. All you have to do is go along.

I think it's great that regional languages are kept alive. It would be tragic to lose them. But isn't learning a language like Scots Gaelic more of an academic exercise than something that will come in useful, rather like public schools still doing Latin? How often will you use it?

[Golden Bear]

The introduction of the red button to some off BBC Alba's sports coverage has been a great thing.

:aok:

[SHODAN]

Great to see so much live or recorded live coverage of Scottish Football on BBC Alba. But I wonder just what % of those tuning in actually speak Gaelic. I would imagine for the football it will be a tiny minority. Possibly still better option that listening to usual BBC commentators slavering on.

Any BBC Scotland commentary that doesn't involve the high-pitched screaming of Liam "2012 Scottish Cup Final" McLeod gets a thumbs up from me.

[Highland_Hibby]

Yet again, another great response. Thank you.

So far of those taken part its about 65% Hibbies with the Dandy Dons at 20%!

Dùrachdan,
Gòrdan

[erin go bragh]

Yet again, another great response. Thank you.

So far of those taken part its about 65% Hibbies with the Dandy Dons at 20%!

Dùrachdan,
Gòrdan
Survey done Gordan .
Durachdan
Paul

Ggtth

[cabbageandribs1875]

Having piloted the research study amongst only Hibbys during the summer, I have now requested supporters of other football clubs to participate. I will be interesting to see the difference in responses!




Le gach deagh dhùrachd,
Gòrdan


let us know how you get on with any sevco rangers fans forums :greengrin

[HH81]

Anyone know if you can get ALBA live on i player app as wont be home on Saturday?

[Billy Whizz]

Anyone know if you can get ALBA live on i player app as wont be home on Saturday?

You can watch it live via TV catch up

[PeeJay]

I think it's great that regional languages are kept alive. It would be tragic to lose them. But isn't learning a language like Scots Gaelic more of an academic exercise than something that will come in useful, rather like public schools still doing Latin? How often will you use it?

Think it's perfectly OK to hear the language being spoken in the traditional Gaelic-speaking areas where it is still "alive" - for most of Scotland however it would seem to me to be pretty irrelevant as a language - only 1% of the population claim to speak it, if I recall. It would be disappointing to see it die out completely though - it is part of Scotland's heritage, after all.

[Keith_M]

Think it's perfectly OK to hear the language being spoken in the traditional Gaelic-speaking areas where it is still "alive" - for most of Scotland however it would seem to me to be pretty irrelevant as a language - only 1% of the population claim to speak it, if I recall. It would be disappointing to see it die out completely though - it is part of Scotland's heritage, after all.


Maybe, but I'm not convinced that it justifies the amount the BBC spends on it. I'd much rather kids learned Foreign Languages, that are actually going to be useful to them when they're older.

[HH81]

You can watch it live via TV catch up

How do you find that?

[Billy Whizz]

How do you find that?

Www.tvcatchup.com

Or you can download the app

[HH81]

Www.tvcatchup.com

Or you can download the app

Got it now, thanks for that. :aok:

[Billy Whizz]

Got it now, thanks for that. :aok:

No worries

[Highland_Hibby]

Maybe, but I'm not convinced that it justifies the amount the BBC spends on it. I'd much rather kids learned Foreign Languages, that are actually going to be useful to them when they're older.

Perfectly entitled to your opinion, but some newspapers present BBC ALBA as some kind of gravy train, when it actually runs on a shoe string. Currently BBC ALBA receives a total annual funding of £10 million from the BBC, which represents 0.02% of the overall BBC budget of £5billion. Jonathon Ross's last contract for the BBC could have funded the whole channel for a year and you'd still have a few million quid left over at the end!

[Malthibby]

Very wee amount of money to preserve/promote an important part of Scottish culture, albeit a small one.
And aye, much more pleasant to listen to than most of the slavering pash on the main channels.
GG

[emerald green]

A large percentage of Gaelic speakers were exterminated in the trenches during the First World War, which we are being asked to "commemorate" this week - Lest We Forget.

:agree: Just go and have a look around the Scottish National War Memorial in Edinburgh Castle if there was ever any doubt about that. Their names liveth.

[RyeSloan]

Maybe, but I'm not convinced that it justifies the amount the BBC spends on it. I'd much rather kids learned Foreign Languages, that are actually going to be useful to them when they're older.

