Education and the colonisation of the Gàidhlig mind … 2

Le Bella Caledonia Editor

Part two of Iain MacKinnon’s exploration of colonisation and education in the Scottish and global context – see part one here. In the nineteenth century fairly direct forms of oppressive violence and terror appear to have been used in efforts to frighten young Gaels into abandoning their language. That physical force and forms of psychological […]

Tadhail air Ghetto na Gàidhlig – Bella Caledonia

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Education and the colonisation of the Gàidhlig mind

Le Bella Caledonia Editor

In 1755 the Scottish Enlightenment historian and future rector of Edinburgh University, Reverend William Robertson, delivered a sermon on the role of ‘the divine wisdom, in the government of the world’. Robertson was convinced that Christianity’s role in history was to redeem the vices and perfect the virtues of all human societies, and his sermon […]

Tadhail air Ghetto na Gàidhlig – Bella Caledonia

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அந்த செய்தித்தாள் – Am Pàipear

Le Gordon Wells

ஊஸ்ட் சமுதாயத்திற்காக முதன்மையாக சேவை செய்யும் செய்தித்தாளை பற்றிய ஒரு குறும்படம் இது. இந்தப் படத்தில் எவ்வாறு செய்திகள் பல இடங்களிலிருந்து சேகரிக்கப்பட்டு, நன்கு வடிவமைக்கப்பட்டு, அவற்றின் உண்மைத்தன்மை சரிபார்க்கப்பட்டு பின் அச்சில் வெளியிடப்படுகிறது என்பதைப்பற்றிய விளக்கம் தெளிவாக படமாக்கப்பட்டுள்ளது.

The sharing of Gaelic voices extends to another new language today, thanks to the kind collaboration of Dr Dharani of the Government Arts and Science College in Avinashi. She has now recorded a Tamil voiceover for our documentary on the Uist community newspaper, Am Pàipear, first published eight years ago, with feature stories on Norman Maclean and Tobar an Dualchais.

This emerges as a welcome spin-off benefit from the “Mediating Multilingualism” project in which Gordon Wells is involved through UHI and Soillse. Dr Dharani had already taken Clilstore into new linguistic territory through her interview with Gordon at the International Language Fest in Shillong, available here. Complementing that later with this longer film was then a simple question of translating the script and recording the new narration – all done on a mobile phone and transferred instantaneously from India to Scotland via Facebook Messenger!

Here’s the film:

And you can follow it on Clilstore too (with wordlinked transcript) in Unit 8020: http://multidict.net/cs/8020

Watch this space for more contributions from India soon, and remember new voices and “other tongues” are always welcome on Island Voices from anywhere in the world!

 


Tadhail air Island Voices – Guthan nan Eilean

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Scottish Gaelic’s Journey to Duolingo 

Le Bella Caledonia Editor

Ciaran Iòsaph MacAonghais – a Primary Teacher from Fort William and co-creator of the Scottish Gaelic Duolingo course – takes us through Scottish Gaelic’s journey to Duolingo. [follow Ciaran at @thaseomath ] Scottish Gaelic is the latest language to feature on Duolingo – the world’s largest language learning platform. Over 50,000 people have signed up to […]

Tadhail air Ghetto na Gàidhlig – Bella Caledonia

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Dè th’ ann a tha fàgail latha Naoimh Anndra cho àraid, cho speisealta? + 2 yr

Le Neil McRae

Well a chàirdean, mun àm seo dhen a’ bhliadhna bidh Gilleasbuig air bhioran, mar a shaoileadh sibh, agus sùil aige ri Corporate tweets an dearbh latha seo fhèin [30mh Sàmhain].

