GAELIC

Credit Points

20

Course Coordinator

Ms M Maciver

Pre-requisites

None.

Notes

This course may not be included as part of a graduating curriculum with GH 1002 or GH 1003.

Overview

This is an intensive language course for students who have little or no previous knowledge of Gaelic. It concentrates on the acquisition of basic grammar and vocabulary, and on the development of reading, writing, speaking and listening skills.

Structure

4 one-hour classes per week.

Assessment

1st Attempt: In-course assessment: 4 language exercises (20%); oral assessment (20%), and 1 two-hour written examination (60%).

Resit: 1 two-hour written examination (100%).

Credit Points

15

Course Coordinator

Dr M MacLeod

Pre-requisites

Pass in Gaelic (Learners) Higher at B or better.

Notes

This course may not be included as part of a graduating curriculum with GH 1001 or GH 1003.

Overview

A course in Gaelic for students who have already undertaken some study of the language, but who are not native speakers. It enables students to consolidate and extend their knowledge and understanding of Gaelic grammar and vocabulary, and to improve their reading, writing, speaking, listening and translation skills.

Structure

2 one-hour language classes and 1 one-hour oral practice class per week.

Assessment

1st Attempt: In-course assessment: 4 language exercises (60%), oral (20%), and essay (20%).

Resit: 1 two-hour written examination (66%), and an oral examination (34%).

Credit Points

15

Course Coordinator

Dr M Macleod

Pre-requisites

Higher Gàidhlig (Gaelic Native Speakers) or equivalent.

Notes

This course may not be taken as part of a graduating curriculum with GH 1001 or GH 1002, or their equivalent.

Overview

This course will instruct students in the formal structures of the Gaelic language at morphological and syntactic levels, as well as reinforcing their knowledge of the phonological and orthographic systems within the language. Additionally students will acquire a basic working knowledge of key topics within Gaelic studies scholarship. There will be three one-hour classes per week, one each on the grammar and orthography of the language, language extension work and introduction to Gaelic Studies.

Structure

3 one-hour classes per week.

Assessment

1st Attempt: In-course assessment (100%): 4 language exercises (64%), and 1 essay (36%).

Resit: 2 hour examination (100%).

Credit Points

10

Course Coordinator

Mrs C Mackenzie

Pre-requisites

None.

Overview

The course provides a study of modern Gaelic Scotland from the social, cultural and historical perspective with retrospective reference to earlier policies that have affected its distinctive character. By the end of the course the students should have a clear knowledge of the events and influences which were involved in the creation of the modern Gaelic community and the institutions which continue to mould its development. This course is taught through the medium of English and all texts are presented in English.

Structure

2 one-hour classes per week.

Assessment

1st Attempt: 1 two-hour written examination (60%), continuous assessement: essay (30%) and tutorial assessment (10%).

Resit: 1 two-hour written examination (100%).

Credit Points

20

Course Coordinator

Ms M Maciver

Pre-requisites

GH 1001

Notes

This course may not be included as part of a graduating curriculum with GH 1502 or GH 1503.

Overview

This course builds on the foundation laid in GH 1001 (Gaelic for Beginners 1A), and concentrates on the acquisition of further basic grammar and vocabulary, and on the development of more advanced reading, writing, speaking and listening skills.

Structure

4 one-hour classes per week.

Assessment

1st Attempt: In-course assessment: 4 language exercises (20%); oral assessment (20%), and 1 two-hour written examination (60%).

Resit: 1 two-hour written examination (100%).

Credit Points

15

Course Coordinator

Dr M MacLeod

Pre-requisites

GH 1002

Notes

This course may not be included as part of a graduating curriculum with GH 1501 or GH 1503.

Overview

This course builds on the foundations laid in GH 1002 (Gaelic Language 1A), and enables students further to consolidate and extend their knowledge and understanding of Gaelic grammar and vocabulary, and to improve their reading, writing, speaking, listening and translation skills.

Structure

2 hours of language work per week and 1 hour oral class with native speaker.

Assessment

1st Attempt: In-course assessment: 4 language exercises (60%); oral assessment (20%), and essay (20%).

Resit: 1 two-hour written examination (70%) and an oral examination (30%).

Credit Points

15

Course Coordinator

Dr M Macleod

Pre-requisites

GH 1003 or equivalent.

Notes

This course may not be taken as part of a graduating curriculum with GH 1501 or GH 1502, or their equivalents.

Overview

This course will instruct students in the formal complex structures of the Gaelic language at morphological and syntactic levels, as well as reinforcing their knowledge of the phonological and orthographic systems within the language; this course follows on from Gaelic for Native Speakers 1A. Additionally students will continue to study a number of key literary, linguistic and social topics within Gaelic Studies preparing them for further study in subsequent years. There will be three one-hour classes per week, one each on the grammar and orthography of the language, language extension work and Gaelic Studies.

Structure

3 one-hour classes per week.

Assessment

1st Attempt: In-course assessment (100%): 4 language exercises (64%), and 1 essay (36%).

Resit: 2 hour examination (100%).

Credit Points

10

Course Coordinator

Mrs C Mackenzie

Pre-requisites

None.

Overview

The course continues to study modern Gaelic Scotland from the social, cultural and historical perspective with retrospective reference to earlier policies that have affected its distinctive character. By the end of the course the students should have a clear knowledge of the events and influences which were involved in the creation of the modern Gaelic community and the institutions which continue to mould its development. This course is taught through the medium of English and all texts are presented in English.

Structure

2 one-hour classes per week.

Assessment

1st Attempt: 1 two-hour written examination (60%), continuous assessement: essay (30%) and tutorial assessment (10%).

