Tha mi toilichte a ràdh gu bheil an nobhail ùr agam, An Luingeas Dorcha air Fàire, a-nis anns na bùithtean! Cuideachd, rinn CLÀR ath-chlò-bhualadh dhen chiad nobhail anns an t-sreath, Air Cuan Dubh Drilseach, agus tha sin ri faighinn a-nis a-rithist, às dèidh dhi a bhith bliadhnaichean a-mach à clò.
Gheibhear air loidhne aig na làraichean air loidhne seo:
Comhairle nan Leabhraichean — ri teachd Scottish Bookstore — ACDD, ALDAF Waterstones — ACDD, ALDAF
Mas e bùth-leabhair a th’ annaibh, tha CLÀR a’ cleachdadh Lomond Books mar sgaoileadair.
Chan eil figearan ann air cia mheud duine aig a bheil Gàidhlig a chleachdas gach stèisean ann an rathaidean-iarainn na h-Alba.
Ach nam biodh figearan againn, le deamografics na Gàidhlig mar a tha iad, chuireadh e iongnadh mòr orm mura b’ e Stèisean a’ Mheadhain ann an Glaschu an stèisean leis an àireamh as motha de luchd-cleachdaidh aig a bheil Gàidhlig. Agus a bharrachd air sin, bidh na mìltean mòra de luchd-ionnsachaidh agus luchd-taic ga chleachdadh cuideachd.
Tha mi cinnteach gum biodh Stèisean Waverley am measg nan stèiseanan leis an àireamh as motha de luchd-cleachdaidh le Gàidhlig cuideachd.
A bharrachd air sin, is iad Glaschu Mheadhain agus Waverley D.È an dà stèisean far a bheil daoine a’ tighinn a-steach à dh’Alba bhon taobh a-muigh – ’s e stèiseanan eadar-nàiseanta cudromach a th’ annta.
Air an adhbhar seo, tha e gu math mì-fhortanach gur iad Central is Waverley an dà stèisean ann an Alba aig nach eil soidhnichean Gàidhlig fhathast.
Carson a tha seo?
Tha cha mhòr a h-uile stèisean ann an Alba air a ruith le ScotRail ach ann an suidheachaidhean far a bheil grunn diofar chompanaidhean a’ cleachdadh stèisean mòr, tha na stèiseanan sin air an ruith le Network Rail. Tha 20 stèisean air an ruith le Network Rail: 18 dhiubh ann an Sasainn agus Stèisean a’ Mheadhain agus Dùn Èideann ann an Alba.
Mar sin, ged a soidhnichean Gàidhlig aig stèiseanan ScotRail, chan eil iad air na stèiseanan aig Network Rail.
Rinneadh iomairtean beaga air a’ chuspair seo thar nam bliadhnaichean agus chaidh dà shoidhne a chur suas aig Waverley Dhùn Èideann taobh a-muigh togalach an stèisein air an t-slighe a-steach gu Tunail Gàraidhean Sràid a’ Phrionnsa. Ach chan eil iad ro fhollaiseach agus chan eil gin ann an Stèisean a’ Mheadhain.
Rud a tha nas neònaiche buileach, ’s e gu bheil soidhnichean Gàidhig san Low Level ann an Glaschu Mheadhain (a tha air a ruith le ScotRail ach chan anns san High Level a tha air a ruith le Nework Rail!)
Carson a tha mi a’ togail seo an-dràsta?
Tha atharrachaidhean mòra air faire do na rathaidean-iarainn agus rathaidean-iarainn Bhreatainn a’ dol air ais dhan roinn phobalaich. Thathar a’ cur às do Network Rail agus thèid ath-bhranndachadh (rebranding) a dhèanamh air na stèiseanan aca nuair a thèid an gabhail thairis le Great British Railways. Seo deagh chothrom gus dèanamh cinnteach gun tèid soidhnichean Gàidhlig a chur san dà stèisean as motha agus as cudromaiche ann an Alba agus leis gu bheilear a’ dèanamh ath-bhranndachadh, bidh e an-asgaidh cuideachd.
Le Achd nan Cànan Albannach agus a h-uile coltas ann gum bi inbhe mar sgìrean cànain sònraichte aig Glaschu is Dùn Èideann, tha argamaidean làidir ann airson soidhnichean Gàidhlig ann am prìomh stèiseanan nan cathair-bhailtean as motha againn.
Seo deagh àm do luchd na Gàidhlig agus do na buidhnean Gàidhlig a’ chùis a thogail leis na h-ùghdarrasan iomchaidh.
Tha mi air litir no dhà a sgrìobhadh agus cuiridh mi fios nuair a gheibh mi freagairt.