It's a fair point and while I have nothing against the language it's hardly what you would describe as a national language. In fact I find the fascination with it slightly strange.

I've seen figures of 30% of BBC Scotland's programme budget goes on BBC ALBA...a rather large figure for a language that is spoken by only a few tens of thousands.

I'm not even sure how Scottish Gaelic is...was in not imported by the Irish? It was a minority language for most of its time and has been since at least bonnie prince Charlie days.

No issues with people wanting to preserve it but the dual linguistic signs at the Scottish parliament etc seem a wee bit ridiculous to me.

Sure I'll get shot down in flames and admit I'm far from an expert in the history of it all but my last thought is surely only in Scotland would you get the national sport broadcast in a language that hardly anyone speaks. Will say that the half time slots are excellent though...the one with Allen on Sunday was pretty darn good.

[Sergio sledge]

It's a fair point and while I have nothing against the language it's hardly what you would describe as a national language. In fact I find the fascination with it slightly strange.

I've seen figures of 30% of BBC Scotland's programme budget goes on BBC ALBA...a rather large figure for a language that is spoken by only a few tens of thousands.

I'm not even sure how Scottish Gaelic is...was in not imported by the Irish? It was a minority language for most of its time and has been since at least bonnie prince Charlie days.

No issues with people wanting to preserve it but the dual linguistic signs at the Scottish parliament etc seem a wee bit ridiculous to me.

Sure I'll get shot down in flames and admit I'm far from an expert in the history of it all but my last thought is surely only in Scotland would you get the national sport broadcast in a language that hardly anyone speaks. Will say that the half time slots are excellent though...the one with Allen on Sunday was pretty darn good.



Wikipedia is your friend if you want to learn a bit more about Gaidhlig Gaidhlig (https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Scottish_Gaelic)

I think a lot of people would be surprised how widespread it used to be as a language before it was overtaken by Scots and almost killed off by the clearances, WW1 and the banning of it in schools.

I think around 1% of the population now speak it, although there is a big push to revive the language. I'm not sure it could ever have been classed as the national language, but a significant proportion of Scotland would have been native Gaidhlig speakers at one stage, with only Lothian and Borders (as it is now), Orkney, Shetland and a bit of Caithness being other languages.

Regarding funding, BBC Alba is funded by BBC Scotland (~40%) and MG Alba (~60%) with MG Alba being funded directly from the Scottish Government. I'm not sure where your 30% comes from but I don't think it is right, BBC Scotland's budget for programming is something like £90m-£100m, with £4m going on BBC Alba. Roughly 4%, still larger than the population share but not nearly so far away as 30%!

Did BBC Scotland bid for the rights to live football? If they've been outbid by Alba then they'll have to do better next time I guess.

I don't speak Gaidhlig myself btw, but I do have a bit of a vested interest as my two kids are at the Gaidhlig school in Inverness, so I guess I have to defend it! :greengrin

[Sir David Gray]

It's a fair point and while I have nothing against the language it's hardly what you would describe as a national language. In fact I find the fascination with it slightly strange.

I've seen figures of 30% of BBC Scotland's programme budget goes on BBC ALBA...a rather large figure for a language that is spoken by only a few tens of thousands.

I'm not even sure how Scottish Gaelic is...was in not imported by the Irish? It was a minority language for most of its time and has been since at least bonnie prince Charlie days.

No issues with people wanting to preserve it but the dual linguistic signs at the Scottish parliament etc seem a wee bit ridiculous to me.

Sure I'll get shot down in flames and admit I'm far from an expert in the history of it all but my last thought is surely only in Scotland would you get the national sport broadcast in a language that hardly anyone speaks. Will say that the half time slots are excellent though...the one with Allen on Sunday was pretty darn good.

:top marks You probably will get shot down in flames for this post but I personally totally agree.

[hibsbollah]

It's a fair point and while I have nothing against the language it's hardly what you would describe as a national language. In fact I find the fascination with it slightly strange.

I've seen figures of 30% of BBC Scotland's programme budget goes on BBC ALBA...a rather large figure for a language that is spoken by only a few tens of thousands.

I'm not even sure how Scottish Gaelic is...was in not imported by the Irish? It was a minority language for most of its time and has been since at least bonnie prince Charlie days.

