Celtic 131. Intermediate Scottish Gaelic

Barbara Hillers
Department of Celtic Languages and Literatures
Harvard University

Course Description

In Intermediate Scottish Gaelic we expand our conversational ability and command of grammar. Oral drills, games and conversational role play continue to play an important part. New grammar and vocabulary are reinforced by regular written homework exercises and quizzes; students will also practice their written skills by keeping a journal. To supplement oral class work, students will spend an hour per week in the language lab to work on their pronunciation and aural comprehension. We will read a children's book, a travel journal and modern poetry, as well as stories, songs and proverbs from Gaelic oral tradition.

Assessment

Reading List

Textbook

Gàidhlig aig an Oilthigh, Sheila Kidd (textbook developed for Celtic degree program at Glasgow University, used with kind permission of the author). Can Seo: Gaelic for Beginners, Donald John MacLeod (BBC TV Programme)

Supplementary Reading

Meusaidh anns a' Choille Uisge (Children's video programme and book)
Gàidheal aig Harvard, Ruairidh MacLeòid (Scottish County Press: Bonnyrick, Midlothian, 1986)
Audiotapes of both readings available in language lab in Lamont Library.

Grammar

Gràmar na Gàidhlig, Michel Byrne (Stòrlann-Acair: Isle of Lewis, 2002).
Supplemented by: Scottish Gaelic in Three Months (Hugo's Simplified System), Roibeard Ó Maolalaigh with Iain Mac Aonghuis (first published by Hugo's Language Books, 1997; out of print)

Dictionaries

Gaelic Dictionary, Boyd Robertson and Ian MacDonald (Teach Yourself, 2004).
Scottish Gaelic, R. W. Renton and J. A. MacDonald (Hippocrene Books; beginners' pocket dictionary).

Now may be the time to invest in a more extensive dictionary as listed below:

Gaelic English Dictionaries:
The Illustrated Gaelic-English Dictionary, Edward Dwelly (Birlinn: Edinburgh 1993: reprint of 1901-1911 edition).
The Essential Gaelic-English Dictionary, Angus Watson (Birlinn: Edinburgh 2001).
Gaelic-English Dictionary, Colin Mark (Routledge: London & NY 2004).
English-Gaelic Dictionaries:
The Essential English-Gaelic Dictionary, Angus Watson (Birlinn: Edinburgh 2005).

Aids

Cairtean na Gàidhlig: Gniomhairean (Laminated Gaelic Verb Chart).