A satisfactory level of performance in course work will exempt students from examination.

Resit: 1 two-hour written examination (100%).

Credit Points

15

Course Coordinator

Dr M Watson

Pre-requisites

A pass in GH 1502 or equivalent.

Notes

This course may not be take as part of a graduating curriculum with GH 2005 or GH 2003 or their equivalents.

Overview

Each week, students will take one hour of formal language work, one hour of language extension work and one hour in an oral/aural class. The formal language work will be designed to increase students' confidence in using higher register language and will help students to improve their knowledge and understanding of accurate models of morphological and syntactic structures. The extension work will typically include reading texts, translation and writing about a wide range of topics in preparation for Honours study. The oral/aural class will involve natural conversation, discussion, debate, role play, monologue, presentations, etc., in addition to listening to tape-and-text materials, transcription and other exercises designed to improve students' understanding of authentic language.

Structure

3 one-hour language classes per week.

Assessment

1st Attempt: In-course assessment: exercises (50%), essay (20%), and oral (30%).

Resit: 1 two-hour written examination (70%) and an oral examination (30%).

Credit Points

15

Course Coordinator

Dr M Watson

Pre-requisites

A pass in GH 1503 or equivalent.

Notes

This course may not be taken as part of a graduating curriculum with second level Gaelic language courses for Gaelic learners, GH 2002 or GH 2005.

Overview

Each week, students will take one hour of formal language work and one hour of language extension work. The formal language work will be designed to increase students' confidence in using higher register language and will help students to improve their knowledge and understanding of accurate models of morphological and syntactic structures. The extension work will typically include reading texts, translation and writing a wide range of topics in preparation for Honours study. Students will be required to submit regular and extensive written formative assignments in addition to their assessed work.

Structure

2 one-hour language classes per week.

Assessment

1st Attempt: In-course assessment: 3 language exercises (60%), and 2 essays (40%).

Resit: 1 two-hour written examination.

Credit Points

20

Course Coordinator

Ms M MacIver

Pre-requisites

GH 1501

Notes

This course may not be included as part of a graduating curriculum with GH 2002 or GH 2003.

Overview

A course in Gaelic for students who started as beginners at Level 1, and who wish to continue with their studies. Building on the foundations laid in Level 1, it enables students to consolidate and extend their knowledge and understanding of Gaelic grammar and vocabulary, and to improve their reading, writing, speaking, listening and translation skills.

Structure

3 one-hour language classes and 1 one-hour oral practice class per week.

Assessment

1st Attempt: Two hour written examination (60%), four written assignments (20%); oral assessment (20%).

Resit: Two hour written examination (80%); oral assessment (20%).

Credit Points

15

Course Coordinator

Mrs C Mackenzie

Pre-requisites

None.

Overview

This course aims to introduce students to some of the concepts and skills involved in folklore studies and to give them the opportunity to examine aspects of the corpus of extant Gaelic folk materials. It will also support students' acquisition of Gaelic language. Through a mixture of lectures and tutorials the course will cover a range of topics, such as: collectors and collecting, rites of passages and practices, songs and tales. This course is taught through the medium of English but Gaelic students will be expected to use Gaelic sources and study Gaelic texts.

Structure

One lecture and one tutorial per week.

Assessment

1st Attempt: 1 two-hour written examination (60%), continuous assessment essay (30%) and tutorial assessment (10%).

Resit: 1 two-hour written examination (100%).

Credit Points

15

Course Coordinator

Dr M Watson

Pre-requisites

A pass in GH 2002 Gaelic Language 2A.

Notes

This course may not be take as part of a graduating curriculum with GH 2505 or GH 2503 or their equivalent.

Overview

Each week, students will take one hour of formal language work, one hour of language extension work and one hour in an oral/aural class. The formal language work will be designed to increase students' confidence in using higher register language and will help students to improve their knowledge and understanding of accurate models of morphological and syntactic structures. The extension work will typically include reading texts, translation and writing about a wide range of topics in preparation for Honours study. The oral/aural class will involve natural conversation, discussion, debate, role play, monologue, presentations, etc., in addition to listening to tape-and-text materials, transcription and other exercises designed to improve students' understanding of authentic language.

Structure

3 one-hour language classes per week.

Assessment

1st Attempt: In-course assessment: exercises (50%), essay (20%), and oral (30%).

Resit: 1 two-hour written examination (70%) and an oral examination (30%).

Credit Points

15

Course Coordinator

Dr M Watson

Pre-requisites

A pass in GH 2003 Gaelic Language for Native Speakers 2A or equivalent.

Notes

This course may not be taken as part of a graduating curriculum with second level Gaelic language courses for Gaelic learners.

Overview

Each week, students will take one hour of formal language work and one hour of language extension work. The formal language work will be designed to increase students' confidence in using higher register language and will help students to improve their knowledge and understanding of accurate models of morphological and syntactic structures. The extension work will typically include reading texts, translation and writing about a wide range of topics in preparation for Honours study. Students will be required to submit regular and extensive written formative assignments in addition to their assessed work.

Structure

2 one-hour language classes per week.

Assessment

1st Attempt: In-course assessment: 3 language exercises (60%), and 2 essays (40%).

Resit: 1 two-hour written examination.

Credit Points

20

Course Coordinator

Ms M MacIver

Pre-requisites

GH 2005

Notes

This course may not be included as part of a graduating curriculum with GH 2502 or GH 2503.

Overview

This course builds on the foundations laid in GH 2001 (Gaelic for Advanced Beginners 2A), and enables students to further consolidate and extend their knowledge and understanding of Gaelic grammar and vocabulary, and to improve their reading, writing, speaking, listening and translation skills.

