Scotland’s largest conference dedicated to Gaelic research has returned to the University of Aberdeen for the first time in 10 years.
Rannsachadh na Gàidhlig is a biennial academic conference covering all aspects of research on Gaelic. The first conference in the series was held at the University of Aberdeen in 2000, and subsequent conferences have been held at the Universities of Glasgow and Edinburgh, at Sabhal Mòr Ostaig and at St Francis Xavier University in Canada.
The conference, which began on Monday (August 23), covers literature, oral and written history, linguistics, historical linguistics, sociolinguistics, onomastics, education, language policy, media studies, journalism, politics, social policy, and economics.
This year there is a focus on comparative research, particularly involving Irish or Manx, with a Scottish Gaelic component.
Rannsachadh na Gàidhlig brings together leading Gaelic researchers to share some of their latest findings with an audience at King’s College Conference Centre at the University of Aberdeen.
The conference, which runs until Thursday (August 26) features more than 60 presentations and the launch of several new Gaelic books.
Professor Rob Dunbar, a reader in Law and Celtic at the University of Aberdeen and academic organiser of Rannsachadh na Gàidhlig, said it presented an important opportunity to share ideas and research on all aspects of Gaelic.
“There are a number of Celtic studies conferences as well as conferences which relate to aspects of the work carried out by Gaelic researchers, such as linguistics or history, but the is the only event which focuses on all of these things together,” he added.
“Each time it has been held it has led to the publication of a new collection of Gaelic essays.
“We have enjoyed welcoming delegates back to the University of Aberdeen where the conference began in 2000.”