Canadian Gaelic
| Canadian Gaelic | |
|---|---|
| A' Ghàidhlig Chanadach | |
| Pronunciation | əˈɣaːlɪkʲ ˈxanət̪əx |
| Native to | Canada |
| Region | Cape Breton Island, Nova Scotia |
|
Native speakers
|
2,320 (2011 census) |
|
Indo-European
|
|
| Latin (Gaelic alphabet) | |
| Language codes | |
| ISO 639-3 | – |
| Glottolog | None |
| Linguasphere | 50-AAA-acp |
Distribution throughout the Maritimes c.1850
|
|
There are many different regional dialects of Scottish Gaelic that have been spoken in communities across Canada. All of these dialects have their origins in the Highlands and Islands of Scotland, although some have become effectively dormant since the time of emigration. Atlantic Canada is the only area in North America where Gaelic continues to be spoken as a community language and even there the situation of the language is very precarious.
Gaels settled in Nova Scotia commencing in 1773 with the arrival of the Ship Hector and continuing up until the 1850s. Gaelic has been spoken for 241 years in Nova Scotia: on Cape Breton Island and on the northeastern Nova Scotia mainland.
The Gaelic cultural identity community is a vibrant part of Nova Scotia's diverse peoples and communities. Thousands of Nova Scotians attend Gaelic-related activities and events annually including: language workshops and immersions, milling frolics, square dances, fiddle and piping sessions, concerts and festivals. Up until about the turn of the 20th century, Gaelic was widely spoken on eastern Prince Edward Island (PEI). In the 2011 Canadian Census, 10 individuals in PEI cited that their mother tongue was a Gaelic language, with over 90 claiming to speak a Gaelic language.
Gaels, their language and culture have influenced the heritage of Glengarry County and other regions in present-day Ontario, where many Highland Scots settled commencing in the 18th century, and to a much lesser extent the provinces of New Brunswick, Newfoundland and Labrador (especially the Codroy Valley), Manitoba and Alberta. Gaelic-speaking poets in communities across Canada have produced a large and significant branch of Gaelic literature comparable to that of Scotland itself.
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