Assessment

1st Attempt: Two hour written examination (60%), four written assignments (20%); oral assessment (20%).

Resit: Two hour written examination (80%); oral assessment (20%).

Credit Points

15

Course Coordinator

Mrs C Mackenzie

Pre-requisites

GH 2005 or GH 2002 or GH 2003.

Overview

The course will introduce key historical and social developments in Gaelic society in the 19th century, and will examine a range of poetry and prose which documents and discuss these developments. Topcis which will be covered include: land; the clearances; language and identity; emigration and internal migration; religion.

Structure

One lecture and one tutorial per week.

Assessment

1st Attempt: 1 two-hour written examination (60%); continuous assessment: essay (30%); tutorial assessment (10%).

Resit: 1 two-hour written examination (100%).

Credit Points

15

Course Coordinator

Dr M Macleod

Pre-requisites

GH 2505, GH 2502, or equivalent.

Co-requisites

Gaelic Translation: Theory and Practice A - for Gaelic Studies Single Honours.

Notes

This course is for Gaelic/Celtic Honours students. Not available for students with Native Speaker Higher; they are required to take Advanced Writing for Gaelic Native Speakers A.

Overview

2 one-hour classes per week and one hour of directed study in the language lab. One class will focus on oral communicative skills, and the other will develop competencies in the written language in a variety of different registers. Students will be required to complete regular assignments, to study independently and to study tapes and videos in the Language Centre. The Junior and Senior Honours language courses form a continuum for which the final assessment is not made until the end of the Senior Honours year.

Structure

2 one-hour classes and one hour of directed study in language lab per week.

Assessment

Gaelic Honours language examinations. Any student who follows this course but decides not to proceed to Level 4 will be examined by one written and one oral examination. In this case, a satisfactory level of performance in coursework will exempt that student from further examination.

Credit Points

15

Course Coordinator

Dr M Macleod

Pre-requisites

GH 2505, GH 2502, or equivalent.

Notes

The course is not available for students with Native Speaker Higher; they are required to take Advanced Writing for Gaelic Native Speakers A.

Overview

2 one-hour classes per week and one hour of directed study in the language lab. One class will focus on oral communiative skills, and the other will develop competencies in the written language in a variety of different registers. Students will be required to complete regular assignments, to study independently and to study tapes and videos in the language centre.

Structure

2 one-hour classes and one hour of directed study in the language lab per week.

Assessment

1st Attempt: In-course assessment (100%): two oral exercises (40%); composition (20%); two language exercises (40%).

Resit: 1 three-hour written examination and one oral examination.

Credit Points

15

Course Coordinator

Dr M Watson

Pre-requisites

GH 2503.

Co-requisites

Gaelic Translation: Theory and Practice A - for Gaelic Studies Single Honours.

Notes

Only available for students with Native Speaker Higher or equivalent.

Overview

This course builds on Gaelic language classes at level one and two and complements other language options available at levels 3 and 4. The course runs all year. Students will attend 1 one-hour seminar per fortnight. This seminar will provide vocabulary for specific linguistic domains, set writing tasks and discuss students' performance in their writing tasks. Students will be required to undertake a directed programme of writing tasks and submit exercises on a fortnightly basis.

Structure

1 one-hour seminar per fortnight.

Assessment

1st Attempt: In-course assessment (100%): four 1,000 word exercises.

Resit: 1 three-hour examination.

Credit Points

15

Course Coordinator

Dr R Dunbar

Pre-requisites

Available only to students in Programme Year 3 who have passed GH 2501, GH 2502 or GH 2503.

Notes

This course will be available in 2009/10 and in alternate sessions thereafter. It may not be included as part of a graduating curriculum with GH 4004.

Overview

Students will be introduced to the key historical and social developments of Gaelic society in the 17th and 18th centuries and will read poetry which gives a greater insight into understanding of Gaelic perspectives on and motives in such developments. Topics which will be covered include: clan politics; national and international politics (with emphasis on the wars of the Covenanting period, the Jacobite rebellions and British imperial wars to the Napoleonic period); religion; the development of a Gaelic identity; Culloden and its aftermath; poetic conservatism and innovation, both stylistic and in terms of subject matter (for example, bardic poetry, satire, nature and love poetry, metrical and linguistic developments).

Structure

Two hours of seminars per week.

Assessment

1st Attempt: In-course assessment (100%).

Resit: 1 two-hour written examination (100%).

Credit Points

15

Course Coordinator

Dr M Macleod

Pre-requisites

Available only to students in Programme Year 3 who have passed GH 2505, GH 2502 or GH 2503.

Notes

This course will be available in 2009/10 and in alternate sessions thereafter. This course may not be taken as part of a graduating curriculum with GH 4006.

Overview

This course will examine a range of Gaelic dialects. Students will be introduced to the principles of dialect distribution and variation, and they will examine features of vocabulary, pronunciation and grammar. Students will become familiar with the phonetic symbols used for transcribing Gaelic, and practice will be given in making phonetic transcripts. The course will also consider social attitudes to dialects and the attrition of Gaelic dialects. Students will have access to a sound archive of modern Gaelic dialects.

Structure

1 one-hour lecture and 1 one-hour seminar per week.

Assessment

1st Attempt: In-course assessment: essay (60%), and language exercise (40%).

Resit: 1 two-hour written examination (100%).

Credit Points

15

Course Coordinator

Dr M Watson

Pre-requisites

Available only to students in Programme Year 3 who have passed Gaelic language courses GH 2505, GH 2502, or GH 2503.

