Dreach da-chananach de cheist an refreinn air neo-eisimeileachd Bilingual version of the independence referendum question

What it asks

What the petitioner did first

1. 17 Sep 2013
   Public Petitions Committee

   New Petitions
   1 mention
2. 26 Nov 2013
   Public Petitions Committee

   Current Petitions
   1 mention

1. Scotland582 79.4%
2. United Kingdom77 10.5%
3. Wales19 2.6%
4. England15 2%
5. France7 1%
6. United States6 0.8%
7. Ireland6 0.8%
8. Canada6 0.8%
9. Australia3 0.4%
10. Spain2 0.3%
11. 10 other countries10 1.4%

1. Arthur Cormack 16 May 2013
   The Scottish Parliament passed the Gaelic Language (Scotland) Act 2005 which calls for equal respect for Gaelic with English. Of course Gaelic should be included.
2. Duncan McLean 16 May 2013
   The Scottish Government's Gaelic Language Plan says:
   
   "The Scottish Government will increase the use and visibility of Gaelic in its most commonly used forms: we will make more Gaelic visible on forms. We will identify situations in which completion of forms in Gaelic will be encouraged."
   
   Given the active suppression of Gaelic following the union, it is appropriate that the form used to bring the union to an end should be available in Gaelic.
3. Seumaidh Uallas 16 May 2013
   There is still time to submit opinions to the Referendum Bill Committee too. Gabh an cothrom!
4. Davine Sutherland 16 May 2013
   Language support planning involves a stage called 'status planning', which means making the language more visible and more clearly officially welcome. The Scottish Govt signed up to all of this and should be aware of its obligations
   - I am only dispappointed it has come down to 'obligations' and not 'desires'.
5. Steven Ritchie 16 May 2013
   Tha mi ag aontachadh gum bu choir Gaidhlig a bhith air paipear baileit an reifreinn mu dheidhinn neo-eisimeileachd.
   
   Tried to write the above in with grave accents, but the technology wouldn't let me. I agree that Gaelic should be on the referendum ballet paper.
6. John Morton 16 May 2013
   Ciallaichidh neo-lathaireachd na Gaidhlig air paipear-bhotaidh an reifreinn dimeas chun na Gaidhlig. Cha dean seo an gnothach idir.
   The absence of Gaelic on the referendum voting paper means disrespect towards Gaelic. This just will not do.
   In trying to post this comment, I got "A comment can only contain letters, numbers and simple punctuation characters only"
   - several times, until I had removed all the accents on the Gaelic words. This also needs looked at urgently.
7. Cairistiona Nic 'Ille Mhoire 17 May 2013
   Bu chorr seo a tachairt.
   This should happen.
8. Anthony Dilworth 18 May 2013
   All languages in the world are valuable and must be preserved and not be allowed to die out.
9. Caoimhin 19 May 2013
   If we are to treat Gaelic as an equal language, it should be on important legislation like this referendum in 2014.
10. Duncan Scott 20 May 2013
    There is a commonly held axiom regarding these kinds of issues along the lines of "everyone who can speak Gaelic can speak English just as well, there's no reason to have it in Gaelic too." I think this should be turned on it's head. I can't think of a reason why it shouldn't be both in Gaelic and in English, Scotland's two languages. When we're at it, why shouldn't it be in some of our other minority languages too? (I would have written this in Gaelic, but some of the Gaelic letters were not recognised.)
11. Domhnall Domhnallach 20 May 2013
    Nan leanadh an riaghaltas an argamaid aca gu bheil a h' uile duine a' tuigsinn a' Bheurla co-dhiu, carson a dheanadh iad rud sam bith airson na Gaidhlig?
    
    If the government stick to their argument that everybody understands English anyway, why would they do anything for Gaelic?
12. John O'Brien 20 May 2013
    Tir gan teanga, tir gan anam!
    
