Register range and choice in Scottish Gaelic

Sociolinguistic factors currently affecting register range & choice, code-switching, & other language behaviors are reviewed for speakers of Scottish Gaelic. A historical summary of Gaelic-diminishing processes is presented, noting the virtual exclusion of Gaelic from the educational system, the limited fields of Gaelic discourse, & the complexity of register choices among children. Three mixed Eng-Gaelic exchanges are reproduced & analyzed for code-switching patterns, with attention to Eng dominance in numerical (eg, commercial) transactions. The retaining of Gaelic in high-prestige contexts (such as religious & literary discourse) & uses of formal & informal address are also examined. L. Whittemore