Overview

This course studies concepts and principles of translation and translation studies. The course also provides students with an opportunity to improve their Gaelic in an applied language setting, with an emphasis on transferable, professional skills. Assignments will consist of reading in the field of translatology and carrying out practical translation work. Students will be taught different strategies for dealing with different styles of source- and target-language materials and will be given the opportunity to develop their translating skills on a range of literary, professional, technical, academic and other texts.

Structure

1 hour per week.

Assessment

1st Attempt: In-course assessment: four translations, and one exercise (20% each).

Resit: Two-hour written examination, consisting of two translations and one exercise (100%).

Credit Points

15

Course Coordinator

Dr R Dunbar

Pre-requisites

Available only to students in Programme Year 3.

Notes

This course will be available in 2008/09 and in alternate sessions thereafter. It may not be included as part of a graduating curriculum with GH 4009, Language Policy and Planning and the Insular Celtic Languages B.

Overview

The course will begin with a consideration of the relevance of language in the formation of personal, ethnic and national identities and will then explore key concepts in language planning and the main types of language policies pursued by states. Building on these core themes, the sociological, psychological, economic, political and other reasons for language shift will be explored, the reasons for being concerned about language shift will be critically assessed and the methods of addressing language shift will be analysed. This course will conclude by an application of the concepts developed in the first part of the course to the historical socio-linguistic development of the insular Celtic languages, with particular references to Welsh, Irish and Scottish Gaelic.

Structure

Two hours of seminars per week.

Assessment

1st Attempt: In-course assessment (100%).

Resit: 1 two-hour written examination (100%).

Credit Points

15

Course Coordinator

Dr M Macleod

Pre-requisites

Available only to students in programme year 3 who have passed GH 2505, GH 2502 or GH 2503 or by permission of the Head of School.

Notes

Not available to students who have A Level Irish / or Leaving Certificate Irish. May not be included as part of a graduating curriculum with GH 4010 Modern Irish Language B.

Overview

Students will study modern Irish grammar, acquire a basic vocabulary and become comfortable with the main pronunciation differences between Scottish Gaelic and Irish. The course will be comparative in nature and students will have an accelerated learning experience because of the cognate nature of the languages.

Classes will include reading comprehension, grammar exercises and translation.

Structure

Two hours of classes per week.

Assessment

1st Attempt: 1 two-hour written examination (100%).

Resit: 1 two-hour written examination (100%).

Credit Points

15

Course Coordinator

Dr M Watson

Pre-requisites

Available only to students in Programme Year 3 who have passed GH 2505, GH 2502, GH 2503.

Notes

The course will be available in 2008/09 and in alternate sessions thereafter. May not be included as part of a graduating curriculum with GH 4012: Early Modern Gaelic Language and Texts B.

Overview

The course aims to provide students with a knowledge and understanding of Early Modern Gaelic, the late-medieval literary Gaelic of Ireland and Scotland. It will be based on the study of short authentic historical documents and fictional texts produced in the language in the period c1200-c1700. It will involve morphological, syntactic and lexical study, with an emphasis on translation into English or modern Gaelic, and consideration of the socio-historical and literary background needed to reach a full appreciation of the texts. Directed self-learning will include preparation of translations for discussion and analysis in class and substantial reading on historical and cultural topics related to the texts and their authors.

Structure

Two hours of seminars per week.

Assessment

1st Attempt: In-course assessment: 2 exercises (40% each), and seminar assessment (20%).

Resit: 1 two-hour written examination (100%).

Credit Points

15

Course Coordinator

Dr M Watson

Pre-requisites

Available only to students in Programme Year 3 who have passed GH 2505, GH 2502, or GH 2503.

Notes

The course will be available in 2009/10 and in alternate sessions thereafter. May not be included as part of a graduating curriculum with GH 4013.

Overview

This course studies an important transitional point in the development of modern Gaelic literature, covering the work of both the traditional 'village poets' who predominated in the early part of the 20th century and also the emerging masters of the modernist idiom such as Sorley Maclean and George Campbell Hay. The course will involve reading, discussion, analysis and groupwork activities based on the Gaelic poetry of the period. Directed self-study will involve substantial amounts of reading, both in the poetry itself and in related fields such as the literatures of other languages, history, biography, social commentary, critical practice and critical theory.

Structure

Two hours of seminars per week.

Assessment

1st Attempt: Two written exercises (10% each), one essay (60%); seminar mark (20%).

Credit Points

15

Course Coordinator

Dr R Dunbar

Pre-requisites

GH 2505, GH 2502 or GH 2503.

Notes

This course will be available in 2009/10 and in alternate sessions thereafter. It may not be included as part of a graduating curriculum with GH 4501: Gaelic Publishing: From the Popular Press to Official Documents B.

Overview

From the early 19th century, a sporadic but lively Gaelic popular press developed, and Gaelic began to be used as a medium of print communication for many other purposes. The course will explore: Gaelic newspapers, popular journals, tracts and pamphlets; Gaelic material in predominantly English-medium sources of similar types; material published by voluntary bodies, churches and other similar organisations, and more recently, by Gaelic development organisations; and material published by public sector bodies and government. The material will be explored as both an historical source and as literature, and its contribution to the orthographic and lexical development of the language will be considered.

Structure

1 two-hour seminar each week, over a period of twelve weeks.

Assessment

In-course assessment (100%): course essay (60%), writing exercise (30%), and class participation (10%).

Credit Points

15

Course Coordinator

Dr R Dunbar

Pre-requisites

Available only to students in Programme Year 3 who have passed GH 2505, GH 2502 or GH 2503.

Notes

This course will be available in 2008/09 and in alternate sessions thereafter. It may not be included as part of a graduating curriculum with GH 4502, Scottish Gaels in the New World B.