Gaelic recordings on the Island Voices YouTube channel provide the empirical data to inform the Leacan 2 corpus planning project on how the language is spoken in real life. The project is led by Glasgow University for Bòrd na Gàidhlig, with support from the UHI Language Sciences Institute, among others. With the UHI contribution now complete, an edited version of the paper offering applied and sociolinguistic commentary “with a view to identification of features of traditional Gaelic requiring description and guidance” is now made available in the online open access “Working Papers in Urban Language & Literacies” series.
It’s a very interesting series, described in some detail in Working papers for a more open academy, with a mission to develop “sociolinguistic, applied and educational frameworks adequate for the analysis of urban language, literacies, interaction and learning; [as well as] modes of intervention in language policy and practice that are productively tuned to the realities of contemporary urban life”, noting also that ‘urban’ has been dropped from the latest iterations of this statement. That’s a philosophy that fits well with Island Voices priorities, especially following the adjustment away from an appearance of a primarily metropolitan focus…
We’re delighted that the series editors took readily and quickly to publishing Gordon Wells’s paper as “Corpus planning in Scottish Gaelic: A case study”, the first contribution on Gaelic in this quickly growing and highly diverse collection with an extensive and worldwide online readership. (It’s also available through their Academia.edu page.) In the spirit of open collaboration they also encouraged us to share the paper on our own Research/Reports page, where readers will now find a new link. Taing mhòr, a chàirdean!
Here’s the abstract:
A detailed example is presented of an aspect of Scottish Gaelic corpus planning, focussing on the use of community-based authentic speech recordings to inform the production of guidance on a range of grammatical issues. Attention is drawn to a salient distinction between dialectal and idiolectal variation in relation to this task, and there is discussion of particular syntactic and semantic forms selected from the project’s stated terms of reference. Concluding remarks suggest and discuss issues for further research. Deeper linguistic analysis of the “phrasal verb” in use should throw light on some of the complexities of bilingual competences that may not currently be fully acknowledged in the Scottish Gaelic context. These complexities also have significance for the broader consideration of key practical planning processes entailing community participation and empowerment, as well as the construction of effective linguistic “authority”. These issues highlight the complex nature and significant scale of the challenges involved in effectively conducting this kind of work in a way that will gain real traction at community level in a context of ongoing language shift away from bilingualism towards increasingly monolingual use of English.
The University of the Highlands and Islands (UHI) has been awarded £42,527 from The National Lottery Heritage Fund to safeguard and share a unique multilingual record of island life and connections.
Hebridean communities are well accustomed to a bilingual outlook on everyday life.
Photo: Gordon Wells
The funding will support the creation of a permanent digital archive for the ‘Island Voices / Guthan nan Eilean’ project, a 21-year community initiative capturing “slices of life in and beyond the 21st century Hebrides.”
The collection includes more than 500 films recorded in almost 40 languages, alongside extensive web content documenting the project’s development. It will be developed into an important, publicly available UHI Archive resource, which will support and develop research across and beyond the UHI partnership. UHI will contribute £29,955 to the project, bringing the total investment to £72,482.
Co-created with communities in the Hebrides, across Scotland and internationally, the project captures the voices of people sharing their own stories, memories and experiences in their own words. While rooted in Gaelic-speaking communities, the collection reflects a wider, globally relevant story of linguistic diversity and language change.
Launched in April 2026, the project will secure more than 1,000 digital items, including video recordings and associated online materials. Without this work, there is a risk that this unique digital and linguistic heritage, currently held across external platforms, could be lost or become inaccessible over time. The new archive will safeguard the collection to recognised preservation standards and make it freely available to the public.
Alongside the archive work, a programme of public engagement activity is planned throughout 2026, including exhibitions and events in island and mainland locations such as Uist and Glasgow. This will culminate in a public launch in September, marking the project’s 21st anniversary.
A newly released compilation video brings together highlights from across the collection and is already being used to introduce the project to new audiences and support discussions with community partners on upcoming exhibitions and events.
Gordon Wells, Island Voices Archive Manager and researcher, said:
It’s been a unique pleasure and privilege to be a part of building up this body of work over the past two decades and more. Not only does it platform the rich oral heritage of the contemporary Hebrides, but it also makes mutually beneficial and creatively stimulating links with other communities too. The film is a taster, and testament to the willing “no bother!” co-operation of hundreds of participants over the years in this community project, from North Uist to North-east India and beyond. We hope it will stir memories and interest!
