Language Hebrides

geographic distribution of gaelic speakers in scotland (2011)

the residents of hebrides have spoken variety of different languages during long period of human occupation.

it assumed pictish must once have predominated in northern inner hebrides , outer hebrides. scottish gaelic language arrived via ireland due growing influence of kingdom of dál riata 6th century ad onwards, , became dominant language of southern hebrides @ time. few centuries, military might of gall-ghàidheil meant old norse prevalent in hebrides. north of ardnamurchan, place names existed prior 9th century have been obliterated. old norse name hebrides during viking occupation suðreyjar, means southern isles ; in contrast norðreyjar, or northern isles of orkney , shetland.

south of ardnamurchan, gaelic place names more common, , after 13th century, gaelic became main language of entire hebridean archipelago. due scots , english being favoured in government , educational system, hebrides have been in state of diglossia since @ least 17th century. highland clearances of 19th century accelerated language shift away scottish gaelic, did increased migration , continuing lower status of gaelic speakers. nevertheless, late end of 19th century, there significant populations of monolingual gaelic speakers, , hebrides still contain highest percentages of gaelic speakers in scotland. true of outer hebrides, slim majority speak language. scottish gaelic college, sabhal mòr ostaig, based on skye , islay.

ironically, given status of western isles last gaelic-speaking stronghold in scotland, gaelic language name islands – innse gall – means isles of foreigners ; time when under norse colonisation.