Overview

Students will be introduced to historical patterns of emigration from the Highlands and Islands of Scotland, as well as the historical patterns of immigration to and settlement in the New World. Primarily through the medium of Gaelic poetry and prose, supplemented by secondary sources, students will explore the Gaels' perspectives on emigration, immigration and settlement, as well as the development of Gaelic poetry and and prose in the New World settlements. Students will be introduced to genres of song, styles of instrumental music and dance, and folk beliefs that were retained and developed in the New World. Finally, students will explore the decline of the emigrant Gaelic communities and consider their legacy and their prospects for survival.

Structure

Two hours of seminars per week.

Assessment

1st Attempt: in-course assessment: essay 1 (30%); essay 2 (60%), and seminar assessment (10%).

Resit: 1 two-hour written examination (100%).

Credit Points

15

Course Coordinator

Dr M Macleod

Pre-requisites

Available only to students in Programme Year 3 who have passed GH 2505, GH 2502 or GH 2503.

Notes

This course will be available in 2009/10 and in alternate sessions thereafter. May not be included as part of a graduating curriculum with GH 4504 The Gaelic Poetry Renaissance B.

Overview

The course will involve wide reading among the Gaelic poets of the period from 1950 to the present day, a period which has seen a huge rebirth of interest in Gaelic poetry, and the emergence of many new and often experimental poets. Class time will be spent in discussion, analysis and groupwork activities focussing on set texts. Students will be engaged in directed self-study out of the class which will involve substantial amounts of additional reading, both in the poetry itself, and in related fields such as the literatures of other languages, history, biography, social commentary, critical practice and critical theory.

Structure

Two hours of seminars per week.

Assessment

1st Attempt: In-course assessment: essay (60%), presentation (20%), and seminar assessment (20%).

Resit: 1 two-hour written examination (100%).

Credit Points

30

Course Coordinator

Dr M Macleod

Pre-requisites

GH 2505, GH 2502 or GH 2503.

Notes

This course will be available in session 2008/09 and in alternate sessions thereafter. This course may not be included as part of a graduating curriculum with GH 4505.

Overview

This course will give students an opportunity to study the modern Gaelic community from a social and sociolinguistic perspective. Students will study a variety of topics such as: the identity of the modern Gael; the relationship between language and identity; Gaelic as a minority language; the place of the Gael and Gaelic in modern society; ethnographics and demographics.

Structure

1 one-hour lecture and 1 two-hour seminar per week.

Assessment

In-course assessment: Essay (30%); seminar assessment (20%), and 1 two-hour written examination (50%).

Resit: 1 two-hour examination.

Credit Points

15

Course Coordinator

Dr M Watson

Pre-requisites

Available only to students in Programme Year 3 who have passed GH 2505, GH 2502, or GH 2503.

Notes

This course will be available in 2008/09 and in alternate sessions thereafter. May not be taken as part of a graduating curriculum with GH 4508, The Gaelic Short Story B.

Overview

This course studies the development of shorter prose fiction in Gaelic in the twentieth (and twenty-first) century. It will investigate the importance of the short story and consider its place within the wider Gaelic culture. It will involve reading, analysing and discussing several of the most important Gaelic short stories of the period. Students will also be engaged in directed self-study outside of class, which will involve substantial amounts of additional reading in fields such as the literature of other languages, history, biography, social commentary, philosophy, critical practice and critical theory.

Structure

Two hours of seminars per week.

Assessment

1st Attempt: In-course assessment: essay (60%), presentation (20%), and seminar assessment (20%).

Resit: 1 two-hour written examination (100%).

Credit Points

15

Course Coordinator

Dr M Watson

Pre-requisites

Available only to students in Programme Year 3 who have passed GH 2505, GH 2502, or GH 2503.

Notes

This course will be available in 2007/08 and in alternate sessions thereafter. May not be included as part of a graduating curriculum with GH 4509 The Gaelic Novel B.

Overview

This course will examine the development of the Gaelic novel as a genre in the twentieth century. It will investigate some of the reasons for the late, slow development of novel-writing in Gaelic and for the large, mid-century hiatus in extended prose activity. It will involve reading, analysing and discussing several of the most important Gaelic novels of the twentieth (and twenty-first) century. Students will also be engaged in directed self-study outside of class, which will involve substantial amounts of additional reading in fields such as the literature of other languages, history, biography, social commentary, philosophy, critical practice and critical theory.

Structure

Two hours of seminars per week.

Assessment

1st Attempt: Two written exercises (10% each), one essay (60%); seminar mark (20%).

Credit Points

15

Course Coordinator

Dr M Macleod

Pre-requisites

Level 3 Gaelic Language.

Co-requisites

Gaelic Translation: Theory and Practice B - for Gaelic Studies Single Honours.

Notes

This course is for Gaelic/Celtic Honours students. Not available for students with Native Speaker Higher; they are required to take Advanced Writing for Gaelic Native Speakers B.

Overview

The course will build on Gaelic Language 3, and develop competencies to a very high level. There will be 2 one-hour classes per week. One class will focus on advanced oral communicative skills; another will develop competence in the written language in a variety of different registers. Students will be required to complete regular assignments (report-writing, descriptive writing etc), study independently and to study tapes and videos in the language centre. The Junior and Senior Honours language courses form a continuum for which the final assessment is not made until the end of the Senior Honours year.

Structure

2 one-hour classes and one hour of directed study in the language lab per week.

Assessment

1st Attempt: Gaelic Honours Language Examinations (100%).

Credit Points

15

Course Coordinator

Dr M Macleod

Pre-requisites

Level 3 Gaelic Language.

Notes

This course is not available for students with Native Speaker Higher; they are required to take Advanced Writing for Gaelic Native Speakers B.

