Languages of Scotland

Scottish Gaelic (Gaidhlig) is one of four Celtic languages still used and is closely related to Irish Gaelic - the language was introduced from Ireland around the third century BC. From the fifth to twelfth centuries Gaelic gradually became the national language being spoken throughout all of Scotland (apart from Orkney and Shetland). However, at the end of this period, it's use started to decline and it is now more restricted to parts of the Highlands and islands, especially the Outer Hebrides

The Scots language, also known as lallans, gradually replaced Gaelic in Scotland, especially in the lowlands - it is also known as Lowland Scots. It is derived from Anglo-Saxon, a Germanic language that was spoken in England from c.1000 AD, with influence from Norse and other languages - including Gaelic.

Norn, a form of Old Norse, was another language used, mainly in the Orkney Islands and Shetland Islands. Its use diminished from the fifteenth century and eventually ceased - possibly some time around the 18th century. As with other languages some parts of it have been incorporated into the English we now use. A dialect of Norse was used on the mainland, such as in Caithness, but its use ceased before that of Norn.

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