    A land without a language is a land without a soul.
13. Christie NicIlleathain 23 May 2013
    This is got to be done, for the language to grow, tobe appreciated as one of Scotlands' languages and to be taken seriously as a strong part in our country's culture, heritage and future. Gaidhlig agus Alba gu brath!' '
14. George A H Ferguson 27 May 2013
    Suas leis a' Ghaidhlig! Up with Gaelic!
15. Cairistiona Ghreumach 27 May 2013
    Dear Parliament, please have the courage of your convictions. You have a Gaelic department, have helped and encouraged the use of Gaelic in many ways over the years. It won't cost a penny more to write the important question in Gaelic
    - or for that matter, Scots. Do not risk losing our support.
16. Rod Mackenzie 27 May 2013
    I know that there will be few, if any, potential referendum voters who will be disadvantaged by having the ballot paper in English. However, the issue is really that of extending to the Gaelic language the recognition and respect it deserves as one of Scotland's main indigenous languages. Our Scottish government has committed itself to such recognition so it should ensure that the ballot paper is bilingual Gaelic & English. Whether or not we are speakers of Gaelic, we should surely sign this petition simply on the grounds of principle and fairness.
17. Fiona Mackenzie 28 May 2013
    Indigenous languages have to be given the respect and recognition that should rightfully placed upon them. It's not even about Gaelic as such, but about understanding the huge importance a country's linguistic heritage plays in building confidence and respect within it's social structure.
18. Jennifer Cantwell 28 May 2013
    Language is part of culture, culture is part of identity. Its not about understanding English its about saying, this is part of our identity we respect our culture.
19. Ian MacKenzie Telfer 28 May 2013
    As an economist I totally believe that an Independent Scotland will bring enormous benefits. Dennis Healey the former Chancellor has now admitted that the London Government has always totally underplayed the value of North Sea Oil. As a Gaelic columnist I feel that it is essential that all official proclamations should also be written in Gaeli
20. DJ MacIntyre 3 Jun 2013
    Equal respect- Cha chan mi an corr!
21. George Muir 3 Jun 2013
    I urge the Scottish Parliament to take steps to overturn the effects of the pernicious cultural vandalism to which Gaelic has been subjected for almost a thousand years.
    Provide a bi-lingual ballot paper for the independence referendum!
22. Fiona m Johnston 3 Jun 2013
    Make up for lost time NOW!
23. Kenny Smith 3 Jun 2013
    Ceartas airson na Gaidhlig! Justice for Gaelic!
24. Gwennan Higham 4 Jun 2013
    Please listen to the requests of your citizens' right for equal treatment in the referendum. As a Welsh speaker and Gaelic learner, I see this decision to be pivotal for the future of Gaelic in a civic Scotland.
25. Alasdair H. Macinnes 4 Jun 2013
    Gaelic is a living language in Scotland. Those who have learned it as children, or who have chosen to acquire it, have improved access to other languages and to Scottish culture,past, present and future.
26. Ranald MacKechnie 4 Jun 2013
    How can there be a referendum on Scottish independence without equivalent wording in Gaelic -- and Scots?!
27. Sherry Byrd 5 Jun 2013
    Saor Alba!
28. Tam McTurk 5 Jun 2013
    Carson nach eil?
29. Helen Johnson 5 Jun 2013
    If the Scottish government really wants to keep Gaelic alive, they need to be a great deal more proactive both in education and legislation in promoting the language
    - making a certain amount of Gaelic compulsory in schools, for example and making it so that people can't be employed without a certain amount of Gaelic.
30. Peadar O Donnghaile 5 Jun 2013
    In point "Language rights" must be interpreted as "human rights" for those who speak a language because a language is not a legal person and therefore cannot of itself have rights.
31. David Frier 5 Jun 2013
    Why weren't the instructions on filling in the petition given in Gaelic too?
32. George Jones 5 Jun 2013
    Narach, direach, gun smaointichte air a leithid a dheanamh ann am Beurla a-mhain! Narach cuideachd nach leig larach na parlamaid leam litrichean le stracan a chur a-staigh!
    
    It is just shameful that it should even be considered that the like should be done in English only. It is shameful too that the Parliament’s website won’t let me insert letters with accents
33. Alison Lindsay 5 Jun 2013
    I went to School in the 50's when children were still belted for speaking Gaelic. I cannot speak Gaelic in consequence
34. Louise Cousins, 5 Jun 2013
    Ridiculous!
35. Lillis O Laoire 5 Jun 2013
    Normalisation means just that.
36. Seumas Mac an t-sagairt 5 Jun 2013
    Simple really
    - 'The Gaelic Language (Scotland) Act 2005 (the Act), passed by the Scottish Parliament, seeks to secure the status of Gaelic as an official language of Scotland commanding equal respect to the English language.'
37. Scott MacDonald 5 Jun 2013
    Feumaidh Gaidhlig a bhith air a phaiper-bhotaidh airson neo-eisimilach na h-Alba. 'Se 'English only' an t-seorsa rud a bha duil againn bho Westminster agus tha mi an dochas nach dean Parlamaid na h-Alba an aon rud.
    
    Gaelic must be on the voting paper for the independence referendum. ‘English only” is the type of thing we would expect from Westminister and I would hope that the Scottish Parliament wouldn’t do the same thing.
38. Alistair Mackay 5 Jun 2013
    Why not?
39. Katherine Napoli 5 Jun 2013
    Should have heard about this before now!
40. Dj Macdonald 6 Jun 2013
    As an official language of Alba the referendum should also be available in Gaidhlig. Actions speak louder than words.