Scottish Gaelic or Gàidhlig is a Celtic Indo-European language closely related to Irish and Manx as well as more distantly related to Welsh, Breton, and Cornish. It is spoken natively in the Highlands and Isles of Scotland by around 60,000 people as well as parts of Maritime Canada by around 1000 people, namely in Cape Breton (Nova Scotia) and Prince Edward Island. Scottish Gaelic is considered an endangered language, but is re-gaining ground both in Scotland and Canada through Gaelic-medium schools, Gaelic media, Gaelic language and culture boards, Gaelic immersion programs and festivals, and Scottish Law.
Learning Scottish Gaelic, like other languages, requires an open mind and a determination to learn and master the language. This will take a lot of patience to learn a language, but in the end it is well worth it.
1Enroll in Gaelic lessons. Scottish Gaelic is not a very international language, so finding classes or tutors may be quite difficult, depending on where you live. You can start by checking out what's available through your local British, Scottish, or Celtic community centre if where you live has a large Scottish diaspora. Ask around the community as well. If you don't have such a luxury, you can try to teach yourself the basics by browsing sites, language book and cd sets, using flashcards, or buying software, and the like.Ad
2Speak Gaelic as much as you can. Speaking a foreign language is the best thing you can do. It helps develop a sort of fluency. If you can't find native speakers to practice with, try finding penpals through various website and/or try teaching your friends what you're teaching to your self. If you're more brave, you can try to blog and tweet in Gaelic.
3Watch and listen to it. Maybe find a movie that has Scottish Gaelic in an audio feature or a Scottish film. Tune in online to BBC Alba for Gaelic television and BBC Radio Nan Gàidheal for Gaelıc radio. Useful for picking up more words and gestures.
4Travel to Scotland or Nova Scotia. This is probably the best way to learn Scottish Gaelic as you will definitely pick up more vocabulary. The Isle of Skye is home to various fantastic immersion programs through the Sabhal Mòr Ostaig school for Gaelic language and Gaelic culture. Challenge yourself, go to a village away from English speaking areas to help a lot more with communication. If in Canada, check out the array of Gaelic culture events and immersion camps and crash courses available at your disposal.Ad
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- Cape Breton, Nova Scotia is home to the Colaisde Na Gàidhlig (The Gaelic College), a school devoted to the study and preservation of the Gaelic language and Celtic arts and culture.
- Scottish Gaelic has two governing boards, one in Scotland (An Comunn Gàidhealach) and one in Canada (Comhairle na Gàidhlig). The United States also has the American Gaelic Society (An Comunn Gàidhealach Ameireaganach).
- Patience is key.
- If you cannot travel, you can still study.
- See if you can get a native speaker, or at least someone who knows the language, to help you learn Scottish Gaelic.
- Be sure to know what you are saying before saying it. You may not know insult from compliment.
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