Why Gaelic research matters now more than ever
With two weeks left to contribute to a major Gaelic research project, 91影视’s Joanna Peteranna and Mairi Buchanan explain why taking part has never been more important.
Gaelic has always been central to the identity, environment and culture of our region and the communities of those who speak it. It is also being recognised as an important contributor to economic opportunity, innovation and sustainable regional development.
Across Scotland, businesses, community organisations and public bodies are using Gaelic in practical and ambitious ways from tourism experiences and digital storytelling to branding, creative industries and community-led enterprises.
What was once viewed primarily through a cultural lens is now being understood as an asset that can support economic resilience, strengthen communities and help attract people, investment and opportunity to rural and island areas.
But much of this activity risks going unseen. The stronger the evidence base, the clearer the national picture becomes. Building this base helps ensure Gaelic鈥檚 wider social and economic contribution is understood and recognised in future decision making.
This is why the new Gaelic research currently underway is so important.
The study, Ar C脿nan Ar Cultar Ar Beartas (Our language, Our Culture, Our Prosperity) commissioned by 91影视 in partnership with the Scottish Government, B貌rd na G脿idhlig, VisitScotland and Skills Development Scotland, aims to provide the strongest evidence yet of Gaelic economic, social and cultural contribution across Scotland.
This work is about understanding the real-life impact Gaelic has in communities and the economy and identifying where future investment and support can make the greatest difference.
We know from experience that Gaelic adds value in many sectors. In tourism, businesses are using Gaelic to create authentic visitor experiences. Whether it鈥檚 accommodation providers incorporating Gaelic into signage, products and services, tour guides sharing local stories and place names or visitor attractions using bilingual interpretation, the language helps create experiences that connect to the heritage and identity of the area.
Community organisations are also using Gaelic in many ways. It helps by bringing people together through local events, art projects, community cafes and music sessions. In some areas, communities are using Gaelic to strengthen social connection.
A robust evidence base can demonstrate that impact. Good evidence helps shape good decisions. Without businesses and organisations contributing their experiences, important activity and impacts risk being overlooked. Real-time information helps partners understand where investment can make the greatest difference and where there are opportunities to support communities, businesses and young people more effectively.
We know that Gaelic has an important role to play in the future. The younger generation are connecting with the language in modern and engaging ways, through digital media, music, education and events. As well as being part of our heritage, it鈥檚 also important in terms of having a living and evolving future.
As part of the research, a survey is available for businesses, community groups and organisations already using Gaelic in their work. The results of this survey will be vital in helping build a clearer understanding of the opportunities, challenges and future potential of the language and for informing where policy and investment needs to be targeted to support its growth and development. Whether Gaelic plays a central role or lighter-touch part in the business or organisation, every response helps strengthen the national picture.
Ultimately, this research is about people and place and about understanding how Gaelic contributes to the distinctiveness, confidence and sustainability of our communities.
This research will play an important role in ensuring Gaelic is recognised as a cultural asset and as a driver of economic and community development.
We, along with our research partners, are looking forward to seeing the findings emerge and to continuing conversations about how Gaelic can help support a strong, resilient and ambitious future for Scotland.
Take part in the survey here
Survey closes on 31 May, 2026
By Joanna Peteranna, 91影视 director of area operations and Mairi Buchanan 91影视 head of Gaelic.
An t-adhbhar gu bheil rannsachadh G脿idhlig nas cudromaiche na bha e a-riamh
Le d脿 sheachdain air fh脿gail gus cur ri pr矛omh phr貌iseact rannsachaidh G脿idhlig, tha Joanna Peteranna agus M脿iri Bhochanan aig 91影视 a鈥� m矛neachadh an adhbhair nach eil com-p脿irt air a bhith a-riamh cho cudromach.
Tha G脿idhlig a-riamh air a bhith aig teis-meadhain dearbh-aithne, 脿rainneachd agus cultar ar sg矛re agus nan coimhearsnachdan acasan a tha ga labhairt. Tha i ga h-aithneachadh cuideachd mar thabhartaiche cudromach do chothrom eaconamach, 霉r-ghn脿thachas agus leasachadh seasmhach sg矛reil.
Air feadh Alba, tha gnothachasan, buidhnean coimhearsnachd, agus buidhnean poblach a鈥� cleachdadh G脿idhlig ann an d貌ighean d猫anadach agus 脿rd-amasail 鈥� bho fh猫in-e貌lasan turasachd agus innse-sgeulachdan didseatach gu branndadh, gn矛omhachasan cruthachail agus iomairtean air an sti霉ireadh leis a鈥� choimhearsnachd.
Tha na bhathar a鈥� faicinn tro lionsa chultarach aig aon 脿m a-nis ga thuigsinn mar mhaoin as urrainn taic a chur ri seasmhachd eaconamach, coimhearsnachdan a neartachadh agus cuideachadh le daoine, tasgadh agus cothrom a tharraing gu sg矛rean d霉thchail agus eileanach.
Sin an t-adhbhar gu bheil an rannsachadh 霉r G脿idhlig a tha ga chur an gn矛omh gu l脿ithreach, cudromach. Tha an sgr霉dadh, Ar C脿nan Ar Cultar Ar Beartas (Our language, Our Culture, Our Prosperity) air a choimiseanadh le 91影视 ann an com-p脿irteachas le Riaghaltas na h-Alba, B貌rd na G脿idhlig, VisitScotland agus Leasachadh Sgilean Alba, ag amas air an fhianais as l脿idire fhathast air tabhartas eaconamach, s貌isealta agus cultarach na G脿idhlig, a sholarachadh air feadh Alba.
