- Paperback: 352 pages
- Publisher: Teach Yourself (30 Jun 2005)
- Language English
- ISBN-10: 0340906251
- ISBN-13: 978-0340906255
- Product Dimensions: 22.4 x 16 x 5 cm
- Average Customer Review: 3.9 out of 5 stars See all reviews (8 customer reviews)
- Amazon Bestsellers Rank: 472,857 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)
- See Complete Table of Contents
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More About the Author
Product Description
Product Description
Scottish Gaelic is one of six modern Celtic languages, which, like most other European languages, belong to the Indo-European family of languages. The older versions of the modern Celtic languages were spoken in a large part of Europe at the height of Celtic civilisation.
This book/CD course is designed for anyone who wants to progress quickly from the basics to understanding, speaking and writing Scottish Gaelic with confidence. 'Teach Yourself Gaelic' consists of 23 thematic units progressing from introducing yourself and talking about everyday topics to reporting events and making suggestions. The emphasis is on communication throughout with important language structures introduced through dialogues on the accompanying recording. There are plenty of exercises to practise the language as it is introduced and cultural information sections give useful advice about the culture of Gaelic-speaking people. There is a special section on spelling and pronunciation at the start of the course.
This book/CD course is designed for anyone who wants to progress quickly from the basics to understanding, speaking and writing Scottish Gaelic with confidence. 'Teach Yourself Gaelic' consists of 23 thematic units progressing from introducing yourself and talking about everyday topics to reporting events and making suggestions. The emphasis is on communication throughout with important language structures introduced through dialogues on the accompanying recording. There are plenty of exercises to practise the language as it is introduced and cultural information sections give useful advice about the culture of Gaelic-speaking people. There is a special section on spelling and pronunciation at the start of the course.
About the Author
Iain Taylor taught Gaelic in the Western Isles and Perthshire (1982-87) before working on curriculum materials at Jordanhill College (now Strathclyde University) in Glasgow (1987-91). He has worked as scriptwriter, editor and producer with Scottish Television and independent producers (1991-98) and also worked on publications and course materials for Sabhal Mòr Ostaig in Skye (1999-now). He is a former setter and marker with Scottish Examinations Board (now SQA) and member of Central Support Group for Gaelic (course materials preparation for Standard Grade Gaelic courses).
Boyd Robertson is Senior Lecturer in Gaelic at the University of Strathclyde in Glasgow. Before joining the University, he was Principal Teacher of Gaelic at Oban High School. He has played a leading part in the development of several courses for learners of Gaelic including the Speaking our Language TV series and the Abair E course for secondary schools. He is currently Chair of The Scottish Qualifications Authority Gaelic Assessment Panel and Vice-Chair of the main Gaelic language promotion agency, Comunn na Gàidhlig. He has had extensive involvement in European projects on minority language issues for bodies such as the Council of Europe and The European Cultural Foundation.
Boyd Robertson is Senior Lecturer in Gaelic at the University of Strathclyde in Glasgow. Before joining the University, he was Principal Teacher of Gaelic at Oban High School. He has played a leading part in the development of several courses for learners of Gaelic including the Speaking our Language TV series and the Abair E course for secondary schools. He is currently Chair of The Scottish Qualifications Authority Gaelic Assessment Panel and Vice-Chair of the main Gaelic language promotion agency, Comunn na Gàidhlig. He has had extensive involvement in European projects on minority language issues for bodies such as the Council of Europe and The European Cultural Foundation.
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Customer Reviews
Most Helpful Customer Reviews
58 of 59 people found the following review helpful
Format:Paperback
If you've ever listened to the Radio Scotland Gaelic services, you'll know that Gaelic sounds like a difficult enough language to get your ears round even before you start learning it. But for those of you who listen wistfully, wishing to be able to speak it with ease and flair, I can promise that after a read through this book, you can (by making the effort) become familiar with the language fairly quickly. Even if you are not the type of person who can readily pick up grammar points, this book explains it well, giving good concrete examples which are not ridden with exceptions and using words that won't send you scrambling to find for the glossary at the back. I read through the book along with listening to the cassette, and one of the handiest things about it is that you can listen to the tape without the book and thus improve pronounciation. All in all, it makes it possible to learn Gaelic through self study, and with a bit of drive and determination, I would imagine that even people who consider language learning a form of torture, may be able to pick up enough to have them picking up a Runrig album and singing along loudly in full confidence !
13 of 14 people found the following review helpful
Format:Paperback
Possibly the best teach yourself option currently available, but its difficult to learn from books and cd alone. A face-to-face course is highly beneficial. I started learning from this, then got other books and took a couple of courses.
