Council says Isle of Skye will keep English name
Highland Council yesterday dismissed reports that
the name of Skye is to disappear this week to be replaced by its Gaelic name, Eilean a' Cheò.
The council moved to reassure the public and wider business community that
the name of Skye would remain after its service centre received hundreds of telephone calls yesterday expressing concern at media coverage which claimed the new name, pronounced "ellan-uh-cheeyaw", will be formally adopted on Thursday when local authority elections are held.
A statement issued by the council yesterday said: "Eilean a' Cheò is one of 22 multi-member wards, which have been created as the result of the move to voting in The Highland Council election on Thursday by proportional representation, using the single transferable vote.
"It covers the islands of Skye and Raasay and has a population of 9600 and will be represented by four councillors. Eilean a' Cheò is simply the name of the electoral division. Many places in the Highlands are known by their English and Gaelic names, such as Portree (Port Righ)." The statement added: "Eilean a' Cheò was recommended by Skye and Lochalsh councillors as the name for the new electoral division and approved by the full council in September 2005, to reflect the importance of Gaelic on Skye.
"The council has also identified names for another 21 multi-member wards, which range from North West and Central Sutherland and Landward Caithness to Fort William and Ardnamurchan and Aird and Loch Ness.
"There is no intention to change road signage or literature. The island will continue to be referred to as Skye. Skye will remain on the tourist map and we don't envisage any problems for tourists who want to come to the area to sample its scenery, culture and heritage and perhaps find out more about Gaelic."
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Posted by: George on 11:14pm Mon 30 Apr 07
I think the Gaelic lobby within Highland Council has been made to realize that this attempt to foist a Gaelic name change on the island was a step too far. Gaelic is a part of Skye’s heritage, but the extent to which it is relevant today is much less than councillors would have us believe. Hundreds of thousands of people visit Skye each year for the beautiful scenery and to sample the good local hospitality; not to risk serious damage to the larynx trying to say the name of the place.
I think the Gaelic lobby within Highland Council has been made to realize that this attempt to foist a Gaelic name change on the island was a step too far. Gaelic is a part of Skye’s heritage, but the extent to which it is relevant today is much less than councillors would have us believe. Hundreds of thousands of people visit Skye each year for the beautiful scenery and to sample the good local hospitality; not to risk serious damage to the larynx trying to say the name of the place.
Posted by: Cruithneach on 11:44pm Mon 30 Apr 07
The island should be known by both names ie "Skye" and "An t-Eilean Sgitheanach". As per the response from from Comhairle Na Gaidhealtachd/ Highland Council, the "Eilean A' Cheo" council ward doesn't solely represent Skye, but also includes Raasay.
But honestly, some people must think tourists are absolutely stupid from the reaction of some. Did people have difficulty when Peking was renamed Beijing? Were Chinese restaurant owners up in arms as they had to rename "Peking Duck" on the menu to "Beijing Duck"? Of course not!!! Everyone knows (or must people anyway) that it is the same place. It still stayed Peking Duck on the menu!!!!
There are plenty of places throughout the world where the English placename is not the same as the placename of actual town or city. As an example, do people have difficulty going to Munich or Moscow? Munich and Moscow are anglecised versions of the name just like Skye is an anglecisation of the Gaelic form.
And George (1st comment), "Eilean A' Cheo" isn't that difficult to pronounce!!!! Most placenames in Scotland come from Gaelic.
The island should be known by both names ie "Skye" and "An t-Eilean Sgitheanach". As per the response from from Comhairle Na Gaidhealtachd/ Highland Council, the "Eilean A' Cheo" council ward doesn't solely represent Skye, but also includes Raasay.
But honestly, some people must think tourists are absolutely stupid from the reaction of some. Did people have difficulty when Peking was renamed Beijing? Were Chinese restaurant owners up in arms as they had to rename "Peking Duck" on the menu to "Beijing Duck"? Of course not!!! Everyone knows (or must people anyway) that it is the same place. It still stayed Peking Duck on the menu!!!!
There are plenty of places throughout the world where the English placename is not the same as the placename of actual town or city. As an example, do people have difficulty going to Munich or Moscow? Munich and Moscow are anglecised versions of the name just like Skye is an anglecisation of the Gaelic form.
