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Dual language contexts in social work practice: the Gaelic in the Comhairle nan Eilean Siar region (Outer Hebrides, Scotland) and Spanish in the Southwestern United States

2011; Taylor & Francis; Volume: 16; Issue: 2 Linguagem: Inglês

10.1080/13691457.2011.618117

1468-2664

Emilia E. Martínez-Brawley, Paz M.-B. Zorita, Frank Rennie,

Rural development and sustainability

Abstract This paper addresses the complex historical/political scenarios of Spanish-speaking people in the Southwestern USA and of Gaelic speakers in the Outer Hebrides. It examines (1) the historical background and current status of Spanish in the Southwestern USA and Gaelic in the Outer Hebrides; (2) comparative issues in relation to the use of dual languages; and (3) the challenges that communication in more than one prevalent language present to social work service providers. It is based on field research in the Southwestern USA (primarily Arizona) and the Comhairle nan Eilean Siar region (Outer Hebrides, Scotland). While these two areas might appear totally different, the commonalities created by English as the default but not always the primary language of clients in both settings make the comparisons intriguing. Esta monografía trata de los complejos escenarios histórico-políticos del hispano-hablante del Sudoeste de los EE.UU. y del hablante de gaélico en las Islas Hébridas del Oeste de Escocia. Examina: (1) la historia y la situación actual del castellano o español y del gaélico en los ámbitos mencionados; (2) temas comparativos en relación al uso de dos idiomas; y (3) los retos que el uso de más de una lengua presentan a los trabajadores sociales. Esta monografía se basa en investigaciones de campo que se llevaron a cabo en el Sudoeste de los EE.UU. y en las Islas Hébridas. Aunque estas dos zonas no parezcan tener nada en común, el uso del inglés como lengua de última instancia, aunque no sea la lengua madre, hace que las comparaciones sean interesantes. Tha am pàipear seo a toirt cunntas air an suidheachadh eachdraidheal/poilitigeach aig luchd bruidhinn Spàinntis ann an Earr-Dheas Ameireagaidh agus luchd bruidhinn na Gàidhlig anns Na h-Eileanan an Iar an Alba. Tha e toirt sùil air (1) eachdraidh a chuspair anns gach cearnaidh; (2) coimeas ann a bhith a cleachdadh dà-chànan; agus (3) an dùbhlan a th'aig seirbhisean sòisealta a tha ag obair ann am barrachd air dà chànan tùsail. Tha am paipear stèidhte air rannsachadh ann an Arizona agus Na h-Eileanan an Iar an Alba. Dà chearnaidh a tha gu math diofaraichte, ach far am bheil ceistean inntineach ag èirigh an co-cheangal ri bhi cleachdadh cànain. Keywords: SpanishGaelicSouthwestern USAOuter HebridesDual LanguagesSocial ServicesPalabras claves: CastellanoEspañolGaélicode EE.UUIslas HébridasEscociaBilingualismoServicios SocialesPriomh-fhaclan: SpàinntisGàidhligArizonaNa h-Eileanan an Iardà-chànanachSeirbhisean Sòisealta Notes 1. We appreciated the time and openness of Agnes Rennie of Comhairle nan Eilean Siar, of Ella MacBain, Assessment & Care Management Manager, Comhairle nan Eilean Siar (CnES); Murdo MacLeod, Faire; Margaret Isobel MacLeod, Faire; Erica Fraser, Faire and countless other service providers in the islands. We are grateful to the many residents of Lewis who spoke with us about language use, particularly to the young people at the Arts Centre in Stornaway. Our academic colleagues at the UWI were most generous with their time and opinions; David Lamb from Uist shared his knowledge of Gaelic and Gary Clapton and Janice McGhee at the University of Edinburgh offered their perspectives. 2. The ‘Black Legend,’ suggests Carlos Fuentes (Citation1992), refers to a vision of Spain as a cruel and sanguinary power overtaking the indigenous cultures of the Americas. This vision, says Fuentes, was promoted ‘by the alliance of Protestantism and modernism in a centuries-old opposition to Spain and things Spanish’ (p. 16). 3. ‘The Gaelic, refers to the dialects of Scottish Gaelic that have been spoken continuously for more than 200 years on Cape Breton Island and in isolated enclaves on the Nova Scotia mainland. To a lesser extent the language is also spoken on nearby Prince Edward Island, New Brunswick, Glengarry County in present-day Ontario and by emigrant Gaels living in major Canadian cities such as Toronto.’ (en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Canadian_Gaelic, retrieved May 25, 2011)