Overview

The course will build on Gaelic Language 3, and develop competences to a very high level. There will be two one-hour classes each week. One class will focus on advanced oral communicative skills; another will develop competence in the written language in a variety of different registers. Students will be required to complete regular assignments (report-writing, descriptive writing etc), study independently and to study tapes and videos in the language centre.

Structure

2 one-hour classes and one hour of directed study in the language lab per week.

Assessment

1st Attempt: In-course assessment (100%): two oral exercises (40%); composition (20%), and two language exercises (40%).

Credit Points

15

Course Coordinator

Dr M Watson

Pre-requisites

Advanced Writing Skills for Native Speakers A.

Co-requisites

Gaelic Translation: Theory and Practice B - for Gaelic Studies Single Honours.

Notes

Only available for students with Native Speaker Higher or equivalent.

Overview

This course builds on Advanced Writing Skills for Native Speakers A and runs all year. Students will attend 1 one-hour seminar per fortnight. This seminar will provide advanced vocabulary for complex linguistic domains, set writing tasks and discuss students' performance in their writing tasks. Students will be required to undertake a directed programme of advanced and challenging writing tasks and submit exercises on a fortnightly basis.

Structure

1 one-hour seminars per fortnight.

Assessment

1st Attempt: In-course assessment (100%): four 1,200 word essays.

Credit Points

15

Course Coordinator

Dr R Dunbar

Pre-requisites

Available only to students in Programme Year 4 who have passed GH 2505, GH 2502 or GH 2503.

Notes

This course will be available in 2009/10 and in alternate sessions thereafter. It may not be included as part of a graduating curriculum with GH 3004 17th and 18th Century Gaelic Poetry in its Context A.

Overview

Students will be introduced to the key historical and social developments of Gaelic society in the 17th and 18th centuries and will read poetry which gives a greater insight into and understanding of Gaelic perspectives on and motives in such developments. Topics which will be covered include: clan politics; national and international politics (with emphasis on the wars of the Covenanting period, the Jacobite rebellions and British imperial wars to the Napoleonic period); religion; the development of a Gaelic identity; Culloden and its aftermath; poetic conservatism and innovation, both stylistic and in terms of subject matter (for example, bardic poetry, satire, nature and love poetry, metrical and linguistic developments). Students will extend their understanding of the subject by means of independent research, setting the topics treated in their wider social, historical and literary context, and synthesizing material from a range of sources.

Structure

Two hours of seminars per week.

Assessment

1st Attempt: In-course assessment (100%).

Credit Points

15

Course Coordinator

Dr M Macleod

Pre-requisites

Available only to students in Programme Year 4 who have passed GH 2505, GH 2502 or GH 2503.

Notes

This course will be available in 2009/10 and in alternate sessions thereafter. This course may not be taken as part of a graduating curriculum with GH 3006 Gaelic Dialectology A.

Overview

This course will examine a wide range of modern and historical Gaelic dialects. Students will be introduced to the principles of dialect distribution and variation, and they will examine features of vocabulary, pronunciation and grammar. Students will become familiar with the phonetic symbols used for transcribing Gaelic, and practice will be given in making phonetic transcripts. The course will also consider social attitudes to dialects and the historical development and attrition of Gaelic dialects. Students will make independent use of a sound archive of modern Gaelic dialects and of phonetic transcripts of historic dialects.

Structure

1 one-hour lecture and 1 one-hour seminar per week.

Assessment

1st Attempt: In-course assessment: essay (60%), and language exercise (40%).

Credit Points

15

Course Coordinator

Dr M Watson

Pre-requisites

Available only to students in Programme Year 4 who have passed Gaelic language courses GH 2505, GH 2502, or GH 2503.

Overview

This course studies concepts and principles of translation and translation studies. The course also provides students with an opportunity to improve their Gaelic in an applied language setting, with an emphasis on transferable, professional skills at a high level of accuracy. Assignments will consist of extensive reading in the field of translatology and carrying out more challenging practical translation work. Students will be taught different strategies for dealing with different styles of source- and target-language materials and will be given the opportunity to develop their translating skills on a range of literary, professional, technical, academic and other texts. Students will be expected to be able to deal with the most difficult texts at Level 4.

Structure

1 hour per week.

Assessment

1st Attempt: In-course assessment: four translations and one exercise (20% each).

Credit Points

15

Course Coordinator

Dr R Dunbar

Pre-requisites

Available only to students in Programme Year 4.

Notes

This course will be available in 2008/09 and in alternate sessions thereafter. It may not be included as part of a graduating curriculum with GH 3009, Language Policy and Planning and the Insular Celtic Languages A.

Overview

The course will begin with a consideration of the relevance of language in the formation of personal, ethnic and national identities, and will then explore key concepts in language planning and the main types of language policies pursued by states. Building on these core themes, the sociological, psychological economic, political and other reasons for language shift will be explored, the reasons for being concerned about language shift will be critically assessed and the methods of addressing language shift will be analysed. The course will conclude by an application of the concepts developed in the first part of the course to the historical socio-linguistic development of the insular Celtic languages, with particular reference to Welsh, Irish and Scottish Gaelic; such developments will be put in their broader European perspective. Students will extend their understanding of the subject by means of independent research, widening their field of study beyond the syllabus, and synthesizing material from a range of sources.

Structure

Two hours of seminars each week.

Assessment

1st Attempt: In-course assessment: essay (30%); seminar assessment (20%); 1 two-hour written examination (50%).

Credit Points

15

Course Coordinator

Dr M Macleod

Pre-requisites

Available only to students in Programme Year 4 who have passed GH 2505, GH 2502 or GH 2503.

