Nairn resident Russell Foley recently had a letter published in the Press and Journal. He has a legitimate argument that is worthy of debate, he thinks Gaelic cannot be a modern means of mass communication. Here's his letter as it appeared in the P&J:
Hieroglyphics belong in the past
SIR, – In the middle of Nairn High Street is a building displaying some hieroglyphics, which I cannot read, and have no intention of learning.
Alongside these incomprehensible words is also written Nairn Highland Library. As a long standing resident of Nairn, and a regular library user, I have never known anyone who could not find Nairn Library or who has inquired about it in anything but English.
I would therefore suggest that the proliferation of such dual-language signs should be low down on the spending of public monies.
I am not against spending money on the preservation of Gaelic. But we should not try to make it into something it is not, a modern means of mass communication.
We must recognise that the Gaelic world as it formerly existed is gone.
Russell Foley,
Nairn.
Fair enough Russell on the mass communication point, it is worthy of debate, however the Gurnmeister would like to take issue with you over the matter of the Gaelic name for Nairn library being 'hieroglyphics'. That is taking your argument a bit too far isn't it? 'Narann' is pretty close to Nairn and 'Inbhir', there's no shortage of Inbhir/Inver' s in Scotland. There's one just along the road at Inverness (Inbhir Nis), the modern name for Nairn has dropped its Inver but remember we have an establishment in Nairn that continues the name with the Invernairne Hotel. 'Leabharlann' means library, a difficult one yes if you have no previous knowledge of Gaelic. As to the cost factor, proponents of bilingual signs say that it actually costs very little to put into practice if you simply do it every time signage needs replacement. Perhaps a bit more Gaelic signage in the High Street might liven the place up a bit and make it more interesting for locals and tourists alike.
Hieroglyphics belong in the past
SIR, – In the middle of Nairn High Street is a building displaying some hieroglyphics, which I cannot read, and have no intention of learning.
Alongside these incomprehensible words is also written Nairn Highland Library. As a long standing resident of Nairn, and a regular library user, I have never known anyone who could not find Nairn Library or who has inquired about it in anything but English.
I would therefore suggest that the proliferation of such dual-language signs should be low down on the spending of public monies.
I am not against spending money on the preservation of Gaelic. But we should not try to make it into something it is not, a modern means of mass communication.
We must recognise that the Gaelic world as it formerly existed is gone.
Russell Foley,
Nairn.
Fair enough Russell on the mass communication point, it is worthy of debate, however the Gurnmeister would like to take issue with you over the matter of the Gaelic name for Nairn library being 'hieroglyphics'. That is taking your argument a bit too far isn't it? 'Narann' is pretty close to Nairn and 'Inbhir', there's no shortage of Inbhir/Inver' s in Scotland. There's one just along the road at Inverness (Inbhir Nis), the modern name for Nairn has dropped its Inver but remember we have an establishment in Nairn that continues the name with the Invernairne Hotel. 'Leabharlann' means library, a difficult one yes if you have no previous knowledge of Gaelic. As to the cost factor, proponents of bilingual signs say that it actually costs very little to put into practice if you simply do it every time signage needs replacement. Perhaps a bit more Gaelic signage in the High Street might liven the place up a bit and make it more interesting for locals and tourists alike.
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