And George (1st comment), "Eilean A' Cheo" isn't that difficult to pronounce!!!! Most placenames in Scotland come from Gaelic.
Posted by: Tom McAlister on 12:51am Tue 1 May 07
.
George on 11:14pm.
There is a h*ll of a lot of man made mist being created on God's Island. Is it not just grand that there's a foghorn to warn folk of the danger.
Is that yerself then Mr Murray? aye, ah believe so. Gies peace.
.
.
George on 11:14pm.
There is a h*ll of a lot of man made mist being created on God's Island. Is it not just grand that there's a foghorn to warn folk of the danger.
Is that yerself then Mr Murray? aye, ah believe so. Gies peace.
.
Posted by: Toirdhealbhach Mac Toirdhealbhaigh, Dun Toirdhealbhaigh on 8:53am Tue 1 May 07
George's comment above is typical of what linguists describe as the 'ideology of contempt'. The idea that stigmatised languages sound like animals grunting was a key feature of colonialism - if they sounded like animals you could treat them like animals. 'George' talks about 'damage to the larynx'; a 16th century Lowland poet thought Gaelic sounded worse than ****. Hilarious stuff. This was the ideology that brought us the Clearances.
There never was any attempt to foist a Gaelic name change on the island; did 'George' not read the article? And does he not realise that the Gaelic name An t-Eilean Sgitheanach came first and it was the 'English name change' that was imposed?
George's comment above is typical of what linguists describe as the 'ideology of contempt'. The idea that stigmatised languages sound like animals grunting was a key feature of colonialism - if they sounded like animals you could treat them like animals. 'George' talks about 'damage to the larynx'; a 16th century Lowland poet thought Gaelic sounded worse than ****. Hilarious stuff. This was the ideology that brought us the Clearances.
There never was any attempt to foist a Gaelic name change on the island; did 'George' not read the article? And does he not realise that the Gaelic name An t-Eilean Sgitheanach came first and it was the 'English name change' that was imposed?
Posted by: John(1) on 9:30am Tue 1 May 07
Good to see the voice of the silent majority finally being heard. Like most people elsewhere in the country the people of Skye speak English and are not obsessed, like councillors, of introducing Gaelic everywhere. My only concern is that had we not been so near an election, the reports of yesterday regarding the permanence of the name change would not have been so readily dismissed by Highland Council.
Good to see the voice of the silent majority finally being heard. Like most people elsewhere in the country the people of Skye speak English and are not obsessed, like councillors, of introducing Gaelic everywhere. My only concern is that had we not been so near an election, the reports of yesterday regarding the permanence of the name change would not have been so readily dismissed by Highland Council.
Posted by: scotsman on 9:34am Tue 1 May 07
Don't see the problem in having both names. wales have it, ireland have it. after all the reason we don't have it is due to westminster attempts to stamp out all scottishness and scots language (not just gaelic) over the past 300yrs. Ask yersel why as a child you're admonished for not pronouncing yer ts!!!! They have been very effective going by the number of people like george about.
Don't see the problem in having both names. wales have it, ireland have it. after all the reason we don't have it is due to westminster attempts to stamp out all scottishness and scots language (not just gaelic) over the past 300yrs. Ask yersel why as a child you're admonished for not pronouncing yer ts!!!! They have been very effective going by the number of people like george about.
Posted by: Leedon on 10:38am Tue 1 May 07
I agree that George's comment was offensive and unnecessary. I live on the edge of Skye...I can see it from my window, and I cannot speak Gaelic. It is a beautiful language which is part of the landscape and spirit of this most wonderful of places, and those of us who are honoured live or visit here, should be aware that this is a great privilege. Skye is a home to thousands of people, their heritage. It isnt simply a holiday resort for fun-seekers.
I agree that George's comment was offensive and unnecessary. I live on the edge of Skye...I can see it from my window, and I cannot speak Gaelic. It is a beautiful language which is part of the landscape and spirit of this most wonderful of places, and those of us who are honoured live or visit here, should be aware that this is a great privilege. Skye is a home to thousands of people, their heritage. It isnt simply a holiday resort for fun-seekers.
Posted by: Neil 9% Growth Party, Glasgow on 11:16am Tue 1 May 07
What exactly is the point of changing Portree to Port Righ. It is the same word in both languages merely that one is spelled in ye olde traditional Gaelic way.