Oir bha latha Naoimh Anndra a-riamh na rud tana, lom mus robh na tweets chorparra ann agus a’ togail ceann a h-uile còig mionaidean, suas gu 5f co-dhiù, agus iad gu sunndach a’ dùsgadh blàths ann an gach cridhe is anam a


Tadhail air Gilleasbuig Aotrom

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2019 An Dùbhlachd: Cladach, bàtaichean is iasgach / Dec. Shore, boats & fishing

Le seaboardgàidhlig

This month I’ve picked out a batch of Seaboard words connected to the shore, boats and fishing. (Thanks as usual to all the many contributors!) The vast majority are from Gaelic, as usual, even though local pronunciation often varies from that given in dictionaries. I haven’t been able to track down the roots of one or two, so any help with these would be appreciated. And I’m no expert on technical terms for boat parts etc, despite the best efforts of Bruce and Hugh, so please excuse (and correct) any inaccuracies! Please send any further contributions on this or any other subject to me, or just hand them in to the Hall.

Before I forget, I have also left in the Hall office a reference copy of a new booklet just published by Seòsamh Watson, the Irish professor who conducted interviews and research on Gaelic in the Villages over several years, especially with Bell Ann and Dolly. The booklet is called Boats, Bibles and Boyans, and is a collection of some of Seòsamh’s articles on the Seaboard, especially Gaelic-related. (Mìle taing to him for sending that on.)  Do ask there if you’re interested in seeing it.  A few people have their own copies, so would maybe lend them out. I don’t think the book is commercially available just now.

Shore

Cladach – coastline, shore

-mara – of the sea, of the tide (muir = sea), e.g. eun-mara – seabird; làn-mara – full/high tide; muc-mhara – a whale (sea pig!); maighdeann-mhara – mermaid.

Taigh na Mara – Sea House; Sùil na Mara – Eye of the Sea /
gateway to the sea

Stralyach 
=stràilleach – pile of seaweed on the shore  (pron. straw-lyach)

tungle – local pronunciation of Eng. /Scots Tangle,
large edible seaweed with thick stalk and strap-like fronds

a porsht – a wee landing place. Gaelic: port, pron. porsht,
a port or landing-place

gannach meen = gainmheach mìn, fine sand (pron. ganyach
meen
)

There’s a big suik on today – a big swell. Scots souk
= suck, Gaelic sùghadh (soo-ugh)– a sucking, swell, the motion of the
sea

Maighstir-cala – harbourmaster

Boat parts

Kennacracken /  Ceann a’ chrataich – seat end support in boat (top end of curved beam running up inside side of boat under seat)  G: ceann – head, top, end; cratach – back or side of a person.

Mash-crosh / mais-crois – footboard when rowing. G:
maide-crois. maide – wood, stick, beam; crois – crutch or cross (match-eh-crosh)

Thaft – seat across coble (  G. tobhta, pron. approx.. tofta,
Eng./Scots Taft or thaft = thwart, rower’s bench)

Jalup – pin for the oars.   G: dealg – pin, wire, skewer (pron. jalluk)

Rollack – rowlock. 
G: rolag

Tallip – rowlock  
G: talb – protuberance; rowlock (pron. tallup)

Fishing

Pockan-mor = pocan-mara – the sea-bag, a cloth bag
with the fisherman’s food for the trip.

Croick – a stand for a creel.  Croich; gallows, cross

Dreichie – a small boat-anchor  (no origin found)

Cleep /cleap / clape = Gaelic: clip (pron. cleep)
– a hand-hook or gaffe for bringing in larger fish, lobsters or even a net.

Clye / clie – a creel, lobster-pot. Local
pronunciation of Gaelic cliabh (clee-av)

Boicho the line – baiting . G: biathadh, pron. bee-ach-ugh
or bee-ach-oo.

Raku the line– redd, clean, disentangle.   Possibly from G: ràcadh – raking; or racadh, a variant of sracadh – ripping, cutting apart; or even rèitich – redding

Plàtach – rush mat for placing the line on while
baiting etc. G: plàt – woven material from rushes or straw

Bothan, pron. bo-an or bo-han, a shed
or bothy, e.g. for storing nets or for smoking fish.

