Why are Irish and Scottish people unwilling to revive their Gaelic languages to make them their everyday usage languages the way Israelis did?

The reluctance of Irish and Scottish people to revive their Gaelic languages as everyday usage languages, unlike the successful revival of Hebrew in Israel, can be attributed to several factors:

Historical and Cultural Context

1. Colonial Legacy: Both Irish and Scottish Gaelic faced significant suppression during English colonization, which imposed English as the dominant language for administration, education, and social mobility. This historical context has contributed to the marginalization of Gaelic languages and cultures25.

2. Cultural Identity and Language Use: In Ireland, despite official promotion, there is a mixed perception of the Irish language. Some people feel it was "forced" upon them, leading to resentment, while others lack active use despite passive comprehension4. In Scotland, Gaelic speakers often use the language within specific communities rather than in broader public life4.

Revival Efforts and Challenges

1. Education and Institutional Support: Unlike Israel, where Hebrew was systematically promoted through education and government policies from the early days of Zionism, Gaelic languages have faced challenges in achieving widespread institutional support. However, recent efforts in Scotland, such as the Gaelic Language (Scotland) Act 2005 and Gaelic medium education, have improved the language's status35.

2. Socioeconomic Factors: The decline of traditional Gaelic-speaking communities due to urbanization and migration has reduced the language's everyday use. Additionally, globalization and technological advancements have further marginalized Gaelic, as English is often seen as more practical for communication25.

3. Cultural and Linguistic Pride: While there is a growing sense of cultural pride in Gaelic languages, it often does not translate into widespread everyday use. In contrast, the revival of Hebrew was deeply tied to national identity and the creation of a new state, providing a strong impetus for its adoption as a primary language45.

Comparison with Hebrew Revival

• National Identity: The revival of Hebrew was closely linked to the formation of the Israeli state and a strong national identity movement. This provided a unified purpose for language revival that is not as pronounced in Ireland or Scotland5.

• Systematic Promotion: Hebrew was systematically promoted through education, media, and government policies from the early days of Zionism. While similar efforts are underway for Gaelic languages, they face more complex historical and cultural challenges35.

In summary, while there are efforts to revive Gaelic languages, the historical, cultural, and socioeconomic contexts differ significantly from the Israeli experience. The success of Hebrew's revival was deeply tied to national identity and systematic promotion, factors that are not as strongly aligned in Ireland and Scotland.