One of the most distinctive features of the Outer Hebrides is the prevalence of the Gaelic language. With the exception of the areas around Stornoway in Lewis, the majority of the population are native Gaelic speakers. More than anywhere else the Outer Hebrides remains the stronghold of this ancient Celtic language which shares a common linguistic root with Irish Gaelic and Manx (and to go further back into history, with Welsh, Cornish and Breton).The Celtic tribes, migrating from middle - Europe, were not the first inhabitants of the Outer Hebrides, but their influence has been pervasive, outlasting even the strong Norse culture.
Despite more than two hundred years of suppression, condemnation and official neglect, the Gaelic language is still vibrant in the modern world. Though it often appears to be under threat from the omnipresence of English language television and publications, Gaelic is still in everyday use as the first language for most of the islands' population. Since the establishment of Comhairle nan Eilean (the Western Isles Council) the encouragement given to Gaelic through the formal education system appears to have reversed the decline of recent years. The last decade has seen the strengthening of Gaelic literature, music, the arts and social studies most recently through the development of radio and television broadcasting activities. The richness of the Gaelic language and the culture which supports it has also led to a dramatic rise in the numbers of Gaelic learners so that Gaelic today is probably one of the fastest growing second languages in Europe.
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