Learning Gaelic....

[Jack Macleod, Ph.D.]

Are there cd's or cd-rom's available for learning Scottish Gaelic? I have a trip planned to the Isles and northern Highlands next August and would like to pick up a bit of the language.

Regards....

[Jack Macleod, Ph.D.]

Originally posted by JM:
Are there cd's or cd-rom's available for learning Scottish Gaelic? I have a trip planned to the Isles and northern Highlands next August and would like to pick up a bit of the language.

Regards.... I should have added the reason I posted this here is, I thought some of you who are more 'into' Scottish history may be more inclined to learn a little Gaelic and thus, know of a source for learning.

Thanks....

Dr. Jack MacLeod

[luckypipes]

Hi JM, :thumb:

Good luck,
Lori :hatoff:

[CalumII]

Hugo's Scottish Gaelic In Three Months is quite good, though that said, I have yet to buckle down and study it properly. It is quite clearly written, language is explained on the basis of how it relates to English, rather than dazzling with the split post-hypertensive. Takes you up to a reasonable level. No idea if it's still in print. Comes with a couple of cassettes (with a decent rendition of Sleepy Maggie, as a bonus).

On a related note, does anyone have a decent recommendation for a Gaelic-English/English-Gaelic dictionary? I have the (MacLennan?) one published in the twenties, but it's a bit long in the tooth, for all it's a beautiful modern cover.

Cheers,
Calum

[Peter Van de Reep]

Regarding the CDs, I found the tape/book combination called Teach Yourself Gaelic was quite good, but you really should find an instructor. Also, the Gaelic College in Nova Scotia offers an online course (www.gaeliccollege.edu (http://www.gaeliccollege.edu)).

Regarding the dictionary, I own the Obair dictionary which is very small and has a limited vocabulary, but it was recommended by my Gaelic instructors. It is quite good for basic conversations. My instructors no longer use the MacLellan's because there are some words that are essential, but they aren't in MacLellan's (ie. Tomorrow). I picked the Obair dictionary up at the Gaelic College for about $CDN 20.

[Adam Sanderson]

Tha seo math.
http://www.bbc.co.uk/scotland/alba/foghlam/beag_air_bheag/index.shtml

[Holly Taylor]

The best dictionary is still Dwelly's (Gaelic to English only), here (http://www.amazon.com/exec/obidos/tg/detail/-/1871901286/ref=lpr_g_2/002-4417893-4452001?v=glance&s=books) even though it was first published round the time of WW1. It's the most comprehensive affordable one. There's the Stor-Data Briathrachais Gaidhlig which is good for Gaelic equivalents to modern or techinical terms but it doesn't have definitions, it's more of a list of words Stor-data (http://www.ealaghol.co.uk/books/gaelic/stordata.htm) it's also pretty expensive.
For English to Gaelic get Derick Thomson's New English Gaelic Dictionary here (http://www.amazon.com/exec/obidos/tg/detail/-/0828880131/002-4417893-4452001?v=glance)

We're sorely in need of a modern comprehensive Gaelic-English dictionary of the sort you can get for French-English etc.

[Jake M.]

You know, I just got back from Scotland a couple weeks ago. The people I met were some of the nicest people I've ever met. However, many of the folks I met, especially in the smaller towns, were extremely difficult to understand. And I was speaking the same language as them! I can't imagine trying to pick up some conversational Gaelic off of a tape and expect to understand any of the native speakers.

[David Kershaw]

www.gaeliccollege.edu (http://www.gaeliccollege.edu)

They have an online course.

[Pat Farrell]

I had the same problems in the midlands. Funny, they think that we (mid-US) speak absolutely clearly, they admire it even; but we (mid-US) can hardly understand a word they say. I will say in their defense, however, that they can hardly understand people from only a few miles away either*. This observation must be absolutely true because it is derived from some long serious conversations in pubs, with a foundation of pints of special bitter.

Regards (hic) Pat

* I was talking with a couple of chaps in a pub, and when one went off to the loo, I said to his mate, who was his best friend of may years, "I can't understand half of what he says." The answer was, this is from a guy who had grown up with him only about 5 miles from the other's home, "Well, sometimes I can't either."

PS: I found that in southern England, in rural pubs, if you are quiet and polite and have a nice, soft Southern US accent, you will never, ever have to pay for a drink after your first order.


Originally posted by Jake M.:
You know, I just got back from Scotland a couple weeks ago. The people I met were some of the nicest people I've ever met. However, many of the folks I met, especially in the smaller towns, were extremely difficult to understand. And I was speaking the same language as them! I can't imagine trying to pick up some conversational Gaelic off of a tape and expect to understand any of the native speakers.

[luckypipes]

if you are quiet and polite and have a nice, soft Southern US accent, you will never, ever have to pay for a drink after your first order.
:thumb: Being from Florida, I should fit in just fine ya'll.

:banana: Lori