Professor Conchúr Ó Giollagáin, Director of the UHI Language Sciences Institute, said:
The staff of the UHI Language Sciences Institute welcome this opportunity to participate in this important project. Archiving the recordings of vernacular speakers will help put their voice at the heart of how we understand Gaelic and other minority cultures.
Philippa Currie, UHI Archivist and Information Governance Manager, said:
UHI Archive welcomes this exciting opportunity to work with depositors to create a remarkable resource for the Gaelic Language that will support the work of research and communities the world over.
By combining academic expertise with grassroots participation, the project also offers a model that could be adapted by other minority language communities in Scotland and internationally.
Further details on public events and the archive launch will be announced in due course.
Tha i gu bhith deiseil, is tha i mòr: 616 duilleagan! Bidh i air na sgeilpichean ro dheireadh a’ mhìosa, tha sinn an dòchas. Is nach eil an còmhdach brèagha!! Mo thaing do Phineas X Jones a tharraing an dealbh. The e dìreach sgoinneil.
Who remembers Island Voices’ first ever films from the Craigard Centre in Lochmaddy, North Uist? Still among our favourites, short clips from these earliest recordings set the opening scenes for this compilation video tracing the project’s evolution from 2005 right up to 2026, as our 21st birthday approaches in September.
With over 500 videos now on the YouTube channel, it’s been no small task to pull together something short but representative. From Craigard the compilation moves quickly on through the Uist and Barra Children’s parliament and Roddy Red Tie’s croft to Am Pàipear’s feature story on the renowned Norman Maclean. It’s a small step from Norman’s diverse skills and talents to the project’s multilingual and international connections through webinars, documentary adaptations, and geographical and literary extensions across Scotland, Ireland, England and Wales and still further afield in other island and mainland, rural and urban contexts. Coming full circle, samples of longer local recordings highlight the connected community base in which the project is rooted, and the film concludes with Norman recalling his own permanent return to the Hebrides in his trademark inimitable style – though Craigard’s Donald Mackinnon has the very last word!
We’ve had to leave a lot out, which wasn’t easy, but we’ve sampled material from ten of our collections in the hope that viewers may be inspired to dig deeper into any of these links, or indeed into other pages on this site!
These are the sources from which we’ve drawn for this compilation:
Over coming months leading up to September we’ll be looking to “tour” the full project at various locations – both Hebridean and across the mainland – and in various ways, in order to mark the twenty-one year milestone. September will also see the completion of a permanent open access Island Voices Multilingual Archive in the University of the Highlands and Islands, thanks to support from the National Lottery Heritage Fund!
This film is a taster, and testament to the willing “no bother!” co-operation of hundreds of participants over the years in this community project, from North Uist to North-East India and beyond. We hope it will stir memories and interest!
Ma bhios sibh ann an Dùn Èideann anns an Ògmhios, bidh mi aig an fhèis-leabhair Cymera a-rithist am bliadhna, air Dihaoine, an 5mh latha, far am bi mi a’ bruidhinn mun leabhar ùr agam, An Luingeas Dorcha air Fàire. Ma thèid a h-uile rud mar a tha dùil againn (corragan croiste), bidh an leabhar fhèin air ais bhon chlò-bhualadair ron latha sin agus ri cheannach aig a’ chuirm. Bidh mi air an àrd-ùrlar còmhla ris an ùghdar Scots Robin C.M. Duncan air panail fon tiotal: Wor(l)d Weaving. Cha do thachair mi a-riamh ri Robin, agus tha mi a’ dèanamh fiughair mhòr ris. Tha e a’ dol a bhith inntinneach. Thigibh ann!
Carson a tha trèanaichean a’ stad cho tràth/carson a tha consairtean a’ crìochnachadh cho anmoch?
Tha thu ag iarraidh a dhol gu gig. Bidh an gig a’ tighinn gu crìch aig mu 11f. Bidh na trèanaichean uile agus a’ mhòr-chuid de na busaichean a’ stad mu 11f.
Ann an Glaschu, gach turas a tha gig mòr san SECC, tha na miltean mòra de chàraichean anns a’ bhaile gun fheum idir air agus tha iad a’ dùmhlachadh an M8 gu mòr a bharrachd air an CO2 uile.
Chunnaic mi cuideigin a’ gearan sna pàipearan naidheachd an latha roimhe agus ag ràdh “carson nach eil na busaichean is na trèanaichean a’ ruith nas anmoiche”. Ach bha mise riamh a’ smaoineachadh “carson nach tig consairtean gu crìch aig 10 seach 11 gus am faigh daoine dhachaigh air còmhdhail phoblach?”
