Gaelic ambulance

[diy_fun_uk]

Was driving home yesterday and passed an NHS ambulance. On the back doors it had the word 'ambulance' in English, however on the drivers side under the windows it had a few words in Gaelic but with no English above or underneath. So as a non Gaelic speaker I didn't have a clue what the writing was.

Scottish Government is committed to preserving and promoting Gaelic. Fine. However, given it's regularly used by ~1% of the Scottish population, I object to seeing Gaelic with no English translation. If anything, I'd argue the writing should be in English and then in Gaelic but with a slightly smaller text.

 

[motorbiking]

I'm guessing the 1% can also speak fluent "English" as well as any other resident of Scotland? So that would have been a committee, a proposal, a tender blah blah - waste of money.

 

[conny]

So long as it's clearly an ambulance, and treats all users with the same care and devotion, I wouldn't care whatever other language may be written on it.
When I lived in Liverpool we would often see Welsh ambulances in the city. Admittedly they were usually bringing patients from somewhere in Wales for specialist treatment, but I'm sure if there was a major emergency they would participate.

 

[diy_fun_uk]

So long as it's clearly an ambulance, and treats all users with the same care and devotion, I wouldn't care whatever other language may be written on it.
When I lived in Liverpool we would often see Welsh ambulances in the city. Admittedly they were usually bringing patients from somewhere in Wales for specialist treatment, but I'm sure if there was a major emergency they would participate.

The thing is yes, it was obviously an ambulance of some description, however there was no way of knowing what the writing on the side meant. I suppose the same thing might have been on the other side in English.

In the grand scheme of things no, it's not important, however given around 60,000 folk out of close to 6 million up here speak it, I'd argue it should never be prominent over the English description of things.

 

[Stivino]

I think the polis cars also have Police written on them in Gaelic too.
I read recently that there are no Gaelic speakers in Britain who can't also speak English.

 

[Deleted member 294929]

I'm guessing the 1% can also speak fluent "English" as well as any other resident of Scotland? So that would have been a committee, a proposal, a tender blah blah - waste of money.

Surly you mean 1% Scots speak fluent English?

 

[transam]

In the years to come UK signs will also have to be in
Arabic ?
IBo ?
Twi ?
Bengali
Albanian ?
Wolof ?

Ect

 

[noseall]

In the years to come UK signs will also have to be in
Arabic ?
IBo ?
Twi ?
Bengali
Albanian ?
Wolof ?

Ect

As long as trans is not in charge of the spelling.

 

[Odds]

 

[Vinty]

Government spends millions on Gaelic education in N. Ireland.
Don't see the sense of teaching Gaelic to people who can't speak English properly.

 

[Stivino]

Government spends millions on Gaelic education in N. Ireland.
Don't see the sense of teaching Gaelic to people who can't speak English properly.

There are a lot of English people who can't speak proper English, never mind the rest of us.

 

[Odds]

Government spends millions on Gaelic education in N. Ireland.
Don't see the sense of teaching Gaelic to people who can't speak English properly.

How much does the government spend on teaching other languages, such as French or German - or re you just griping about the Gaelic on a political point of view?

 

[diy_fun_uk]

I just find it slightly farcical. Yes it's Scotland, yes it has a traditional language from decades/centuries gone by, however around 1% of folk regularly speak it present day. So to have signs etc with Gaelic as the dominant language is to me ridiculous. We have a local park with a welcome sign, it says welcome in Gaelic in larger font, then welcome in English underneath in slightly smaller font.

As I say, of course it's no biggy in the grand scheme of things, I just find it illogical. Fine, have Gaelic on the signs etc, but in smaller font given hardly anyone uses it.

 

[transam]

They were on about interpreters on the radio this week

cases of people in court or in plod stations or at other places who cannot speak English very well and rely on designated interpreters who are basically s hit e at the lauguage they are supposed to be proficient in (?)

one case of some mother attempting to get a court order / help against her violent husband

the interpreter basically f ed it up big time

total disgrace tbh

 

[Stivino]

given hardly anyone uses it.

I think that's the whole point, Holyrood want to keep it alive.
There's a Gaelic school in Edinburgh.