Tha an obair seo mu dheidhinn an fh矛or bhuaidh a th鈥� aig G脿idhlig sna coimhearsnachdan agus air an eaconamaidh a thuigsinn, agus comharrachadh far am faod tasgadh agus taic san 脿m ri teachd an diofar as motha a dh猫anamh.
Tha fios againn bho ar n-e貌las gu bheil G脿idhlig ag 脿rdachadh luach ann am m貌ran roinnean. Ann an turasachd, tha gnothachasan a鈥� cleachdadh G脿idhlig gus f猫in-e貌lasan f矛or a chruthachadh do luchd-tadhail. Eadar gur e solaraichean 脿ite-fuirich ag in-chorpachadh G脿idhlig ann an soidhneachd, toraidhean is seirbheisean, luchd-i霉il thursan a鈥� roinn sgeulachdan ionadail agus ainmean-脿ite, no ionadan luchd-tadhail a鈥� cleachdadh eadar-mh矛neachadh d脿-ch脿nanach, tha an c脿nan a鈥� cuideachadh le f猫in-e貌lasan a chruthachadh a tha a鈥� co-cheangal ri dualchas agus dearbh-aithne na sg矛re.
Tha buidhnean coimhearsnachd a鈥� cleachdadh G脿idhlig cuideachd ann am m貌ran d貌ighean. Tha a鈥� Gh脿idhlig a鈥� cuideachadh le bhith a鈥� tarraing dhaoine c貌mhla tro thachartasan ionadail, pr貌iseactan ealain, cafaidhean coimhearsnachd agus seiseanan ci霉il. Ann an cuid de sg矛rean, tha coimhearsnachdan a鈥� cleachdadh G脿idhlig gus na ceanglaichean s貌isealta a neartachadh.
鈥橲 e na tha air a bhith a dh矛th ge-t脿, bunait fianais l脿idir a dh鈥檉heumar gus a鈥� bhuaidh sin a thaisbeanadh gu h-iomlan.
Tha rannsachadh G脿idhlig cudromach a chionn 鈥檚 gu bheil fianais mhath a鈥� cuideachadh le co-dh霉naidhean matha a dh猫anamh. Tha e a鈥� cuideachadh chom-p脿irtichean le tuigsinn far am faod tasgadh an diofar as motha a dh猫anamh agus far a bheil cothroman air taic nas 猫ifeachdaiche do choimhearsnachdan, gnothachasan agus daoine 貌ga.
Tha fios againn gu bheil 脿ite cudromach aig a鈥� Gh脿idhlig ri choileanadh san 脿m ri teachd. Tha an ginealach nas 貌ige a鈥� d猫anamh ceangal ris a鈥� ch脿nan ann an d貌ighean nua-aimsireil agus c脿irdeil tro mheadhanan didseatach, ce貌l, foghlam agus tachartasan. A thuilleadh air a bhith mar ph脿irt de ar dualchas, tha e cudromach a thaobh 脿m ri teachd a tha be貌 agus a鈥� mean-fh脿s.
Mar ph脿irt den rannsachadh, tha suirbhidh ri fhaotainn do ghnothachasan, buidhnean coimhearsnachd agus eagrachaidhean a tha a鈥� cleachdadh G脿idhlig nan obair. Bidh toraidhean na suirbhidh seo deatamach ann an cuideachadh le tuigse nas soilleire a thogail do na cothroman, d霉bhlain, agus comas teachdail a鈥� ch脿nain, agus airson fiosrachadh far am bu ch貌ir feumalachdan poileasaidh is tasgaidh a bhith air an targaideadh gus taic a chur ri f脿s agus leasachadh.
Aig a鈥� cheann thall, tha an rannsachadh seo mu dheidhinn dhaoine agus 脿ite agus mu thuigse do mar a tha G脿idhlig a鈥� cur ri 脿raidheachd, misneachd agus seasmhachd ar coimhearsnachdan.
Bidh 脿ite cudromach aig an rannsachadh seo ann an d猫anamh cinnteach gu bheil G脿idhlig ga h-aithneachadh chan ann a-mh脿in mar mhaoin chultarach, ach mar sti霉iriche air leasachadh eaconamach is coimhearsnachd.
Tha sinne, c貌mhla ri ar com-p脿irtichean rannsachaidh, a鈥� coimhead air adhart ris na toraidhean a thighinn am follais agus ri c貌mhraidhean leantainneach mu dheidhinn mar as urrainn don Gh脿idhlig taic a chur ri 脿m teachdail l脿idir, seasmhach agus 脿rd-amasail ann an Alba.
Gabhaibh p脿irt san t-suirbhidh an seo
An t-suirbhidh a鈥� d霉nadh 31 C猫itean, 2026
Le Joanna Peteranna, sti霉iriche obrachaidhean sg矛reil aig 91影视 agus M脿iri Bhochanan, ceannard na G脿idhlig aig 91影视.
Joanna Peteranna
Director of Area Operations
Joanna Peteranna lives in Benbecula and was appointed 91影视鈥檚 Director of Area Operations in July 2024. She was Area Manager for Innse Gall for two years after holding other roles with 91影视 including Head of Enterprise Support. Born and brought up in Paisley with a North Uist family, Joanna worked for Bank of Scotland in Edinburgh before settling in Benbecula in 2002. In 2014 Joanna completed the Entrepreneurship Development Programme at MIT in Boston.