Notes

This course will not be available in session 2009/10.

Not available to students who have A Level Irish / or Leaving Certification Irish. May not be included as part of a graduating curriculum with GH 3010 Modern Irish Language A.

Overview

Students will study modern Irish grammar, acquire a basic-intermediate vocabulary and become comfortable with the main pronunciation differences between Scottish Gaelic and Irish. The course will be comparative in nature and students will have an accelerated learning experience because of the cognate nature of the languages. Classes will include reading comprehension, grammar exercises and translation.

Structure

Two hours of classes per week.

Assessment

1st Attempt: 1 two-hour written examination (100%).

Resit: 1 two-hour written examination (100%).

Credit Points

15

Course Coordinator

Dr M Watson & Dr M Macleod

Pre-requisites

GH 3001 or GH 3003.

Co-requisites

Gaelic Studies Senior Honours Language Courses.

Notes

This course is run over the full session, and is available only to Senior Honours students.

Overview

The course aims to provide students with the opportunity to develop their own research and presentation skills and their oral eloquence and persuasiveness in the Gaelic language, as well as broaden their awareness of the spectrum of topics available for study in Gaelic as an academic discipline. The course will also develop transferable skills which will be equally useful for the workplace (whether in a Gaelic-speaking environment or not) and for further training or postgraduate research. During the course of seminars, students will be expected to present a substantial paper on material that they have researched themselves and then organise and deal with the subsequent discussion of the topic. The seminar series is expected to relate to the other Level 4 courses in Gaelic Studies and to be relevant to students' development in Level 4 language courses.

Structure

1 two-hour seminar per fortnight, and supervisions with individual students in the preparation of their research papers.

Assessment

1st Attempt: 1 three-hour composition paper in Gaelic (100%).

Credit Points

15

Course Coordinator

Dr M Watson

Pre-requisites

Available only to students in Programme Year 4 who have passed GH 2505, GH 2502, GH 2503.

Notes

This course will be available in 2008/09 and in alternative sessions thereafter. This course may not be included as part of a graduating curriculum with GH 3012 Early Modern Gaelic Language and Texts A.

Overview

The course aims to provide students with a knowledge and understanding of Early Modern Gaelic, the late-medieval literary Gaelic of Ireland and Scotland. It will be based on the study of short authentic historical documents and fictional texts produced in the language in the period c1200-c1700, and students will compare the Early Modern form of the language with Modern Gaelic or Modern Irish. The course will involve morphological, syntactic and lexical study, with an emphasis on translation into English or modern Gaelic, and consideration of the socio-historical and literary background needed to reach a full appreciation of the texts. It will also entail the comparative study of the grammar and vocabulary of Early Modern Gaelic and that of Modern Gaelic or Irish. Directed self-learning will include preparation of translations for discussion and analysis in class and substantial reading on historical and cultural topics related to the texts and their authors.

Structure

Two hours of seminars per week.

Assessment

1st Attempt: In-course assessment: 2 exercises (40% each), and seminar assessment (20%).

Credit Points

15

Course Coordinator

Dr M Watson

Pre-requisites

Available only to students in Programme Year 4 who have passed GH 2505, GH 2502 or GH 2503.

Notes

The course will be available in 2005/06 and in alternate sessions thereafter. May not be included as part of a graduating curriculum with GH 3013 Traditionalism and Modernism: Gaelic Poetry 1900-1950 A.

Overview

This course studies an important transitional point in the development of modern Gaelic literature, covering the work of both the traditional 'village poets' who predominated in the early part of the 20th century and also the emerging masters of the modernist idiom such as Sorley Maclean and George Campbell Hay. The course will involve reading, discussion, analysis and groupwork activities based on the Gaelic poetry of the period. Directed self-study will involve substantial amounts of reading, both in the poetry itself and in related fields such as literature of other languages, history, biography, social commentary, philosophy, critical practice and critical theory. In addition, students will extend their understanding of the subject by exploring additional texts (both in Gaelic and in other languages they know) not covered on the syllabus by means of independent research, setting the topics treated in their wider context and synthesizing material from a range of sources.

Structure

Two hours of seminars per week.

Assessment

1st Attempt: Two written exercises (10% each), one essay 2,500 words (60%); seminar mark (20%).

Credit Points

15

Course Coordinator

Dr R Dunbar

Pre-requisites

Available only to students in Programme Year 4 who have passed GH 2505, GH 2502 or GH 2503.

Notes

This course will be available in 2009/10 and in alternate sessions thereafter. It may not be included as part of a graduating curriculum with GH 3501, Gaelic Publishing: From the Popular Press to Official Documents A.

Overview

From the early 19th century, a sporadic but lively Gaelic popular press developed, and Gaelic began to be used as a medium of print communication for many other purposes. The course will explore: Gaelic newspapers, popular journals, tracts and pamphlets; Gaelic material in predominantly English-medium sources of similar types; material published by voluntary bodies, churches and other similar organisations, and more recently, by Gaelic development organisations; and material published by public sector bodies and government. The material will be explored as both an historical source and as literature, and its contribution to the orthographic and lexical development of the language will be considered. The place of this material within the wider Gaelic literary and intellectual tradition will be critically assessed.

Structure

1 two-hour seminar each week, over a period of twelve weeks.

Assessment

1st Attempt: In-course assessment: course essay (60%), writing exercise (30%), and class participation (10%).

Credit Points

15

Course Coordinator

Dr R Dunbar

Pre-requisites

Available only to students in Programme Year 4 who have passed GH 2505, GH 2502 or GH 2503.

Notes

This course will be available in 2008/09 and in alternate sessions thereafter. It may not be included as part of a graduating curriculum with GH 3502, Scottish Gaels in the New World A.