Tha e daonnan nas fhasa Mohammed a thoirt dhan bheinn seach a’ bheinn a thoirt gu Mohammed! Tha mi a’ smaoineachadh san fharsaingeachd gum bu chòir trèanaichean ruith nas anmoiche air an oidhche, gu h-àraid seirbheisean eadar-chathrach, ach cha bhiodh cosgaise a bharrachd ann do ScotRail no na companaidhean bus nan robh na consairtean a’ tighinn gu crìch aig 10.
Shaoilinn gum biodh cumhachd aig comhairlean no an Riaghaltas gus rudeigin a dhèanamh mu dheidhinn uairean ceadachaidh gus seo a chur an comas.
Mar a chanas iad sa chànan eile, ‘s e “measan aig ìre iosail” a tha seo!
Eric Bell (Thin Lizzy), sàr chuicheadair blues ann an Glaschu.
Carson nach eil barrachd co-òrdanachaidh ann eadar aiseagan is trèanaichean/busaichean?
Tha an dà chuid ScotRail agus na h-aithisgean air a’ Chosta an Iar san roinn phoblaich is mar sin, shaoileadh tu gum biodh na clàran-ama nas co-òrdanaichte. Agus ged a tha na companaidhean bus prìobhaideachd sa mhòr-chuid, tha tòrr a’ faighinn subsadaidh nach beag bhon Riaghaltas.
Agus fiù ‘s nuair a tha ceangal oifigeil ann air a’ chlàr-ama, gu tric, tha na trèanaichean no busaichean a tha “a’ ceangal” ri bàtaichean clàraichte gus tighinn a-steach dìreach 5 no 10 mhionaidean mus falbh na bàtaichean, ged a tha CalMac ag ràdh gum feum thu a bhith ann co-dhiù 15 no 30 mionaidean mus falbh an aiseag! Agus ma tha thu a’ dol fad nas slighe bho Inbhir Nis is Ullapul air a’ bhus no eadar Glaschu is Malaig air an trèana, tha e furasta fhèin 5 no 10 mionaidean a chall air an t-slighe. Is iomadh turas a bha agam ri ruith eadar stèisean agus port Mhalaig aig peilear mo bheatha agus aithisg an Eilein fhaighinn!
Carson a tha Wifi ScotRail cho fìor, fìor dhona?
Is e eadar-theangair a th’ annam agus tha mi feumach air wifi gus m’ obair a dhèanamh. Is toil leam a bhith ag obair air trèanaichean agus bidh an t-eadar-theangachadh a nì mi air an trèana a’ maoineachadh tòrr de na tursan trèana agam mum bi mi a’ sgrìobhadh an seo. Ach is dòcha 50% den àm, chan fhaigh mi air a’ Wifi air an laptop agam idir. Chan eil e gu diofar a bheil an trèana trang no cha mhòr falbh. Agus chan eil e gu diofar dè an loidhne a th’ ann nas motha. (Gu h-annasach, tha an wifi air Loidhne a’ Chinn a Tuath eadar Inbhir Nis agus Inbhir Theòrsa/Inbhir Ùige tòrr nas fhèarr na air an loidhne eadar Glaschu is Dùn Èideann – agus bha fiù ‘s mus d’ fhuair iad Starlink air loidhne a’ Chinn a Tuath).
Agus cha d’ fhuair mi wifi ScotRail *riamh* air m’ fhòn làimh! (Agus tha mi air a bhith a’ feuchainn fad 10 bliadhna is còrr a-nis le trì no ceithir diofar fhònaichean!)
Carson idir a tha daoine den bheachd gu bheil e OK graffiti a dhèanamh air trèanaichean?
Airson adhbhar air choireigin, tha daoine a tha ri graffiti den bheachd gu bheil e daonnan OK a bhith a’ cur graffiti air trèanaichean ann an suidheachadh sam bith.
Nithear cron gu leòr air trèanaichean àbhaisteach ach ged a tha e cosgail, tha airgead gu leòr aig Subway Ghlaschu agus ScotRail gus a chur ceart gu luath.
Ach tha e nas miosa do bhuidhnean aig nach eil cus airgid. Tha trioblaid mhòr aig rathaidean-iarainn glèidhte le graffiti. Agus bho chionn ghoirid, chaidh grunn sheann trèanaichean aig Glaschu Subway a cheannaich le gnìomhachasan, agus sgoiltean airson seòmraichen clas, seòmaichean obrach is eile. Taobh a-staigh beagan làithean, chaidh na càraichean ann am Finnieston, ri taobh Pàirc Pollok agus aig sgoil àraich ann an Glaschu an Ear a graffititheadh chun na h-ìre is gur dòcha nach tèid an cleachdadh tuilleadh.