Strachail, strachu – a jerk or tug, e.g. when a fish was on the line, or a pull or rip in a jumper or net. Probably from Gaelic: streachail – lacerate; sracadh – tear (pron. sdrach-ugh/oo)

Kaip /caib / ceap – spade for digging lug.  G: caibe – spade, mattock

Biarst / bearst – a square frame round which a
handline was wound.  G: beairt, pron. byarsht
– generally equipment or tackle, or a contraption, frame. Beairt-iasgaich –
fishing tackle; beairt-fhighe – a loom.

Scountack / scountag – a (short?) fishing line.
“Baiting the scountag”, “I’m going to put out the scountag”. No definite origin
found so far but a very common Seaboard word. 
Possible connections to Gaelic sgann – membrane (skown); or
busgainte – baited (boos-kantch-eh)

Did you catch anything? Nothing but the gorst! (i.e. no fish at all).  G: gort, pron. gorsht – famine.


Tadhail air seaboardgàidhlig

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An leadraigeadh mu dheireadh

Le Steaphan

San Dàmhair am-bliadhna, dh’aontaicheadh lagh ùr ann an Alba a tha a’ casg dèiseagan le neach sam bith, pàrantan ann no às, do chloinn. Bha sgleogadh air a thoirmeasg mu thràth. Seo agaibh sùil air an lagh ùr agus an t-àite aig Alba gu h-eadar-nàiseanta a thaobh staid nan laghan a tha a’ cumail dìon air clann is òigridh.

Chan fhada o bhiodh gillean beaga Albannach ag ràdh “gheibh mi mo leadraigeadh” ri an caraidean agus iad an dèidh bhith air an glacadh ri miastadh san sgoil no àiteigin anns a’ bhaile. Uaireannan, thilleadh fear dhiubh o ‘Latha Mòr na Cunntais’ aig an dachaigh a dh’innse an naidheachd mun pheanas a fhuair e – ge be an e leadraigeadh, sgoladh teanga, no èirig a bh’ aige ri phàigheadh ann an riochd obair-taighe no peanas eile.

An-diugh, tha mi an dùil nach eil, air neo, nach bi gillean Albannach cho eòlach air “leadraigeadh” mar pheanas airson mì-mhoidh no miastaidh o seo a-mach ri linn ’s gun deach sgleogadh cloinne a thoirmeasg ann an Alba bho chionn greis. Is fhada o bha strap na sgoile air a chasg fon lagh, agus ged a tha cuimhne agam gum b’ e mo bhràthair (a tha 5 bliadhna nas sine na mi fhìn) fear dhen fheadhainn mu dheireadh a fhuair sràcan ann an àrd-sgoil a’ bhaile againne, nuair a ràinig mi fhìn ’s mo bhràthair as òige an sgoil na dhèidh, cha robh sgeul air tàthas, strap no beilt agus chan aithne dhomh fhìn cò ris a bha e coltach.

Chaidh sgleogadh don cheann a bhacadh ann an Alba roimhe seo, ach bha dèiseagan ceadaichte gus  Dàmhair na bliadhna seo mus do chuir riaghaltas na h-Alba às don t-saorsa aig pàrantan boiseag a thoirt air màsan an cuid cloinne. Leugh mi an ceann-naidheachd ag ràdh gum b’ e Alba “a’ chiad phàirt dhen R.A.” gus dèiseagan a chasg fon lagh. Cha robh na faclan seo feumail ge-tà, oir chan iongnadh idir e ged a b’ e Alba “a’ chiad phàirt” dhen rìoghachd gus lagh sìobhalta eile a chur an sàs air thoiseach air riaghaltas na làimhe-deise shìos ann an tòin Shasainn.

