Travel Reference
In-Depth Information
Scottish Culture
Arts
The notion of 'the Scottish arts' often conjures up cliched images of bagpipe music, incom-
prehensible poetry and romanticised paintings of Highland landscapes. But Scottish artists
have given the world a wealth of unforgettable treasures, from the songs and poems of
Robert Burns and the novels of Walter Scott, to the paintings of David Wilkie and the ar-
chitecture of Charles Rennie Mackintosh.
Literature
Scotland has a long and distinguished literary history, from the days of the medieval
makars ('makers' of verses, ie poets) to the modern 'rat pack' of Iain Banks, Irvine Welsh
and Ian Rankin.
THE SCOTTISH LANGUAGE
Scottish Gaelic (
Gàidhlig
- pronounced 'gallic' in Scotland) is spoken by about 80,000 people in Scotland, mainly
in the Highlands and islands, and by many native speakers and learners overseas. It is a member of the Celtic
branch of the Indo-European family of languages, which has given us Gaelic, Irish, Manx, Welsh, Cornish and Bre-
ton.
Gaelic culture flourished in the Highlands until the 18th century and the Jacobite rebellions. After the Battle of
Culloden in 1746 many Gaelic speakers were forced from their ancestral lands; this 'ethnic cleansing' by landlords
and governments culminated in the Highland Clearances of the 19th century. Although still studied at academic
level, the spoken language declined, being regarded as little more than a mere 'peasant' language of no modern sig-
nificance.
It was only in the 1970s that Gaelic began to make a comeback with a new generation of young enthusiasts who
were determined that it should not be allowed to die. After two centuries of decline, the language is now being en-
couraged through financial help from government agencies and the EU. Gaelic education is flourishing at every
level from playgroups to tertiary institutions. This rediscovered knowledge is flowing on into the fields of music,
literature, cultural events and broadcasting, and people from all over Scotland, and indeed worldwide, are beginning
to appreciate their Gaelic heritage.