No issues with people wanting to preserve it but the dual linguistic signs at the Scottish parliament etc seem a wee bit ridiculous to me.

Sure I'll get shot down in flames and admit I'm far from an expert in the history of it all but my last thought is surely only in Scotland would you get the national sport broadcast in a language that hardly anyone speaks. Will say that the half time slots are excellent though...the one with Allen on Sunday was pretty darn good.

I agree with you in some ways. It's ridiculous to have dual signage all over Edinburgh and the rest of southern and Central Scotland when its a historical fact that nobody south of Perthshire ever spoke the language (or wore the tartan or played the pipes come to that). I think the Scottish Govt should do more to promote the language in the areas where it is spoken, but not try to reinvent history or pretend to tourists that we are a multilingual nation. Gallic was the majority language for large parts of Scotland north and west of the great glen but all that died after the Clearances. I have friends from up north who were misguidedly put into Gaelic school, hated it and got a poorer quality education as a result.

On the other hand, I like BBC Albas coverage and I don't feel like I miss anything from not having a bbc Scotland commentator/pundit (which says a lot about the standard we've become used to).

[Hibs7]

Why don't they put up subtitles for the majority of the football supporters in Scotland 🎃

[Top Pans Hibby]

Personally I 'd like to see a dedicated BBC Scotland channel that was dedicated to all aspects of Scottish sport, music, culture, the arts etc. if this includes some Gaelic so be it but I do think we spend a disproportionate amount of money on a language channel that in reality serves less than 1% of Scots population.

Broadcasting football and rugby (national sports) seems no more than cynical ploy to boost ratings and justify expenditure.

[The Hibee Harp]

A question for those that think the money spent on this channel by the BBC is a good investment, do you want it for any other programmes other than the football?

I'll be honest in that I only ever watch it when Hibs are playing or when it's a proper live match (not a delayed transmission).

I find the quality to be poor and the Livingston game in particular was frustrating. The main camera didn't appear to use its zoom function so when the ball was on the far side of the pitch it was just a tiny dot on screen and I felt it was difficult to see what was happening until they switched to a different camera angle.

I would imagine that viewing figures for the channel are swelled significantly by the football numbers. I wonder if BBC Alba use those figure to justify their budget??

[The Hibee Harp]

Personally I 'd like to see a dedicated BBC Scotland channel that was dedicated to all aspects of Scottish sport, music, culture, the arts etc. if this includes some Gaelic so be it but I do think we spend a disproportionate amount of money on a language channel that in reality serves less than 1% of Scots population.

Broadcasting football and rugby (national sports) seems no more than cynical ploy to boost ratings and justify expenditure.


:agree::top marks

[monktonharp]

Great to see so much live or recorded live coverage of Scottish Football on BBC Alba. But I wonder just what % of those tuning in actually speak Gaelic. I would imagine for the football it will be a tiny minority. Possibly still better option that listening to usual BBC commentators slavering on.I would rather listen to Gaelic anyday, than "proper" English. the English have been Anglisising us for centuries and at one time tried to eradicate an ancient language of these shores. other countries (Ireland,Wales) near us have actually retained and promoted their native language spectactularly in recent years. full marks to the Gaelic community for trying to continue what was at one time considered a dead language. the amount of English people I deal with in Edinburgh these days, is huge. they get a bit confused and worried when I speak to my guys in our local Edinburgh accent, never mind Gaelic. It must be a bit like us, going into an Asian shop when the 2 guys behind the counter are speaking Urdu or whatever Eh?

[monktonharp]

Personally I 'd like to see a dedicated BBC Scotland channel that was dedicated to all aspects of Scottish sport, music, culture, the arts etc. if this includes some Gaelic so be it but I do think we spend a disproportionate amount of money on a language channel that in reality serves less than 1% of Scots population.

Broadcasting football and rugby (national sports) seems no more than cynical ploy to boost ratings and justify expenditure.Personaly, I would like to see the Pans dialect printed in paper form and with a side margin which explains exactually what you are saying, to the wider community :wink:

[monktonharp]

It's a fair point and while I have nothing against the language it's hardly what you would describe as a national language. In fact I find the fascination with it slightly strange.

I've seen figures of 30% of BBC Scotland's programme budget goes on BBC ALBA...a rather large figure for a language that is spoken by only a few tens of thousands.

