Changes

In 400AD the kingdom of Dál Riata emerged in the western Highlands and began to aggressively expand, conquering land in Ulster and more pertinently Scotland where it spread the Goidelic language. Dál Riatan expansion was checked at around 600AD, but 200 years later Gaelic kings took control of Pictish kingdoms through marriage and merged the new acquisitions with Dál Riata to form ''Rìoghachd na h-Alba'' - the kingdom of Scotland. This kingdom was the platform by which Gàidhlig came to dominate Scottish language north of the river forth and also in the Southern Uplands.

In 400AD the kingdom of Dál Riata emerged in the western Highlands and began to aggressively expand, conquering land in Ulster and more pertinently Scotland where it spread the Goidelic language. Dál Riatan expansion was checked at around 600AD, but 200 years later Gaelic kings took control of Pictish kingdoms through marriage and merged the new acquisitions with Dál Riata to form ''Rìoghachd na h-Alba'' - the kingdom of Scotland. This kingdom was the platform by which Gàidhlig came to dominate Scottish language north of the river forth and also in the Southern Uplands.

After the year 1200AD Gàidhlig began to be superseded in the south by Lowland Scots but remained dominant in the Highland. This dominance in the Highlands began to slip during the Highland clearances when Gaelic culture was severely repressed. today the language has a strong presence only in the Hebrides, though it is also present with smaller influence across most of the Highlands, isolated parts of the Southern Uplands and the city of Glasgow.

After the year 1200AD Gàidhlig began to be superseded in the south by Lowland Scots but remained dominant in the Highland. This dominance in the Highlands began to slip during the Highland clearances when Gaelic culture was severely repressed. Today the language has a strong presence only in the Hebrides, though it is also present with smaller influence across most of the Highlands, isolated parts of the Southern Uplands and the city of Glasgow.

==Current status==

==Current status==

*monitoring, and reporting to the Scottish Ministers on, the implementation of the European Charter for Regional or Minority Languages dated 5 November 1992 in relation to the Gaelic language.<ref>http://www.opsi.gov.uk/legislation/scotland/acts2005/asp_20050007_en_1#1</ref>

*monitoring, and reporting to the Scottish Ministers on, the implementation of the European Charter for Regional or Minority Languages dated 5 November 1992 in relation to the Gaelic language.<ref>http://www.opsi.gov.uk/legislation/scotland/acts2005/asp_20050007_en_1#1</ref>

In addition to the creation of ''Bòrd na Gàidhlig'', the Government of Scotland is introducing Bilingual road signs through the highland and islands regions of Scotland and encouraging Gàidhlig language lessons in schools as well as founding Gàidhlig medium schools where Gàidhlig is the primary language of learning. Gàidhlig is now also a formal language of communication within the [[EU]], although this doesn't grant full recognition to Gàidhlig in the EU is is seen as a step on the way to potential official status for Gàidhlig.  

In addition to the creation of ''Bòrd na Gàidhlig'', the Government of Scotland is introducing bilingual road signs through the Highlands and Islands regions of Scotland and encouraging Gàidhlig language lessons in schools, as well as founding Gàidhlig medium schools where Gàidhlig is the primary language of learning. Gàidhlig is now also a formal language of communication within the [[EU]], although this doesn't grant full recognition to Gàidhlig in the EU is is seen as a step on the way to potential official status for Gàidhlig.  

In September 2008 the [[BBC]] launched a Gàidhlig television channel called BBC ALBA.

In September 2008 the [[BBC]] launched a Gàidhlig television channel called BBC ALBA.