Modern Scotland is a multi-lingual country. Gaelic, Scots and English, along with newer introductions from Europe and beyond, all influence the way Scotland's people now speak to each other and to the rest of the world. Created with the positive encouragement of Bòrd na Gà idhlig and with support from BBC Alba, this free course, Gaelic in modern Scotland, is available in both Gaelic and English. The course has been designed to provide a resource for people with a personal or professional interest in increasing their knowledge and understanding of the development and impact of Scottish Gaelic and its culture. It aims to surprise and challenge where necessary; to provide links and ideas for further research; and, for some, to kick-start a journey into learning a language which is integral to Scotland's national identity.
Overview
Syllabus
- Introduction
- Learning outcomes
- 1 Gaelic as a national language of Scotland
- 1 Gaelic as a national language of Scotland
- 1.1 Introduction
- 1.2 History
- 1.3 Place name evidence
- 1.4 Retreat into the north and west
- 1.5 Religion
- 1.6 Education
- 2 Celtic roots and international reach
- 2 Celtic roots and international reach
- 2.1 Introduction
- 2.2 The rise of the Celts
- 2.3 Celtic place names
- 2.4 The insular Celts
- 2.5 The Brythonic languages
- 2.6 The Goidelic languages
- 2.7 The Celtic Diaspora
- 2.8 Learners and enthusiasts worldwide
- 3 Gaelic in the modern era
- 3 Gaelic in the modern era
- 3.1 Who speaks Gaelic?
- 3.1.1 I do!
- 3.1.2 The big picture
- 3.2 Decline
- 3.2.1 Politics and economics
- 3.2.3 Education and cultural influences
- 3.3 Revival
- 3.4 Gaelic alive!
- 4 Gaelic – the rationale
- 4 Gaelic – the rationale
- 4.1 Bilingualism
- 4.1.1 The benefits to the individual
- 4.1.2 Learning other languages
- 4.1.3 The benefits to the community
- 4.2 Why learn Gaelic?
- 4.2.1 A cultural answer
- 4.2.2 A practical answer
- 4.3 The rights of linguistic minorities
- 4.3.1 Introduction
- 4.3.2 United Nations
- 4.3.3 European Charter for Regional or Minority Languages
- 4.3.4 Gaelic Language (Scotland) Act
- 4.4 Home and abroad: examples of bilingualism
- 4.4.1 Te Reo Maori
- 4.4.2 The bilingual poet
- 5 How the Gaelic language works
- 5 How the Gaelic language works
- 5.1 How do I say…?
- 5.2 Gaelic: some basics
- 5.2.1 Gaelic grammar – a taster
- 5.2.2 Sounds and letters
- 5.3 New words: and evolving language
- 5.3.1 Developing terminology: some initiatives
- 5.3.2 Creating new Gaelic words
- 5.3.3 Gaelic loanwords in English
- 5.4 How to learn Gaelic
- 5.4.1 Adult learners
- 5.4.2 Adult learning in action: some examples
- 5.5 Options for children
- 6 Gaelic culture: a national asset
- 6 Gaelic culture: a national asset
- 6.1 The art of the GÃ idhealtachd
- 6.2 Gaelic music and song
- 6.3 Dance
- 6.4 Gaelic literature
- 6.4.1 Poetry
- 6.4.2 Drama and Fiction
- 6.4.3 Songs and tales
- 6.5 Sports and pastimes
- 7 FAQs
- 7 FAQs
- Notes
- Conclusion
- Further reading
- Acknowledgements
