Currently, Gaelic speech recognition systems struggle to transcribe younger speakers, whose speech patterns often differ from those of heritage speakers. ÈIST addresses this with its dedicated subproject, Recognising Children’s Speech, which will soon gather data from Gaelic Medium Education schools and units across Scotland. This new data will ensure that the speech of young learners is represented accurately.

The implications of this work are profound. Enhanced speech recognition can transform educational tools, such as TextHelp’s Read&Write, providing more effective support for literacy and learning among children. It can also improve accessibility for Gaelic speakers of all ages, especially those with literacy challenges or hearing impairment, providing critical tools for communication and inclusion.