Making Progress with Learning Gaelic

I've been trying to learn Scottish Gaelic for a few years now and it's a tricky language, as it is so different to English or any of the other languages I speak. I started out learning with Duolingo, but eventually gave up on that, as the course suddenly changed. I attended local classes, but, although the tutor was enthusiastic and encouraging, his teaching style really didn't suit my learning style. I've been watching Speak Gaelic for a few years now, this is a course originally broadcast on the BBC but also available on Youtube. The Speak Gaelic website contains lots of support material to help you on your learning journey. Learn Gaelic has lots of resources and a useful weekly newsletter, which is well worth signing up to.  

Since starting to learn Scottish Gaelic, my ambition has been to win the Gaelic section of the Scottish Book Trust's monthly 50 Word short story contest. Last month, the challenge was to write a story about an elephant, which made things much easier. I have a very short, real life story about an encounter with an elephant that I've told (in English) many times. So I just needed to write a version in Scottish Gaelic, which I could do, using relatively simple phrases and after all it only needed 50 words! And, I'm delighted to say, it won the competition. You can read my story in Gaelic, with English translation, here (just scroll down a wee bit). 

**

Meanwhile, the latest post in my Crafty Green Poet Substack has gone live. You can read it here.  

 

What do you call the narrow walkway between buildings?

Growing up in Manchester, we called them ginnels, while here in Edinburgh they're referred to as 'closes' or 'vennels'. Those narrow walkways between or alongside buildings are known by a wide variety of dialect words across the UK. Here's an interesting map, showing many of the words and where they're spoken. 

haiku

funeral parlour -
too cold
for the time of year 

 

originally published in Femku 38. 

Gaelic Graffiti

I was intrigued to find these examples of Gaelic graffiti in an underpass Edinburgh! 

 The graffiti above says: 

"Chan eil mi a' smaoineachadh gu bheil Gaidhlig cudromach: Tha fios agam, gu bheil" which translates as "I don't think Gaelic is important, I know it is" 

The graffiti above says "ionnsaich Gaidhlig" which simply translates as 'learn Gaelic' to which I can only reply, I'm trying!

senryu

third pint—
special relativity
starts to make sense 

*

First published in Issue 42 of Prune Juice.  

**

Meanwhile I've got two haiku in the current issue of Femku, which you can read here.

Modern 2, National Galleries of Scotland

 Today I went to see the excellent Women in Revolt exhibition at Modern 2, one of the National Galleries of Modern Art in Edinburgh. I'd got there early and while I was waiting for my friend to arrive I took time to take some photos of the impressive architecture. 

The grounds offer views over to Dean Cemetery, which is one of Edinburgh's private cemeteries, so not one that I've done a wildlife survey of! 

The Women in Revolt exhibition looks at feminist art and activism in the 1970s - 1990s and includes paintings, zines, videos and other materials covering topics such as the Greenham Common Women's Peace Camp, wages for housework, lesbian identity, racism and other issues. It's well worth seeing (in fact I'm going back to see it tomorrow with a different friend!) before it closes on 26 January.

A faded cherub

 I love this faded cherub on the corner of a gravestone in North Merchiston Cemetery. 

Crafty Green Poet on Substack

I've set up on Substack, where I'll be posting most Wednesdays about the type of things I post about on my Crafty Green Poet blog, but in a different format. 

You can find out more and subscribe here.

All my content on Substack will be free, though I will eventually introduce paid subscriptions, largely encouraged by a generous blog reader pledging a subscription even before I'd posted anything! I'm not intending to introduce a paywall, though.

I posted my first post today. You can read it here.

Còisir Dhùn Èideann (Edinburgh Gaelic Choir)

 I recently joined the Edinburgh Gaelic Choir in the hope that it will offer a creative way for me to learn Gaelic. It's a small, friendly group. We learn songs in Gaelic and get a good amount of help on Gaelic pronunciation from the conductor who is a fluent Gaelic speaker. 

The choir is looking for new members, so if you're in Edinburgh, enjoy singing and have an interest in the Gaelic language then why not join in! Details on their website here.

A Year of Learning Scottish Gaelic!

Last year, I made a belated new year's resolution to learn Scottish Gaelic. Today I reached a 365 day streak of learning the language on Duolingo. Over a million people across the world are learning Scots Gaelic with Duolingo. Find out more here.

I did do a term of evening classes in Scottish Gaelic with Edinburgh Council's Adult Education Programme. However I was very disappointed in them and didn't sign up for another term. University of Edinburgh offers a wider range of classes, though they're more expensive and I was put off by the tutor who I met who said I'd need to sign up for the total beginners class despite having done a term with the council and a few months with Duolingo. 

More Online Resources

Learn Gaelic is a free online resource for learning Scots Gaelic. It shares a Gaelic word a day on social media. 

Speak Gaelic is a Scots Gaelic learning programme, offering online classes and producing learning materials for other organisations. The programme is broadcast on BBC Alba (see below) and you can also watch all the episodes on Youtube.

BBC Alba offers broadcast TV primarily in Scots Gaelic with some excellent programmes.

Scots Gaelic Week (20-26 February)