The University has appointed a Gaelic Language Officer, the first post of its kind in Scotland.

The aim of the officer’s role will be to increase the profile of Gaelic throughout the city and university and to provide more access to language classes and cultural events.

The two year post, taken up by 26-year-old Fiona Dunn, a fluent Gaelic speaker, is funded by the Scottish Funding Council, the Scottish Government and Bòrd na Gàidhlig, the non-departmental public body aimed at promoting Gaelic nationwide.

Fiona Dunn

The appointment of Miss Dunn comes at an important time for Gaelic both nationally and within the city. Of the 60,000 Gaelic speakers in Scotland, almost 10 per cent live in Glasgow. The post is one of a host of initiatives part-financed by the Scottish Government to help revitalise the language.

In her new role, Miss Dunn will engage with the wider University community not merely concentrating on Gaelic students. In line with national policy, she will also gather views on the likely shape of a language action plan for the University.

Rob Ó Maolalaigh, Professor of Gaelic at the University of Glasgow, welcomed the appointment, adding that during the coming months Miss Dunn will be forming close links between the University and the Gaelic community as well as with other relevant Scottish or international universities. 

He said: “We are delighted that Fiona could take up this post and the department has every confidence that she will use her skills and relevant experience to great effect. This is just one of a number of developments within the Celtic and Gaelic department. Having been commissioned by Bòrd na Gàidhlig to undertake research on corpus technology, we are in the process of appointing a researcher to a four-year project entitled ‘Language and Identity: The Transmission of Scottish Gaelic in the modern world. Further appointments in the field of Gaelic sociolinguistics are planned for later in the year.”

Miss Dunn added: “I’m thrilled to be given such an opportunity. I look forward to the challenges and variety of the role which will see me hold Gaelic classes for university staff and students from all departments, organise cultural events such as concerts, workshops in creative writing, song and drama and develop a Gaelic students accommodation scheme. I hope to organise awards for student involvement in Gaelic related events and devise a selection of bi-lingual University publications.”

The initiative brings the University of Glasgow into line with Irish and Welsh universities where similar language officer posts have been established in order to develop language skills outwith traditional courses. These posts have helped  to increase the use and profile of Irish and Welsh in higher education institutions and it is hoped there will be a similar outcome in Glasgow.”

For more information please log on to: www.gla.ac.uk/departments/celtic

For more media information and images please contact Eleanor Cowie, Media Relations Officer, on Telephone 0141 330 3683 or Email: e.cowie@admin.gla.ac.uk
 

First published: 22 June 2009

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