Gaelic

This book compiles songs/poems written by John Morrison of Scalpay, Isle of Harris.

This book compiles a selection of Gaelic songs from Harris.

Positioned at the uppermost tip of Britain and facing the battling winds of the Atlantic, the Isle of Lewis has always had a strong identity of its own. A community defined by tradition for hundreds of years, the twentieth century presented huge challenges to its way of life, leaving it completely altered by the arrival of the millennium. Lewis in the Passing is a form of time-capsule, containing twenty-one autobiographical sketches of Lewis natives, all born before the Second World War. From crofter to musician, house-wife to clergyman, the selection spans the spectrum of Lewis society. Theirs are lives which have experienced these great changes, from economic disaster in the 1920s, to mass emigration in the 1930s, the ‘obscenity of battle’ during the Second World War, and afterwards the decline of the Gaelic language and the slow demise of crofting. All are interviewed by fellow islander Calum Ferguson, who presents his subjects’ stories and journeys, and understands how, in spite of the rainy climate and wind-blasted scenery, the island’s hidden magnetism continues to draw them all ‘back home’.

Gaelic is Funtastic is the follow-up to the fabulous book Gaelic is Fun, the perfect introduction for a beginner who has previously been deterred by the language’s difficult reputation. Like the first edition, it uses a combination of conversations, cartoons and comprehensible instructions, and continues with the same lesson structure of breaking each section down into digestible and clear steps, gradually revising and building on the knowledge gained from the first book. Role-play conversations and distinctive cartoon formats introduce new situations and vocabulary to the student in fun and interesting ways, communicating basic Gaelic words, phrases and sentences. This book is accessible, amusing and easy to use, designed throughout with Elwyn Ioan’s distinctive illustrations.

No lessons. No pain. Just pictures. This course books offer a taste of learning the Gaelic through comic-like pictures.

The purpose of this book is to provide a brief introduction to the Gaelic language with a selective discussion of its main features.

In contrast to native speakers, who absorb the language as children, adults who are learning Gaelic from scratch often derive much benefit from knowing why the language takes shape as it does.

This easy to follow guide keeps things as simple as possible to accommodate readers who may be taking a first look at the language, but those whose knowledge of Gaelic is a little more advanced also find the book useful.

Everyday Gaelic has been compiled by an author with many years’ experience in teaching Scottish Gaelic to adults and children. In addition to basic words and phrases, it also includes more complex and idiomatic material, all arranged thematically and covering topics such as meeting and greeting, travelling, the weather and eating and drinking. There are also clearly explained sections on grammar and imitated pronunciation for all Scottish Gaelic words and phrases. The result is an accessible and useful book which will be of benefit to all levels and ages of learners.

Designed to be used with or without the accompaniment of the Everyday Gaelic book, the 80-minute-long CD features Scottish Gaelic phrases spoken by native speakers and arranged by topic. Each phrase is preceded by its English translation and followed by a pause to allow the learner to repeat the phrase. Helpful for both comprehension and pronunciation, this CD is particularly useful for learners without access to a native speaker.