Hi! I was wondering, as someone who wants to learn Gaelic, what's a good way to start and get aquainted with the language, in your opinion?
well, the best way, without a doubt, is a class being taught by a fluent speaker.
since I’m not in Scotland, I used Sabhal Mòr Ostaig’s Cùrsa Inntrigidh, and I know other people have had success with the Atlantic Gaelic Academy’s courses (and my impression is that there methodology re dialect is more coherent than SMO’s).
if you’re in Scotland, LearnGaelic has information on finding face-to-face courses in your area.
if you’re in Nova Scotia:
Comhairle na Gàidhlig has some information on their website
Sgoil Ghàidhlig an Àrd-Bhaile runs courses in Halifax
Colaisde na Gàidhlig in St. Anne’s on Cape Breton runs regular Gaelic courses, including short summer immersion courses
elsewhere in Canada, Comunn Gàidhlig Ottawa exists, but I don’t know what specifically they do education-wise. I bet there are resources elsewhere in Ontario, as well, but I don’t know anything about them, I’m afraid.
if financial, time, or other restrictions prevent you from doing a distance course, there are several online courses on the links page, of which I have used none, so I can’t make specific recommendations. as far as books, I myself own:
the mid-90s edition of Teach Yourself Gaelic; I can’t speak to the new one because I’ve never seen it, but knowing how TY operates my guess is it’s exactly the same just with an “updated” layout. has some pretty good not-too-technical grammar explanations that I appreciate.
Colloquial Scottish Gaelic, which I have barely ever touched. that said, I’m looking at it now and it has what looks like a pretty handy declension chart at the back in the “Grammar supplement”, so there’s that. I can’t speak to its value as a learning tool, though.
Scottish Gaelic in Twelve Weeks, which if you have any background in linguistics is by far the best, I think, because it gives IPA in the phonology section and for some of the words introduced in lessons, which is extremely helpful. his grammar explanations are both clear and concise, but maybe a little technical sometimes.
followers, any other suggestions or insight?
