Category: UGC

Sharing Gaelic Voices

~ Gordon Wells ~ 15 Comments

Language Issues Title

The summer issue of NATECLA’s journal “Language Issues” takes a look at Community Languages, and features an article on Guthan nan Eilean/Island Voices by Gordon Wells. “Sharing Gaelic Voices: Peatcutting in Polish or Surfing in Sindhi?” can be viewed as a Gaelic-focussed companion to, and update of, the 2012 project description (written from an ESOL point of view) in the British Council’s “Innovations in ELT for Migrants and Refugees”.

LangIssuesCoverProfessor Conchúr Ó Giollagáin of the University of the Highlands and Islands, and the Soillse inter-university research network, adds another perspective: “Guthan nan Eilean may also be seen as creative initial steps in an emerging agenda of documentation of natural language… The project demonstrates how the community of speakers can take a pro-active and productive role… in this vital task.”

Regular readers will have noticed that a “Peatcutting in Polish” video already exists, as an example of the potential for “re-purposing” that is among the issues discussed in the article.

Perhaps more examples will be forthcoming in the months ahead?

A copy of the article has been added to the Island Voices Research/Reports page, with the kind agreement of NATECLA.

It can also be accessed here.

2018 Update: The number of languages featured in Island Voices films is now into double figures! Check our Other Tongues page.

Àiridh na h-Aon Oidhche aig TRACS is Clilstore

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TormodAiridhBidh cuimhne aig cuid gun do chuir TRACS “Blàr Chàirinis” le Tormod MacGill-Eain air an làrach fhèin o chionn treiseag. Seo a-nis “Àiridh na h-Aon Oidhche” aca san aon stoidhle.

Tha sinn gu mòr nan comain airson na h-obrach a rinn iad air an tar-sgrìobhadh. Tha sin air a bhith na chuideachadh dhuinne ann a bhith a’ cruthachadh aonad Clilstore leis a’ bhidio. Gheibhear an seo e.

Followers of Island Voices may remember that TRACS placed Norman Maclean’s telling of the story of the Battle of Carinish on their own website not so long ago. Now here’s his “Àiridh na h-Aon Oidhche” in the same style.

We are indebted to them for the work they did on transcribing the story. That has been a great help to us in creating a Clilstore unit with the video. You can find it here.

Kopanie torfu: Peatcutting in Polish

~ Gordon Wells ~ 4 Comments

polishpeatKrótki film dokumentalny w języku polskim dla uczących się języka o kopaniu torfu w Uist.

Film aithriseach goirid ann am Pòlainnis airson luchd-ionnsachaidh mu dheidhinn buain na monadh ann an Uibhist.

Short Polish documentary for language learners about peatcutting in Uist.

While you watch and listen you can read a transcript with online dictionary access to every single word on this Clilstore unit: http://multidict.net/cs/4130

Between Series 1, Series 2, and other initiatives, Island Voices has produced 25 short documentary clips of this kind in both English and Gaelic. “A Gaelic Journey” also came out in Irish, but this is the first time we’ve produced a Polish version of one of our films.

It may not be the last, however! All we need is a translation of the script and a recorded voice. And, if we can do it in Polish, we can do it in other languages too. Interested?

Sea Poems at Taigh Ciùil

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seapoemslaunchposter

There’s a packed programme at this month’s Taigh Ciùil, including the launch of the CD of Island Voices contributor Catherine Eunson’s musical collaboration with North Uist resident Pauline Prior-Pitt. Here’s a short sample.

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If you can’t make it to the launch there are more details available on Catherine’s website.

DIY Music Video

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musiccourseHowmore resident Julie Lewis attended a video-making workshop at Cothrom last year, and learnt some handy new skills.

Some years previously, and shortly after it was launched, Julie was also a student on the local college music course in Benbecula – a subject area which has since gone from strength to strength, developing into a University of the Highlands and Islands degree course in Applied Music.

Here’s the video that Julie made about the course. Great work all round!

 

A’ Bhean-Uasal NicÌomhair à Cnoc an t-Soluis air a’ Bhac

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DalaiLamaNormanIn this truly epic tale, a noble Lewis lady, also known locally (though outwith her earshot) as Bean Dhòmhnaill Ailig ‘Fat’, undertakes a long journey to Tibet, for a special meeting with a special person.

Norman Maclean narrates the gripping Gaelic adventure right through to its scarcely predictable conclusion.

This is the final instalment in his Sgeulachdan Thormoid collection.

The Island Voices/Guthan nan Eilean project is much indebted to Norman for these fantastic contributions. Clilstore versions for learners with clickable transcripts of several of these stories will be coming soon!

Update: All recordings in both the “Saoghal Thormoid” and “Sgeulachdan Thormoid” collections are now available on the “Norman Maclean” page.

Bodach nan Serviettes

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ServiettesNormanNorman Maclean turns his attention to the Isle of Harris for the next instalment of Sgeulachdan Thormoid.

A grand dinner is held in Tarbert for the pensioners of Harris, with libations gu leòr.

The mouthwatering menu is described in loving gastronomic detail.

But one unfortunate omission leads to a possibly disagreeable outcome.

Norman reels off another hilarious story from his Gaelic collection…

Update: All recordings in both the “Saoghal Thormoid” and “Sgeulachdan Thormoid” collections are now available on the “Norman Maclean” page.

Dòmhnall Phàdraig agus Màiri Claire

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TormodDomhnallPhadruig“Mary Claire! Mary Claire! Can you hear me?”

“Yes, I can… And so can everyone from Carinish to Ludag. What’s wrong?”

This couple have been 40 years married “as happy as two shoes”…

And Màiri Claire knows exactly how to deal with Dòmhnall Phàdraig’s crisis of confidence!

Norman Maclean entertains again, as only he knows how.

The fourth instalment of Sgeulachdan Thormoid.

Update: All recordings in both the “Saoghal Thormoid” and “Sgeulachdan Thormoid” collections are now available on the “Norman Maclean” page.

Hàllain

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TormodHallainPolitics, Verbosity (or its opposite), Love, and Death!

Here are all the dramatic ingredients you could need in this romantic story of the tongue-tied Fionnlagh Phàdruig a’ Chnuic and his sweetheart Peigi Iain Bhig.

And what could be a more appropriate setting than the famous and historic Cladh Hàllain in South Uist?

This is the third instalment of Norman’s collection – “Sgeulachdan Thormoid”.

And here it is on Clilstore (including a link to Google Translate if you don’t yet have Gaelic, but would like to get the gist…)

Update: All recordings in both the “Saoghal Thormoid” and “Sgeulachdan Thormoid” collections are now available on the “Norman Maclean” page.

Cabhag

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TormodCabhag2We hear the story of Cabhag’s doggy heroics in an unsettling encounter on a misty mountainside in this second instalment of “Sgeulachdan Thormoid”.

If you’re out on the moor and the weather closes in, your canine companion may have other uses than just herding sheep – especially if you cross paths with an old woman with a strange finger formation…

If you enjoyed Norman’s rendition of “Àiridh na h-aon oidhche”, this Gaelic story should be right up your street. But if you’re of a nervous disposition, be assured there’s a happy ending!

Update: All recordings in both the “Saoghal Thormoid” and “Sgeulachdan Thormoid” collections are now available on the “Norman Maclean” page.