Table 2: Respondents’ Attitudes to Gaelic – Euromosaic Gaelic Survey 1994/95

Positive questions (Q 48 ii, iv, vi, viii, x): Responses: Agree strongly = 5; Agree = 4;

Don’t agree or disagree = 3; Disagree = 2; Disagree strongly = 1.

Question

Resp

Whole sample

No. %

Western Isles

No. %

Rest of Scotland

No %

ii) It seems a good idea that councils support Gaelic in their administration

5

4

3

2

1

  1. 33.2
  1. 50.5
  1. 11.2
  1. 5.1

- -

  1. 28.4
  1. 55.1
  1. 11.8
  1. 4.7

- -

  1. 36.6
  1. 47.3
  1. 10.7
  1. 5.4

- -

iv) To keep their true identity, the Highlands and Islands need their Gaelic speakers.

5

4

3

2

1

  1. 53.8
  1. 40.3

12 3.8
  1. 0.9

4 1.2

72 55.8
  1. 39.5
  1. 3.9

- -

1 0.8

  1. 52.3
  1. 40.8
  1. 3.7
  1. 1.6

3 1.6

vi) In order to work

in the public sector

in the Gaelic areas, one should be able

to speak Gaelic.

5

4

3

2

1

  1. 41.6
  1. 43.1
  1. 8.4

21 6.6

1 0.3
  1. 40.3
  1. 48.1
  1. 7.0

6 4.6

- -

  1. 42.4
  1. 39.8
  1. 9.4
  1. 7.9

1 0.5

viii) It is essential that

children in the Highlands and Islands

should learn Gaelic.

5

4

3

2

1

  1. 43.3
  1. 34.5
  1. 11.4
  1. 9.5

1 1.3
  1. 40.4
  2. 31.7
  1. 10.2
  1. 7.1

1 0.8

  1. 45.5
  1. 29.6
  1. 12.2

21 11.1

3 1.6

x) Speaking Gaelic

helps people get

promotion in their jobs.

5

4

3

2

1

  1. 6.7
  1. 21.1
  1. 31.4
  1. 38.1

8 2.7

  1. 7.5

24 20.0
  1. 28.4
  1. 40.8

4 3.3

  1. 6.2
  1. 21.8
  1. 33.5
  1. 36.6

4 2.2

 

Table 2: Respondents’ Attitudes to Gaelic – Euromosaic Gaelic Survey 1994/95

(Continued)

Negative questions: (Q. 48 i, iii, v, vii, ix, xi) Agree strongly = 1; Agree = 2; Don’t

agree or disagree = 3; Disagree = 4; Disagree strongly = 5.

Question

Resp

Whole sample

No. %

Western Isles

No. %

Rest of Scotland

No. %

i) To get on, there

are more valuable

languages than

Gaelic.

5

4

3

2

1

  1. 9.3
  1. 26.7
  1. 17.7
  1. 38.6

24 7.7

  1. 4.8
  1. 19.2
  1. 19.2
  1. 47.2

12 9.6

  1. 12.4
  1. 31.7
  1. 16.7

61 32.8

12 6.4

iii) Gaelic is a

dying language.

5

4

3

2

1

  1. 30.1
  1. 39.9
  1. 12.7
  1. 16.5

4 1.3

  1. 27.1
  1. 40.3
  1. 17.7
  1. 14.7

1 0.8

  1. 32.3
  1. 38.7
  1. 9.7
  1. 17.7

3 1.6

v) You are considered

low class if you speak

Gaelic.

5

4

3

2

1

  1. 51.6
  1. 38.0
  1. 4.1
  1. 5.7

2 0.6
  1. 56.3
  1. 34.1
  1. 3.2
  1. 6.4

- -

  1. 48.4
  1. 40.5
  1. 4.7

10 5.3

2 1.1

vii) Gaelic has no

place in the modern

world.

5

4

3

2

1

  1. 44.2
  1. 46.4
  1. 6.6
  1. 2.2

2 0.6

  1. 34.4
  1. 53.9
  1. 10.1
  1. 0.8

1 0.8

97 50.8
  1. 41.4
  1. 4.2
  1. 3.1

1 0.5

ix) The Gaelic language

cannot be suitable for

business and science.

5

4

3

2

1

  1. 22.9
  1. 40.7
  1. 19.0
  1. 14.8

8 2.6

  1. 13.6
  1. 38.4

31 24.8
  1. 20.8

3 2.4

54 29.2

79 42.2
  1. 15.1
  1. 10.8
  1. 2.7

xi) Most people view

things associated with

Gaelic as too old-

Fashioned.

5

4

3

2

1

  1. 13.5

142 45.7

  1. 14.8
  1. 23.4

8 2.6

  1. 10.5
  1. 46.9
  1. 14.1
  1. 24.2

5 3.9

  1. 15.3
  1. 44.8
  1. 15.3
  1. 23.0

3 1.6