The content is good, and you could have a reasonable conversation using it, but only if the other participants kept to its content and pronounciation. Even a simple conversation with a 'real' gaelic speaker may be difficult to understand though, partly because they will use vocabulary not covered, but also because of 'localised' pronounciation and word use - I am told a gaelic speaker can easily identify Skye gaelic, Harris gaelic, various sub areas of Lewis gaelic, BBC gaelic etc.
There are lots of variations from community to community (even neighbouring villages) in pronounciation etc. I didn't understand this fully from this book and was still left with quite a few questions. I would recommend the following book as a supplement:
Scots Gaelic - A Brief Introduction (Paperback)
by George Robert McLennan (Author)
You will probably also need a dictionary and if at all possible book yourself onto a course.
For something a bit more in depth I rate the following:
Gaelic Verbs: Systemised and Simplified (Paperback)
by Colin B.D. Mark (Author)
Finally, watch the Rocket Post and feel clever about understanding the small snippets of gaelic used (mainly hello & how are you).
The content is good, and you could have a reasonable conversation using it, but only if the other participants kept to its content and pronounciation. Even a simple conversation with a 'real' gaelic speaker may be difficult to understand though, partly because they will use vocabulary not covered, but also because of 'localised' pronounciation and word use - I am told a gaelic speaker can easily identify Skye gaelic, Harris gaelic, various sub areas of Lewis gaelic, BBC gaelic etc.
There are lots of variations from community to community (even neighbouring villages) in pronounciation etc. I didn't understand this fully from this book and was still left with quite a few questions. I would recommend the following book as a supplement:
Scots Gaelic - A Brief Introduction (Paperback)
by George Robert McLennan (Author)
You will probably also need a dictionary and if at all possible book yourself onto a course.
For something a bit more in depth I rate the following:
Gaelic Verbs: Systemised and Simplified (Paperback)
by Colin B.D. Mark (Author)
Finally, watch the Rocket Post and feel clever about understanding the small snippets of gaelic used (mainly hello & how are you).
3 of 3 people found the following review helpful
Format:Paperback
In my opinion this is the middle one of the three currently available Gaelic self-tuition books (see my other reviews). Although I didn't rate it much at first, as time has gone by it has become the one that I most enjoy dipping into.
It is by far the fattest of the three, at 344 pages, but the typeface and layout make it look a wee bit cluttered. It is divided into 23 shortish lessons, with a sensible progression of material and a good structure. The vocabulary lists are annoying in that they present entire phrases most of the time, but despite this, the explanations of grammar are clear and comprehensive, much better than the Colloquial book, though not as good as the In Twelve Weeks book. The dialogues are very lively, both in the book and on the CD, and there is a great set of exercises in each lesson.
The audio material is not as comprehensive as the Colloquial book, there being just one CD, but it is so much more listenable than the Colloquial. There is also some information about Gaelic culture, very welcome lists of place names, forenames and surnames, and a good Gaelic-English vocabulary list (but not the other way round). Like most Gaelic books, it falls down very badly in not having any printed pronunciation.
It is by far the fattest of the three, at 344 pages, but the typeface and layout make it look a wee bit cluttered. It is divided into 23 shortish lessons, with a sensible progression of material and a good structure. The vocabulary lists are annoying in that they present entire phrases most of the time, but despite this, the explanations of grammar are clear and comprehensive, much better than the Colloquial book, though not as good as the In Twelve Weeks book. The dialogues are very lively, both in the book and on the CD, and there is a great set of exercises in each lesson.
The audio material is not as comprehensive as the Colloquial book, there being just one CD, but it is so much more listenable than the Colloquial. There is also some information about Gaelic culture, very welcome lists of place names, forenames and surnames, and a good Gaelic-English vocabulary list (but not the other way round). Like most Gaelic books, it falls down very badly in not having any printed pronunciation.
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Most Recent Customer Reviews
A good over-view
Teach Yourself Gaelic - to do that you'll need more than one book or one course or one year, but this is as good a starting point as anywhere. Read more
Published 6 days ago by downunder
Teach Yourself Gaelic
I needed this book to use at the class I'm going to where I'm trying to rekindle my rusty knowledge of Gaelic. Read more
Published 17 months ago by Mrs. Elizabeth M. Goulder
Gaelic made easy
I found this a great help in my effort to learn Gaelic. Having the disc with the book made learning pronounciations so much easier. Read more
Published 20 months ago by Mrs. H. E. Muir
Scots Gaelic
A good book for grasping the basics. I speak Irish but urge caution when tackling Gaelic: there are differences between the two Languages. Read more
Published on 11 Oct 2008 by Mr. N. Smith
stopped after two days
The thing that annoyed me the most about this book is that there are no written pronounciations. Without these it doesn't matter how well explained things are - the reader is left... Read more
Published on 9 April 2007 by B. Fenning
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