Undergraduate Gaelic 2024-2025

This is an 11-week course in the modern Scottish Gaelic language for students who have little or no prior experience of the language, or for students with no formal qualifications in Gaelic.

You will learn Gaelic through a mixture of interactive language classes, a class which focuses on conversational skills, and a programme of homework exercises, together with self-directed learning.

By the end of the course, you will be able to speak, read, write and understand Gaelic at a basic level and you will have mastered a large working vocabulary. 

This is a Gaelic language course for students who are relatively fluent in the language already and have studied it to at least Higher in school (Higher Gaelic or Gàidhlig) or have studied it to a similar level elsewhere. 

Gaelic is Scotland's oldest living language. In this introductory course you will learn about the Gaels, their history and their role in the shaping modern Scotland. You will also learn about how Gaelic language and culture became minoritised in its own country. Students will learn learn about various contemporary initiatives that are aimed at saving and promoting this indigenous language and culture and this will be compared to minority languages and cultures elsewhere in the world.

This is an 11-week course in the modern Scottish Gaelic language for students who have completed GH1007 Gaelic for Beginners 1A. 

You will attend three interactive language classes and one conversation class each week, as well as undertaking self-directed learning. 

By the end of the course you will be expected to have mastered a large working vocabulary and to be competent in understanding and using most of the major structures of the language. 

This is the second-half of the first year Gaelic language course for students who are relatively fluent in the language already and have studied it to at least Higher in school (Higher Gaelic or Gàidhlig) or have studied it to a similar level elsewhere. 

This is the second year Gaelic language course for people who started learning in their first year.  It builds on the foundations already set in the first year and continues to develop vocabulary, grammatical structures and idioms in both writing and speech.

Godlike ‘immortals’, elves, fairies, the walking dead, the Loch Ness Monster: uncanny Otherworldly beings feature widely in the literature and folklore of medieval Scotland. This course will explore the nature and significance of Gaelic Otherworld-traditions in their wider North Atlantic context. We investigate how Germanic and Celtic beliefs merged in Gaelic Otherworld-lore, how these related to pre-Christian myth and religion, and why they continued to be significant in Scotland many centuries after Christianization. All texts will be studied in translation.

This is the first half of the second year Gaelic language course for students who are relatively fluent in the language already and have studied it to at least Higher in school (Higher Gaelic or Gàidhlig) or similar level.  It follows on from GH1513. It continues to develop accuracy in the language and increases usage across a wider variety of domains.

This course follows on from GH2009 and is for people who started learning in their first year.  It continues to develop a range of linguistic competencies in written and oral language.

This is the second half of the second year Gaelic language course for students who are relatively fluent in the language already and have studied it to at least Higher in school (Higher Gaelic or Gàidhlig) or similar level.  It follows on from GH2013.

This course uses selected texts from one of Europe's oldest secular literatures to introduce key moments in the history of Scottish Gaelic society. It is taught using translated texts and originals for those whose Gaelic language is good enough. Students will gain new perspectives on key areas such as Jacobitism, the Clearances, the Highland Land Wars, the Celtic Twilight Movement and the modern Gaelic renaissance. It is suitable for anyone in Programme Year 2 or above with an interest in Scottish society.

A level 3 Gaelic language class for students not taking Honours in Gaelic.  The course is topic based and will enable students to deal with a large range of subjects in Gaelic. The course also develops students' generic writing and oral skills.  The course runs over both semesters.

A level three Gaelic language course for students taking honours Gaelic. The course runs over both semesters and is topic based, enabling students to develop their ability to deal with a large range of subjects in Gaelic. The course also develops students' generic writing and oral skills.

Europe’s earliest surviving body of vernacular literature was written by the Gaels of Ireland and Scotland, in their shared Old Gaelic language. Recasting oral traditions in new literary forms, these stories and poems dramatize the passions, conflicts and convictions of mythological and legendary men and women. They entertained and inspired mediaeval audiences and continue to enthral readers today. We explore selected works in translation to uncover their purposes, meanings and artistry.

This course explores Gaelic dialect distribution: students become familiar with some of the main extant dialects and look at some of the historical dialects. Students will gain a deeper understanding about the Gaelic language by learning about how Gaelic diverged from earlier forms. Students will study the Gaelic sound system and will be introduced to phonetics.  Classes will be a mixture of lectures, tutorials and practicals with plenty of opportunity to listen to and discuss various dialects.

The course will introduce core concepts in language planning and policy, and will critically examine theories relating to language shift and to methods of reversing language shift. 

The course will analyse the impact of language policy on the insular Celtic languages, with particular reference to Welsh, Irish and Scottish Gaelic, and it will critically assess contemporary measures taken to address the decline of these languages. 

A level four Gaelic language course for students taking honours Gaelic. The course runs over both semesters and is topic based, enabling students to develop their ability to deal with a large range of subjects in Gaelic. The course also develops students' generic writing and oral skills.

Europe’s earliest surviving body of vernacular literature was written by the Gaels of Ireland and Scotland, in their shared Old Gaelic language. Recasting oral traditions in new literary forms, these stories and poems dramatize the passions, conflicts and convictions of mythological and legendary men and women. They entertained and inspired mediaeval audiences and continue to enthral readers today. We explore selected works in translation to uncover their purposes, meanings and artistry.

The dissertation course for single honours Gaelic students is student-led.  Students decide in consultation with academic staff what topic they would like to research and write about for their final dissertation.  Students can choose any topic from the broad field that is Gaelic studies, including topics related to: Gaelic literature (a writer or a theme), Gaelic sociolinguistics, language planning, linguistics, Gaelic cultural practices, etc.

This course explores Gaelic dialect distribution: students become familiar with some of the main extant dialects and look at some of the historical dialects. Students will gain a deeper understanding about the Gaelic language by learning about how Gaelic diverged from earlier forms. Students will study the Gaelic sound system and will be introduced to phonetics.  Classes will be a mixture of lectures, tutorials and practicals with plenty of opportunity to listen to and discuss various dialects.

The dissertation course for honours Gaelic students is student-led.  Students decide in consultation with academic staff what topic they would like to research and write about for their final dissertation.  Students can chose any topic from the broad field that is Gaelic studies, including topics related to: Gaelic literature (a writer or a theme), Gaelic sociolinguistics, language planning, Gaelic cultural practices, etc.

The course will introduce core concepts in language planning and policy, and will critically examine theories relating to language shift and to methods of reversing language shift.

The course will analyse the impact of language policy on the insular Celtic languages, with particular reference to Welsh, Irish and Scottish Gaelic, and it will critically assess contemporary measures taken to address the decline of these languages.