In the 10th and 11th centuries Scots Gaelic was at its most popular as a language where most people who lived in Scotland spoke the language. Today there is only around 1.6% who can speak Gaelic. Most pro- Gaelic speakers would say that this was the plan of the English – to rid the British Isles of its Gaelic language and replace it by the English language. But there are a number of reasons for the decline of Gaelic as a language.
Firstly, by around 1400 the distinction between the Highlands and the Lowlands was firmly established. A scholarly man named John of Fordun had this to say about the differences between the highlanders and the lowlanders in 1380:
“The people of the coast are of domestic and civilised habits, trusty, patient, and urbane, decent in their attire, affable, and peaceful, devout in Divine worship, yet always ready to resist a wrong at the hands of their enemies. The highlanders and people of the islands, on the other hand, are a savage and untamed nation, rude and independent, given to rapine, ease-loving, clever and quick to learn, comely in person, but unsightly in dress, hostile to the English people and language, and, owing to the diversity of speech, even to their own nation, and exceedingly cruel. They are however faithful and obedient to their king and country, and obedient to their king and country, and easily made to submit to law, if properly governed.”
Consequently it may be asserted the main cause for the reduction of the Gaelic language was as a result of the break down amongst the various regions of Scotland. And by the sixteenth century the divergence between both was at a record high due to historical factors and a different language spoken. James VI had two key concepts for his Highland policy – one was to help to make an income and the other was to increase the amount of plantation. He suspected that the highlanders and especially the islanders weren’t paying their own reasonable taxation and he wanted to adjust this.
In 1597 he set up three burghs within the Highlands with the intention of permitting a number of the lowlanders to rule. With the strengthening Campbell clan as well as the detest for the lowlanders of the Highlanders and the Islanders, a lot more disruption was to follow. It was costing the King greater expense than he cared to pay.
Looking for more information on beautiful Scotland then please visit Scotland.
Posted in 
Tags: 