I'm not even sure how Scottish Gaelic is...was in not imported by the Irish? It was a minority language for most of its time and has been since at least bonnie prince Charlie days.

No issues with people wanting to preserve it but the dual linguistic signs at the Scottish parliament etc seem a wee bit ridiculous to me.

Sure I'll get shot down in flames and admit I'm far from an expert in the history of it all but my last thought is surely only in Scotland would you get the national sport broadcast in a language that hardly anyone speaks. Will say that the half time slots are excellent though...the one with Allen on Sunday was pretty darn good. excellent points, good sir. and almost perfectly put, in bbc english

[monktonharp]

Perfectly entitled to your opinion, but some newspapers present BBC ALBA as some kind of gravy train, when it actually runs on a shoe string. Currently BBC ALBA receives a total annual funding of £10 million from the BBC, which represents 0.02% of the overall BBC budget of £5billion. Jonathon Ross's last contract for the BBC could have funded the whole channel for a year and you'd still have a few million quid left over at the end!says it all, when it comes down to it we have to listen to ****s like j.ross and his slaverin' keek.

[marinello59]

Wikipedia is your friend if you want to learn a bit more about Gaidhlig Gaidhlig (https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Scottish_Gaelic)

I think a lot of people would be surprised how widespread it used to be as a language before it was overtaken by Scots and almost killed off by the clearances, WW1 and the banning of it in schools.

I think around 1% of the population now speak it, although there is a big push to revive the language. I'm not sure it could ever have been classed as the national language, but a significant proportion of Scotland would have been native Gaidhlig speakers at one stage, with only Lothian and Borders (as it is now), Orkney, Shetland and a bit of Caithness being other languages.

Regarding funding, BBC Alba is funded by BBC Scotland (~40%) and MG Alba (~60%) with MG Alba being funded directly from the Scottish Government. I'm not sure where your 30% comes from but I don't think it is right, BBC Scotland's budget for programming is something like £90m-£100m, with £4m going on BBC Alba. Roughly 4%, still larger than the population share but not nearly so far away as 30%!

Did BBC Scotland bid for the rights to live football? If they've been outbid by Alba then they'll have to do better next time I guess.

I don't speak Gaidhlig myself btw, but I do have a bit of a vested interest as my two kids are at the Gaidhlig school in Inverness, so I guess I have to defend it! :greengrin

Excellent post.
The scandal isn't that we have a channel broadcast in a language only 1% of the population speak, it's that years of neglect lead to a decline in the number of Gaelic speakers in the first place. Language is of vital importance to the cultural history of any nation, thankfully the rise of Gaelic schools and colleges should stop Gaelic dying out altogether. Several members of my wife's family have the Gaelic and whilst they rarely speak it a lot of the words creep in to their every day conversation which is all the richer for it.

[The_Exile]

The appetite for learning Gaelic just isn't there where the population is most heavily based, it'll always be a local language the further north you go. It's a shame, I'd have welcomed learning Gaelic rather than German/French at school. I can only really see it going the way of Latin, of which there are only a few hundred fluent speakers left (some say less than 100), and unless I'm mistaken, most of them are situated in Vatican City.

[Jack Hackett]

For me, the purpose of language is communication and language has divided the world for far too long. Sorry HH, but gaelic sounds like gibberish and reads like gibberish, and in a world where the population is approaching 8 billion, a language spoken by a few thousand people is ultimately pointless.

I'm not a religious man by any stretch of the imagination, but the story of the Tower of Babel illustrates that different languages are a curse upon the human race, preventing understanding and promoting division

One world, one language

[Sergio sledge]

For me, the purpose of language is communication and language has divided the world for far too long. Sorry HH, but gaelic sounds like gibberish and reads like gibberish, and in a world where the population is approaching 8 billion, a language spoken by a few thousand people is ultimately pointless.

I'm not a religious man by any stretch of the imagination, but the story of the Tower of Babel illustrates that different languages are a curse upon the human race, preventing understanding and promoting division

One world, one language

I take it you are going to be learning Mandarin then? :greengrin

[Eyrie]

I'd suggest a global population of eight billion with all the demands on natural resources to give each of them a decent standard of living is a slightly bigger problem than how many languages they speak.

Back on topic, I have no interest in Gaelic beyond watching Hibs or rugby on Alba, but equally have no objection to its current level of funding where it is commonly spoken. Just don't waste those resources trying to pretend it's relevant in Edinburgh.