What exactly is the point of changing Portree to Port Righ. It is the same word in both languages merely that one is spelled in ye olde traditional Gaelic way.
Posted by: Murray on 11:52am Tue 1 May 07
This is quite a climb-down by Highland Council. The name-change was slipped in 8 months ago and councillors must have felt quite secure about it. Hopefully this climb-down will lead to a re-evaluation of some of the Council’s other daft and expensive Gaelic policies.
This is quite a climb-down by Highland Council. The name-change was slipped in 8 months ago and councillors must have felt quite secure about it. Hopefully this climb-down will lead to a re-evaluation of some of the Council’s other daft and expensive Gaelic policies.
Posted by: pondskater, Ireland on 1:14pm Tue 1 May 07
Surely changing back every Scottish placename to the language in which it originated would be a sensible step; then we wouldn't be faced with the ignominy of transliterating a Gaelic name meaning "road of the king" as "Rottenrow". Gaelic is also rather more regularly spelt than English, so we would all know how to pronounce them. Where a name originates in Lowland Scots or English, keep it in that by all means, but the fact is that many don't. How the ignorant are allowed to get away with their portrayal of what was previously a national culture as a marginal or foreign one is simply mind-boggling. The self-haters should get out and get some culture before they start to sound like Ulster Unionists or, dare I say it, the English to whom they bear such an uncanny resemblance.
Surely changing back every Scottish placename to the language in which it originated would be a sensible step; then we wouldn't be faced with the ignominy of transliterating a Gaelic name meaning "road of the king" as "Rottenrow". Gaelic is also rather more regularly spelt than English, so we would all know how to pronounce them. Where a name originates in Lowland Scots or English, keep it in that by all means, but the fact is that many don't. How the ignorant are allowed to get away with their portrayal of what was previously a national culture as a marginal or foreign one is simply mind-boggling. The self-haters should get out and get some culture before they start to sound like Ulster Unionists or, dare I say it, the English to whom they bear such an uncanny resemblance.
Posted by: traveler, Canada on 5:35pm Fri 4 May 07
I am pleased whenever I see Gaelic anywhere. But I think that some people have misunderstood that the name change is rather insignificant. The name change is for an electoral riding/district, not the kind of thing that most people care about or take notice of. There is nothing in the reports about placename changes. I'd bet that many voters around the world don't remember the name of their voting district anyway.
In any case, the Gaelic for Isle of Skye is of course [italic]An t-Eilean Sgitheanach[/italic] , with [italic]Eilean a' Cheò[/italic] being a poetic usage. It's a nice use of this alternate name for the region and should be lauded by any who take some pride in culture and heritage. It was a small nod to the history and literature of the region and one which builds rather than destroys anything. Well done.
I am pleased whenever I see Gaelic anywhere. But I think that some people have misunderstood that the name change is rather insignificant. The name change is for an electoral riding/district, not the kind of thing that most people care about or take notice of. There is nothing in the reports about placename changes. I'd bet that many voters around the world don't remember the name of their voting district anyway.
In any case, the Gaelic for Isle of Skye is of course
An t-Eilean Sgitheanach , with
Eilean a' Cheò being a poetic usage. It's a nice use of this alternate name for the region and should be lauded by any who take some pride in culture and heritage. It was a small nod to the history and literature of the region and one which builds rather than destroys anything. Well done.
Posted by: John(1) on 12:53pm Mon 7 May 07
traveler
I do not believe that I have misunderstood the motive behind the name change at all. Whether the name change is insignificant or not, the point is it is unnecessary. The name change was politically motivated and clearly went against the wishes of the people who live on Skye. Skye is an island with but a few Gaelic speakers who are widely distributed throughout the island. Unlike the Western Isles, Skye cannot be said to have any place where Gaelic functions as a community language. When will councillors realize that they should be spending their time (at our expense) on more serious issues affecting the island.
traveler
I do not believe that I have misunderstood the motive behind the name change at all. Whether the name change is insignificant or not, the point is it is unnecessary. The name change was politically motivated and clearly went against the wishes of the people who live on Skye. Skye is an island with but a few Gaelic speakers who are widely distributed throughout the island. Unlike the Western Isles, Skye cannot be said to have any place where Gaelic functions as a community language. When will councillors realize that they should be spending their time (at our expense) on more serious issues affecting the island.
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