Cha bhi daoine a’ dèanamh graffitti air càraichean no air busaichean (uill, air taobh a-muigh nam busaichean co-dhiù), ach ma dh’fhàgar trèana fad còig mionaidean, cuiridh amadan air choireigin peant air, fiù ‘s ma tha e follaiseach gun deach obair mhòr a dhèanamh oirre. Agus ged nach cuireadh muinntir a’ ghraffiti peant air uinneagan taighe, peantaidh iad air uinneagan trèana gun a bhith a’ smaoineachahd mu dheidhinn.
Graffiti – chan eil e mòr, chan eil e glic agus chan eil e èibhinn….
Carson a tha companaidhean rèile cho spìocach le lounges?
Ma cheananicheas tu tiocaid 1d clas, faodaidh tu a dhol a-steach gu lounge aig a’ chompanaidh rèile agad. Bidh àite suidhe is bòrd cofhurtail ann le tì is cofaidh an-asgaidh ann agus is dòcha beagan greimean bidh. Tha seo gu math feumail ma dh’fheumas tu obrachadh. Ach leis cho daor ’s a tha tiocaidean 1d clas, chan fhiach e mar as trice.
Ach fiù ‘s ma tha tiocaid 1d clas agad, feumaidh e a bhith leis a’ chompanaidh cheart. Chan eil lounge aig a h-uile companaidh a tha a’ ruith trèanaichean 1d clas anns a h-uile stèisean a bhios iad a’ frithealach. Ann an Glaschu Mheadhain, mar eisimpleir, ma cheannaicheas tu tiocaid Avanti, faodaidh tu an lounge a chleachdadh, ach ma cheannaicheas tu tiocaid Cross Country no TPE, tha thu “on to plums” mar a chanas iad sa chànan eile agus chan fhaigh thu a-steach idir.
Saoilidh mi gum bu chòir cothrom aig duine sam bith a cheannaicheas tiocaid 1d clas a dhol a-steach gu lounge sam bith.
Tha e OK tron latha oir tha bùitean cofaigh gu leòr ann faisg air stèisean mòr sam bith – ach ma tha thu a’ feitheimh ri trèana air an oidhche, chan eil e cho furasta.
’S e an Caledonian Sleeper an eisimpleir as miosa. Chan eil e math gu leòr gu bheil leabaidh agad air an trèana, feumaidh tiocaid double no club a bhith agad. Tuigidh mi nach eil rùm gu leòr ann airson a h-uile duine a bhios a’ dol air an trèana (tha rùm airson ach tha tiocaid sam bith le leabaidh air leth fhèin daor agus saoilidh mi gu bheil e spiocach gum feum thu còrr math is £200 a chosg airson faighinn a-staigh. Bha lounges aig a’ chadalaiche an Dùn Dè agus Luacharas(airson Cill Rìmhinn) ach dhùin iad bho chionn ghoirid mar thoradh air ìrean cleachdaidh ìosail. Ach nam biodh iad air duine sam bith a tha a’ siubhail à Dùn Dè no Cill Rìmhinn a leigeil a-staigh, bhiodh iad fhathast ann, tha mi cinnteach oir tha e fuar is fliuch is mì-chaillear aig na stèiseanan ud anmoch air an oidhche agus tha thu feumach is airidh air àite blàth.
A bheil ceist sam bith agad nach eil thu a’ tuigsinn mu chòmhdhail na h-Alba?
Tha an seisean pàrlamaideach a-nis air tighinn gu crìch agus tha seo a’ toirt deagh chothrom dhuinn sùil a thoirt air mar a bhios sinn a’ conaltraidh sa Ghàidhlig sa Phàrlamaid ùire. Tha sinn airson faighinn a-mach ciamar a tha luchd-labhairt na Gàidhlig airson cluinntinn bhon Phàrlamaid agus airson eadar-obrachadh rithe – tron chuairt-litir againn, … Leugh an corr de Beachdan gan sìreadh air cuairt-litir agus conaltradh Gàidhlig
Tha Comataidh ag iarraidh gum bi guth Albannach nas làidire aig a’ BhBC agus gum bi iad a’ dèanamh comharrachadh nas soilleire air cumhachdan tiomnaichte ann an craoladh nan naidheachdan Feumaidh barrachd ghuthan Albannach a bhith aig a’ BhBC ag innse sgeulachdan Albannach, feumaidh iad a bhith nas soilleire mu chùisean tiomnaichte agus glèidhte nan … Leugh an corr de Fios naidheachd: Comataidh ag iarraidh guth Albannach nas treasa aig a’ BhBC