[Saturday Boy]

In my experience, the key to Alba is to use the channel guide on your tv.

You can't tell what a programme is about from it's title in a language you can't read!

Believe it or not it has lots of music; apart from the Mod that's on this week, they cover traditional music, rock ness, and country music for those inclined that way, among others. It also has lots of documentaries, some home made but also Irish and Welsh, and does often have subtitles (but not for football or rugby).

Although a minority language, not the worst channel on tv.

[monktonharp]

For me, the purpose of language is communication and language has divided the world for far too long. Sorry HH, but gaelic sounds like gibberish and reads like gibberish, and in a world where the population is approaching 8 billion, a language spoken by a few thousand people is ultimately pointless.

I'm not a religious man by any stretch of the imagination, but the story of the Tower of Babel illustrates that different languages are a curse upon the human race, preventing understanding and promoting division

One world, one languagethey tried that, many years ago with esporante, if I'm not mistaken. academics around the world, and arty farties with that language taking over opera shows etc. how many languages are there in say, ..papua newguinea ? think you might be surprised.

[AgentDaleCooper]

The appetite for learning Gaelic just isn't there where the population is most heavily based, it'll always be a local language the further north you go. It's a shame, I'd have welcomed learning Gaelic rather than German/French at school. I can only really see it going the way of Latin, of which there are onlpwy a few hundred fluent speakers left (some say less than 100), and unless I'm mistaken, most of them are situated in Vatican City.
This just isn't true. Gaelic medium education in edinburgh and Glasgow has been expanding at a rate that providors struggle to keep up with - thelast intake for the edinburgh primary school was something like 90 pupils. That might not be a vast number in the grand scheme of things, but the fact is demand is growing, and as far as gaelic schools is concerned, it's very much a case of 'build it and they will come'. A significant portion of parents seem keen to take advantage of both the cognitive benefits of being bilingual. Spupils of these schools also say they just like gaelic - as a speaker my self, I would say that it is a very beautiful and rewarding language to learn.

[dangermouse]

In my opinion there is only one phrase you need to learn in any foreign language and that's "Two beers please" :greengrin How do you say that in Gaelic?

[Oscar T Grouch]

In my opinion there is only one phrase you need to learn in any foreign language and that's "Two beers please" :greengrin How do you say that in Gaelic?

While not in Gaelic, this page is very useful!!

http://www.etiquettesystems.com/how-to-order-a-beer/

[marinello59]

In my opinion there is only one phrase you need to learn in any foreign language and that's "Two beers please" :greengrin How do you say that in Gaelic?

I don't think they need a phrase. Most Gaels I know are more than capable of ordering a round long after the power of coherent speech has gone. :greengrin

[Baker9]

The following is based on fact (a headmaster for a Gaelic-speaking school who couldn't speak Gaelic).

Monty Python and the Wholly Gaels

The scene: an interview board in a Highland Council office.
The Job: headmaster of a Gaelic-speaking school

Palin: If you don’t mind, we will conduct this interview in English as none of us speak Gaelic.
Cleese: That’s not a problem I don’t speak a word of Gaelic either.
Palin: You are applying for the job at a Gaelic-speaking school. That might not work in your favour.
Cleese; Pas de problem, mon ami. All the students speak perfect English and will understand every word I say. Anyway, I am learning Gaelic and have already started on road signs.
Palin: Well, all of that sounds perfectly ok and the job is yours.
(Palin takes a note to investigate grants for Gaelic tuition).

The whole Gaelic thing? Someone is having a laugh.

[davemcbain]

Quite surprised no-one has mentioned which games are shown on Alba (anyone remember the last game involving either of the old firm?) - on that basis alone I welcome their coverage and watch it every week.

Would suggest everyone learn it - otherwise when you walk into a bar in the Highlands you'll never know what the locals are saying about you. :wink:

When it comes to a second language, you enjoy your German, Hindi, Mandarin or whatever other one you choose - personally, I'm proud of my heritage and the language of my forefathers is the one I'd like to see my children taught.

PS the "Irish" that introduced Gaelic to Scotland may well have been a tribe called the Scotii and we all know what became of them.

[AgentDaleCooper]

The following is based on fact (a headmaster for a Gaelic-speaking school who couldn't speak Gaelic).