Bha mi fhìn ag iarraidh fiosrachadh air dè an t-àite aig Alba ann an seagh eadar-nàiseanta a thaobh peanasan corporra; agus fhuair mi a-mach gur e Alba an 58mh dùthaich air an t-saoghal a-nis gus gach seòrsa sgleogadh cloinne a chrosadh do phàrantan fon lagh. Tha sgleogadh cloinne de sheòrsa sam bith air a thoirmeasg gu laghail le 22 à 28 de nàiseanan Eòrpach a-cheana. Bhac an Fhraing dèiseagan air cloinn san Iuchar am-bliadhna. Ach, se an t-Suain a tha am broilleach na cuideachd bhon a bhac iadsan peanasan corporra do an cuid cloinne ann an 1979!

Sann caran fadalach a tha Alba an coimeas ri gu leòr nàiseanan eile. A dh’aindeoin sin, sann air thoiseach air Sasainn agus a’ Chuimrigh a tha an dùthaich againn, oir tha iadsan a’ ceadachadh sgleogadh no dèiseagan ma thèid an cleachdadh le “neart reusanta” – rud a tha gam fàgail air dheireadh air dùthchannan ann an Afraga, Ameireaga a Deas agus na h-Innseachan ´s Àisia. Agus, dè th’ ann an “sgleogadh reusanta” co-dhiù do phàiste no do sgoilear nach do ruig inbhe fhathast far am faod iad reusanachadh leis an duine mhòr a tha air tì sgleog a thoirt dhaibh?

Ma sgleogas mise neach – inbheach – a tha ri mì-mhodh no a chuir diomb orm airson adhbhar air choireigin, chan fhaigh mi às ann an cùirt-lagha leis an leisgeul gur e “sgleog reusanta” a bh’ ann. Thog pàrantan airson “Bi reusanta, Albainn” a’ phuing gun robh clann air an dìon o dhroch-dhìol le inbhich orra mar-thà agus nach robh e ceart boiseag aotrom don mhàs le pàrant cùramach a shuidheachadh aig an aon ìre ri dòrn ann an toll na cluaise, breaban is dochannan eile dhen t-seòrsa sin. Ach cò a chuireadh an aghaidh a’ Phrìomh Mhinistear agus a ministearan san riaghaltas, nuair a thuirt iad gum biodh “an aon dìon cheudna air clann fon lagh ´s a tha air inbhich an-drasta” leis an achd ùr seo? Nuair a chuirte an cèill mar sin e, chan eil a dha dhòigh air nach eil iad ceart a dh’aindeoin ’s gu bheil a’ mhòr-chuid de phàrantan a bheireadh dèiseag aotrom do am pàiste cùramach, coibhneil, gràdhach.

San Iapan, far a bheil mi a’ fuireach agus fhad ´s as aithne dhomh, chan eil lagh sònraichte ann a’ casg sgleogadh no boiseagan do chloinn no do sgoilearan le pàrantan agus tidsearan. Gidheadh, bho sgaoil naidheachdan o chionn ghoirid mu chùisean san robh pàrantan ri fòirneart air pàistean beaga truagha, agus cùisean san robh luchd-teagaisg sradagach a’ cumail smachd air sgoilearan le làmhachas-làidir is burraidheachd, tha an riaghaltas a-nis a’ beachdachadh air sgleogadh cloinne sam bith a thoirmeasg fon lagh.

Seallamaid air clàr eadar-nàiseanta de na dùthchannan a chaisg a h-uile peanas corporra agus dè a’ bhliadhna:

