The Scottish Government has pledged its determination to support Gaelic.
The deputy first minister stressed "hostility to Gaelic has no place in Scotland.
Backing the language was "simply fair treatment," John Swinney said as he delivered the Angus Macleod Memorial lecture during the Mod in Stornoway.
He was making his first major speech on the subject since assuming ministerial responsibility for the Gaelic language after the election.
Mr Swinney said: "I know many of you have encountered hostility to Gaelic.
"These views on Gaelic are just as groundless and unwelcome as they are inaccurate and misleading.
"They betray a poor understanding of our country, its history and the respect we should show to minority communities.
"My very clear view on this is that this hostility to Gaelic has no place in Scotland.
Mr Swinney explained: "Gaelic is a language of daily use. The support for Gaelic is a good use of public funds.
"Gaelic offers a range of benefits to Scotland. It is a valuable language to learn and it deserves the support of people of all political backgrounds in Scotland.
"And it will have that support from this Scottish Government and from this deputy first minister of Scotland."
he said "good structures" are in place but must be effectively used to strengthen
the language and to "reap the rewards of its contribution to the diversity that exists
in Scotland."
I increasing the numbers learning, speaking and using Gaelic.
"That is the government's clear aim and priority and we must use all the gains of the last decades to make further progress with this aim."
He stressed: "The reason for this commitment is quite simple. Gaelic belongs in Scotland.
"It has been spoken in this country for well over 1000 years and I believe this places a duty and a responsibility on us as custodians of this heritage.
"This is not special treatment or favouritism or a nationalist plot.
"It is simply the steps that should be taken to secure a measure of fair treatment for our minority language that has been with us for a long time."
Setting out the approach that will be taken to boost participation in the language, "clear priorities and strong partnerships," are needed, he said.
The next National Gaelic Language Plan will contains the priorities "we need to pursue in order to make further progress with Gaelic in Scotland" to achieve an increase in the numbers speaking, using and learning Gaelic, he emphasised.
"We will look closely at the steps we need to take to strengthen Gaelic in communities where it is still spoken by a large percentage of the population."
Mr Swinney pointed out the significant economic opportunities arising out of development of Gaelic.
The deputy first minister said: "Harnessing the energy of the Gaelic movement, combining it with the unlimited potential of digital technology, I believe we have an unrivalled opportunity to create a much stronger footprint of economic activity from Gaelic than at any time in our history.
"Digital stretches the reach of the language in a way many of us could never have contemplated.
"The language can contribute to the economic renaissance of Scotland and make our society rich in the truest sense of the word."
Hostility to Gaelic has "no place in Scotland"
21 October 2016