Monty Python and the Wholly Gaels

The scene: an interview board in a Highland Council office.
The Job: headmaster of a Gaelic-speaking school

Palin: If you don’t mind, we will conduct this interview in English as none of us speak Gaelic.
Cleese: That’s not a problem I don’t speak a word of Gaelic either.
Palin: You are applying for the job at a Gaelic-speaking school. That might not work in your favour.
Cleese; Pas de problem, mon ami. All the students speak perfect English and will understand every word I say. Anyway, I am learning Gaelic and have already started on road signs.
Palin: Well, all of that sounds perfectly ok and the job is yours.
(Palin takes a note to investigate grants for Gaelic tuition).

The whole Gaelic thing? Someone is having a laugh.

this is actual crap. if a head teacher can't speak gaelic, but is well equipped to run a school and wishes to promote gaelic, why not? i'd rather have him than someone less skilled, but able to speak the language. the following is not based on fact - it IS fact: most head teachers do no teaching of classes. whilst i would agree that it looks a bit weird...and here's another fact...through decades, if not centuries, of institutional repression of the language, it is in a state whereby the above scenario may well happen. if so, so what? here's another fact - demand is growing for it. this is in absolutely no conceivable way a bad thing.

what i don't understand is why people have such a problem with it. it doesn't really make much of a dent in the BBC budget (someone mentioned 4% - i can assure you, it by no means has enough funding to produce reams of quality stuff) - i'd like to know how much of a dent river city makes, which as far as i can see serves no positive purpose. There's plenty crap having money wasted on it - at least with the gaelic stuff, there's a growing audience, so it might actually turn out to be an investment. i'm sorry, but if you really have a problem with it, to me, that indicates either boredom or bitterness. it really doesn't make your life any worse.

[davemcbain]

........what i don't understand is why people have such a problem with it. ... i'm sorry, but if you really have a problem with it, to me, that indicates either boredom or bitterness. it really doesn't make your life any worse.

:flag: 100% with you on that!
:top marks

Agreed with the other poster who said it hadn't mach relevance to Edinburgh too, but that's rather like saying French has no relevance to Germans. Good on you mate, just because you're a Sassenach, then fine just deny us Teuchters our own channel. Suggestion folks......away and watch the huns on sky sports 2 - it'll always be in English after all.

[surreyhibbie]

I watched the game on Alba, and listened to the commentary from Hibs TV.

If was a bit weird as the commentary was about 10 seconds behind! Delay due to the Internet I suppose.

Found myself shouting "Goal!" At Cliff!

Different, I suppose. And the goals were great.

:greengrin

[Golden Bear]

BBC Alba is a very welcome bonus as far as I'm concerned. I enjoy the coverage of both football and rugby and you don't need to be a Gaelic speaker to enjoy the music programs.

Lang may yer lum reek ( not sure if there is a Gaelic translation!)

[Baker9]

this is actual crap. if a head teacher can't speak gaelic, but is well equipped to run a school and wishes to promote gaelic, why not? i'd rather have him than someone less skilled, but able to speak the language. the following is not based on fact - it IS fact: most head teachers do no teaching of classes. whilst i would agree that it looks a bit weird...and here's another fact...through decades, if not centuries, of institutional repression of the language, it is in a state whereby the above scenario may well happen. if so, so what? here's another fact - demand is growing for it. this is in absolutely no conceivable way a bad thing.

what i don't understand is why people have such a problem with it. it doesn't really make much of a dent in the BBC budget (someone mentioned 4% - i can assure you, it by no means has enough funding to produce reams of quality stuff) - i'd like to know how much of a dent river city makes, which as far as i can see serves no positive purpose. There's plenty crap having money wasted on it - at least with the gaelic stuff, there's a growing audience, so it might actually turn out to be an investment. i'm sorry, but if you really have a problem with it, to me, that indicates either boredom or bitterness. it really doesn't make your life any worse.

It was meant to be actual comedy and not actual crap. I am neither bored nor bitter - I just find the whole Gaelic thing a hoot. Whetever tickles yer fancy, eh?

