Wilson McLeod (ed.), Revitalising Gaelic in Scotland. Edinburgh: Dunedin Academic Press, 2006. Pp. xiv, 256. Pb £19.95.

Part academic volume, part manifesto, this 16-chapter collection discusses how – not whether – to revitalize Gaelic in Scotland, from perspectives including law, economics, education, and anthropology. The introduction states that provisions for the use of Gaelic are increasing, in light of the fact that Gaelic is “an essential aspect of Scottish cultural distinctiveness … connected (directly or indirectly) to the movement for Scottish self-government” (p. vii). Seven chapters are in Gaelic – none too subtle a form of status planning – but each ends with an English summary for those whose Gaelic is not up to academic standard.