What?
It has been decided that the Isle of Skye (which I glimpse during spells of clear weather from 50 miles away) should be given the Gaelic name Eilean a'Cheo, Isle of Mists. The official name for the place is An t-Eilean Sgitheanach [An tellan Skeeyanach], the Winged Isle, as the Norseman called it. Viewed from the sky (sic), the island has many promontories, which jut into the Minches like so many wings.
Local people, and particularly the tourism trade, have expressed misgivings over this renaming exercise, as the name Isle of Skye or just Skye is a brandname, known the world over. Pronouncing the guttural Ch in Cheo presents many English speakers with a problem as well.
When it ain't broke, don't fix it. Political correctness gone too far, is my verdict.
A similar exercise was undertaken years ago when the poor old Western Isles were renamed Na h-Eileanan Siar. Everybody else still calls them Western Isles.
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I agree with you Guido is it aint broke, don't fix it! What will these idiots come up with next. I'll bet they get a wage for doing it too!
ReplyDeleteJeanie
I think it's silly when things are renamed on a whim.
ReplyDeleteLori