[The_Exile]

**** sake, is there any subject we couldnae actually be at each others throats over? :greengrin

[AgentDaleCooper]

It was meant to be actual comedy and not actual crap. I am neither bored nor bitter - I just find the whole Gaelic thing a hoot. Whetever tickles yer fancy, eh?

ok - so you have absolutely no agenda against it, and just find a particularly large amount of humour in this specific subject matter, without having any sort of a slant :aok:

if i'm going at people's throats - the thing is, it's one of these subjects that people with very little knowledge about the language and it's history, as well as its current context, seem to have quite scathing opinions about, when it simply makes no difference to their lives that there is a bit of a surge in the gaelic world (which there is - again, i cite the schools' intake levels rocketing year on year). at best, it's pointless, parochial, patronising and undermining. i make no apology for getting pissy with people talking actual ****ing crap.

[CropleyWasGod]

In my experience, the key to Alba is to use the channel guide on your tv.

You can't tell what a programme is about from it's title in a language you can't read!

Believe it or not it has lots of music; apart from the Mod that's on this week, they cover traditional music, rock ness, and country music for those inclined that way, among others. It also has lots of documentaries, some home made but also Irish and Welsh, and does often have subtitles (but not for football or rugby).

Although a minority language, not the worst channel on tv.

:agree:

Eorpa is a fascinating programme. Covers subjects that you just don't get on mainstream channels.

[Saturday Boy]

:agree:

Eorpa is a fascinating programme. Covers subjects that you just don't get on mainstream channels.

When Eorpa was shown on Thursday nights on BBC2, it was one of the few current affairs programmes to cover the impact of the refugees from the Balkan wars on western Europe, and the impact Western Europe had on them.

It it has been particularly good on Scandinavia, which gives me some doubts over the minimum pricing for alcohol; no drunks in Finland anybody?

[CropleyWasGod]

When Eorpa was shown on Thursday nights on BBC2, it was one of the few current affairs programmes to cover the impact of the refugees from the Balkan wars on western Europe, and the impact Western Europe had on them.

It it has been particularly good on Scandinavia, which gives me some doubts over the minimum pricing for alcohol; no drunks in Finland anybody?
It's the whole attitude behind the programme that gets me. It starts off on the premise that Scotland is a small community. ...and thereby is much more in tune with the issues faced by other "small" communities in Europe.
Contrast that with the BBC UK attitude, which sticks to the idea that the UK is still a "big" community.
For that reason alone, Eorpa has consistently had more relevance for me than the likes of Panorama.

[Saturday Boy]

It's the whole attitude behind the programme that gets me. It starts off on the premise that Scotland is a small community. ...and thereby is much more in tune with the issues faced by other "small" communities in Europe.
Contrast that with the BBC UK attitude, which sticks to the idea that the UK is still a "big" community.
For that reason alone, Eorpa has consistently had more relevance for me than the likes of Panorama.

This has long been something which annoys me. Mainstream tv and news media's obsession with what is happening in the USA, while ignoring major news stories from our European neighbours. I can confidently predict extensive news coverage of snow in New York and the Midwest this winter.

[RyeSloan]

ok - so you have absolutely no agenda against it, and just find a particularly large amount of humour in this specific subject matter, without having any sort of a slant :aok: if i'm going at people's throats - the thing is, it's one of these subjects that people with very little knowledge about the language and it's history, as well as its current context, seem to have quite scathing opinions about, when it simply makes no difference to their lives that there is a bit of a surge in the gaelic world (which there is - again, i cite the schools' intake levels rocketing year on year). at best, it's pointless, parochial, patronising and undermining. i make no apology for getting pissy with people talking actual ****ing crap.

That's all well and good but I suppose the question will be is it all worth it...Gaelic is clearly the SNP's pet project. I quickly googled Gaelic school funding and the first page is covered with stories of the Scottish government spending many millions on new Gaelic schools.

That in itself may be no bad thing but when we are constantly being told money is right it does seem a somewhat liberal use of funds.

I appreciate you have a passion for the language but I'll be honest and say I struggle to see the need to spend multi millions promoting it.

[snooky]

Personaly, I would like to see the Pans dialect printed in paper form and with a side margin which explains exactually what you are saying, to the wider community :wink:

Top or bottom?

[Highland_Hibby]

Thanks to all who've done my survey ( https://www.surveymonkey.com/s/gaelic_media ). I've kept it opened longer than I intended due to the number of responses, but I'll be closing it tomorrow.

I posted on a number of supporter sites and received a good response rate, especially from Hibbies. Does this say something about the culture of the club?