Mother Tongue Education and the Law: A Legal Review of Bilingualism with Reference to Scottish Gaelic

Abstract

This paper focuses on the legal framework supporting the development of bilingual education. Following a short overview of salient minority language issues, relevant initiatives from international law (the United Nations) and regional law (the Council of Europe and the European Communities) establish the legal parameters of its promotion. The practical ramifications of this are illustrated with reference to Scottish Gaelic. It is concluded that though the law can throw a lifeline to such a language, it cannot force the policy-makers and native speakers to take positive remedial action.