• Bhon 1mh latha dhen Dàmhair, 58 dùthchannan
o 1979:An t-Suain
o 1983:An Fhionnlann
o 1987:Nirribhidh
o 1989:An Òstair
o 1994:Cìopras
o 1997:An Danmhairg
o 1998:Croatia, Latvia
o 2000:A’ Ghearmailt, Bulgaria, Israel
o 2002:Turcmanastàn
o 2003:Innis-tìle
o 2004:Romàinia, an Ugràin
o 2005:An Ungair
o 2006:A’ Ghrèig
o 2007:Na Tìrean Ìsle, Sealann Nuadh, a’ Phortagail, Uruguaidh, Venezuela, An Spàinn, Togo
o 2008:Costa Rìcea, A’ Mholdobha, Lugsamburg, Lichtenstein
o 2010:A’ Phòlainn, Tuinisea, Ceinia, Poblachd Dheamocratach na Congo, Albàinia
o 2011:Sudàn a Deas
o 2013:Masadonia, Honduras, Cape Verde
o 2015:Benan, Èirinn, Pearù
o 2016:Mongòilia, Paraguaidh, An t-Slòbhain, Am Monadh Neagrach
o 2017:An Liotuain
o 2018:Neapàl
o 2019:A’ Chosobho, An Fhraing, Afraga a Deas, A’ Chairtbheil (Georgia)
 (Iomradh)ALBA(2019)

 

•Iomradh:Susan H. Bitensky, Corporal Punishment of Children: A Human Rights Violation, Transnational Publishers, New York, 2006 agus Global Initiative to End All Corporal Punishment of Children

 

Le Steaphan Mac Risnidh

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Rathad-iarainn Gibraltar

Le alasdairmaccaluim

Fhuair mi leabhar inntinneach a-mach às an leabharlann bho chionn goirid mu thrèanaichean caol-ghèidse (narrow gauge).

narrow gauge

Nuair a smaoinicheas sinn air rathaidean-iarainn caol-ghèidse, mar as trice, bidh sinn a’ smaoineachadh air thrèanaichean beaga brèagha a-mach air an dùthaich – a’ Ffestiniog, an Talyllyn, an Corris agus mar sin air adhart.

Anns an leabhar Narrow Gauge Locomotives le Anthony Coulls, tha an t-ùghdar a’ coimhead air loidhnichean is locothan nach eil a cheart cho ainmeil no romansach – loidhnichean bathair ann am mèinnein is cuaraidhean agus eile.

San leabhar, ionnsaich mi gu bheil Taigh-tasgaidh Caol-ghèidse ann an Irchester, Northamptonshire anns a bheil tòrr eisimpleirean de na locothan den t-seòrsa seo.

Thug mi sùil air an làraich-lìn aca agus tha fiosrachadh mu loco a th’ aca air a bheil ‘An Rock’.

img_1066

‘The Rock”, Taigh-tasgaidh Caol-ghèidse Irchester (Bho Wikipedia commons)

Fhuair mi a-mach gun d’fhuair e a ainm bhon Rock of Gibraltar far an robh e ag obair uair.

Ged a tha ùidh mhòr agam ann an rathaidean-iarainn agus Tìrean Breatannach Thall-thairis (British Overseas Territories), cha robh càil a dh’fhios agam gun robh rathaidean-iarainn ann an Gibraltar uair.

img_1067

Bha lìonra gu math mòr de rathaidean-iarainn caol-ghèidse ann an Gibraltar airson bathair uair le còrr is 17 mìle de thrac anns na docaichean.

Cha robh trèanaichean luchd-siubhail no ceangal-rèile leis an Spàinn ann riamh.

Ach ged nach eil rathad-iarainn sam bith air fhàgail, tha “an Rock” fhathast a’ ruith ann an Northamptonshire.

1280px-Flag_of_Gibraltar.svg

Alasdair


Tadhail air Trèanaichean, tramaichean is tràilidhean

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Sgolpaig… agus an t-àm ri teachd

Le Bella Caledonia Editor

In this month’s column Fiona MacIsaac looks at issues around prioritising large scale industrial projects in fragile rural areas – in this case the proposed Spaceport in Sgolpaig in North Uist. While on the surface this seems like it could be a positive development for the area, the project is not without glaring problems – […]

Tadhail air Ghetto na Gàidhlig – Bella Caledonia

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