Overview

Students will be introduced to historical patterns of emigration from the Highland and Islands of Scotland, as well as the historical patterns of immigration to and settlement in the New World. Primarily through the medium of Gaelic poetry and prose, supplemented by secondary sources, students will explore the Gaels' perspectives on emigration, immigration and settlement, as well as the development of Gaelic poetry and prose in the New World settlements. Students will be introduced to genres of song, styles of instrumental music and dance, and folk beliefs that were retained and developed in the New World. They will expolore the decline of the emigrant Gaelic communities and consider their legacy and their prospects for survival. Students will extend their understanding of the subject by means of independent research, setting the topics treated in their wider social, historical and literary context, and synthesizing material from a range of sources.

Structure

Two hours of seminars per week.

Assessment

1st Attempt: In-course assessment: essay 1 (30%); essay 2 (60%), and seminar assessment (10%).

Credit Points

15

Course Coordinator

Dr M Macleod

Pre-requisites

Available only to students in Programme Year 4 who have passed GH 2505, GH 2502 or GH 2503.

Notes

This course will be available in 2009/10 and in alternate sessions thereafter. May not be included as part of a graduating curriculum with GH 3504 The Gaelic Poetry Renaissance B.

Overview

The course will involve wide reading among the Gaelic poets of the period from 1950 to the present day, a period which has seen a huge rebirth of interest in Gaelic poetry, and the emergence of many new and often experimental poets. Class time will be spent in discussion, analysis and groupwork activities focussing on set texts. Students will be engaged in directed self-study out of the class which will involve substantial amounts of additional reading, both in the poetry itself, and in related fields such as the literatures of other languages, history, biography, social commentary, critical practice and critical theory. In addition, students will extend their understanding of the subject by exploring additional texts (both in Gaelic and in other languages they know) not covered on the syllabus by means of independent research, setting the topics treated in their wider context and synthesizing material from a range of sources.

Structure

Two hours of seminars per week.

Assessment

1st Attempt: In-course assessment: essay (60%), presentation (20%), and seminar assessment (20%).

Credit Points

30

Course Coordinator

Dr M Macleod

Pre-requisites

Available only to students in Programme Year 4 who have passed GH 2505, GH 2502 or GH 2503.

Notes

This course may not be included as part of a graduating curriculum with GH 3505 Language and Identity A. Course available in session 2008/09 and in alternate years thereafter.

Overview

1 one-hour lecture and two hours of seminars per week on topics such as: the identity of the modern Gael; the relationship between language and identity. Gaelic as a minority language; the place of the Gael in modern society; ethnographics and demographics. Students will be required to follow a programme of prescribed reading and participate in seminars. Seminar participation will count towards in-course assessment.

Structure

1 one-hour lecture and 1 two-hour seminar per week.

Assessment

1st Attempt: In-course assessment: essay (30%), seminar assessment (20%), and 1 two-hour written examination (50%).

Credit Points

15

Course Coordinator

Dr M Watson

Pre-requisites

Available only to Senior Honours Gaelic Studies students.

Notes

Not available to students of Celtic Studies or Celtic Civilisation.

Overview

3 one-hour tutorials which will provide students with guidance on selecting a suitable academic topic and developing a methodology for tackling chosen topic.

Structure

3 one-hour tutorials.

Assessment

1st Attempt: 7,000 word dissertation (100%).

Credit Points

15

Course Coordinator

Dr M Watson

Pre-requisites

Available only to students in Programme Year 4 who have passed GH 2505, GH 2502, or GH 2503.

Notes

This course will be available in 2008/09 and in alternate sessions thereafter. May not be taken as part of a graduating curriculum with GH 3508, Gaelic Short Story A.

Overview

This course studies the development of shorter prose fiction in Gaelic in the twentieth (and twenty-first) century. It will investigate the importance of the short story and consider its place within the wider Gaelic culture. It will involve reading, analysing and discussing several of the most important Gaelic short stories of the period. Students will also be engaged in directed self-study outside of class, which will involve substantial amounts of additional reading in fields such as the literature of other languages, history, biography, social commentary, philosophy, critical practice and critical theory. Students will extend their understanding of the subject by exploring additional texts (both in Gaelic and in other languages they know) not covered on the syllabus by means of independent research, setting the topics treated in their wider context and synthesizing material from a range of sources.

Structure

Two hours of seminars per week.

Assessment

1st Attempt: In-course assessment: essay (60%); seminar assessment (40%).

Credit Points

15

Course Coordinator

Dr M Watson

Pre-requisites

Available only to students in Programme Year 4 who have passed GH 2505, GH 2502, or GH 2503.

Notes

This course will be available in 2009/10 and in alternate sessions thereafter. May not be included as part of a graduating curriculum with GH 3509 The Gaelic Novel A.

Overview

This course will examine the development of the Gaelic novel as a genre in the twentieth century. It will investigage some of the reasons for the late, slow development of novel-writing in Gaelic and for the large, mid-century hiatus in extended prose activity. It will involve reading, analysing and discussing several of the most important Gaelic novels of the twentieth (and twenty-first) century. Students will also be engaged in directed self-study outside of class, which will involve substantial amounts of additional reading in fields such as the literature of other languages, history, biography, social commentary, philosophy, critical practice and critical theory. By means of independent research, students will also learn to contextualize the Gaelic novels with other Gaelic writing and with prose in other languages, such as English, to apply the knowledge gained in an enhanced level of analysis of the texts, and to synthesize material from a range of sources.

Structure

Two hours of seminars per week.

Assessment

1st Attempt: Two written exercises (10% each), one essay 2,500 words (60%); seminar mark (20%).