# Learning Scots Gaelic **URL:** \ **Category:** Factual Questions\ **Created:** [May 16, 2005, 9:54pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/learning-scots-gaelic/304143 "2005-05-16T21:54:43Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 14\ **Page:** 1
**Author:** ![Gary\_Robson](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/gary_robson/32/3448_2.png) [@Gary\_Robson](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Gary_Robson)\ **Post date:** [May 16, 2005, 9:54pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/learning-scots-gaelic/304143/1 "2005-05-16T21:54:43Z")
I want to learn Scots Gaelic (Gàidhlig). I had planned on learning to read it before attempting to speak it, but I don’t think that’s going to work for me. I have to be able to hear a word in my head before I can “lock it in,” and Gàidhlig spelling/phonetics are so foreign to me that I can’t form an auditory image of the words. I’m looking for simple, basic quick-start to let me wrap my head around the language, and then I can dive into the details and complexity of tenses, conjugation, and grammar. I suppose there’s a bit of a wish for instant gratification there, too–I’d like to be able to speak and understand a bit of the language just for positive reinforcement. For background, I’m an American of Scots descent. I studied French for a couple of years, and learned basic Spanish from a combination of “speak Spanish now” CDs and a half-dozen vacations in Mexico. I do not know any Gàidhlig speakers, and I doubt there are any nearby. I’m in my 40’s, so I don’t expect this to be easy. Can anyone give me any recommendations for how to proceed? Are there any computer-based training programs for learning Gàidhlig? Any Gàidhlig-speaking Dopers that could help me get started (for a reasonable fee, of course)? Thanks, all! ---
**Author:** ![GorillaMan](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/g/50afbb/32.png) [@GorillaMan](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/GorillaMan)\ **Post date:** [May 16, 2005, 10:07pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/learning-scots-gaelic/304143/2 "2005-05-16T22:07:16Z")
I’m no expert, but [this](http://www.smo.uhi.ac.uk/gaidhlig/ionnsachadh/) seems to be the kind of thing you’re looking to start with ---
**Author:** ![GorillaMan](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/g/50afbb/32.png) [@GorillaMan](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/GorillaMan)\ **Post date:** [May 16, 2005, 10:08pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/learning-scots-gaelic/304143/3 "2005-05-16T22:08:17Z")
(Oh, and Scottish Gaelic, or just Gaelic, is probably a better term…Scots being a separate language 😉 ) ---
**Author:** ![Gary\_Robson](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/gary_robson/32/3448_2.png) [@Gary\_Robson](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Gary_Robson)\ **Post date:** [May 16, 2005, 10:31pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/learning-scots-gaelic/304143/4 "2005-05-16T22:31:46Z")
Thanks for that link, **GorillaMan**. I had discovered that site, but after finding their rather expensive classes, I stopped looking. In response to your second post, what is the difference between the adjectives Scotch, Scots, and Scottish? I was taught, for example, that my father was Scots Canadian, not Scottish Canadian nor Scotch Canadian. He was quite emphatic on the point. I thought “Scots Gaelic” was an appropriate term to distinguish Gàidhlig from Irish Gaelic. If I just say “Gaelic,” most people around here assume I mean the Irish variety. ---
**Author:** ![GorillaMan](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/g/50afbb/32.png) [@GorillaMan](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/GorillaMan)\ **Post date:** [May 16, 2005, 10:38pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/learning-scots-gaelic/304143/5 "2005-05-16T22:38:47Z")
There’s no hard & fast rule. But as Scots is a separate language (or dialect, depending on who you listen to), ‘Scots Gaelic’ is prone to confusion. In general, I’d only ever use ‘Scottish’ as an adjective. It’s perhaps a slightly PC-influenced approach, but not everybody likes ‘Scots’ as an adjective. ‘Scotch’ is what Americans call real whisky, or it’s something you do to plans. And I understand your point about Gaelic being taken as meaning Irish - but that’s never the case here, or in Ireland: Irish = Irish Gaelic, Gaelic = Scottish Gaelic. ---
**Author:** ![Futile\_Gesture](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/f/f05b48/32.png) [@Futile\_Gesture](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Futile_Gesture)\ **Post date:** [May 16, 2005, 10:51pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/learning-scots-gaelic/304143/6 "2005-05-16T22:51:41Z")
The difference is usually indicated by the way you pronounce it. Gay-lic = Irish Ga-lic = Scottish That is, unless you’re a Gaelic speaker yourself. In which case they’re pronounced the same. Don’t ask me why. “Scotch” is a antiquated term for Scottish, and generally not favoured by Scots as it’s considered a bit belittling. Don’t use it unless you’re talking about whisky (but only if you’re talking to other Americans) or eggs. If you want to learn you could do worse than [start here](http://www.bbc.co.uk/scotland/alba/foghlam/beag_air_bheag/index.shtml) . ---
**Author:** ![Kevbo](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/k/e47774/32.png) [@Kevbo](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Kevbo)\ **Post date:** [May 16, 2005, 11:05pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/learning-scots-gaelic/304143/7 "2005-05-16T23:05:15Z")
[bobdunshire.com](http://bobdunshire.com) is primarly a piping site, but they do have a (Scotts) “tradition and culture” section on the boards where you can find lots of info, ask questions, etc. Took up piping a year ago, also in my early 40’s. ---
**Author:** ![Gary\_Robson](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/gary_robson/32/3448_2.png) [@Gary\_Robson](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Gary_Robson)\ **Post date:** [May 16, 2005, 11:18pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/learning-scots-gaelic/304143/8 "2005-05-16T23:18:38Z")
Thanks, **Futile Gesture**. Is that Scottish pronunciation with “a” as in “acrobat” or “a” as in “star”? The link seems like a great site (it’s the same one **GorillaMan** gave me), and I’ve already gone through the first lesson. It will be a great help. Perhaps I’ll give piping a try one of these days, **Kevbo**. I have several friends that pipe, but I just have too much going on in life now to learn a language and a musical instrument at the same time! I took a piping lesson once, thinking it would be easy for someone who had studied both recorder and clarinet earlier in life. I was sadly mistaken! It’s a very different instrument. ---
**Author:** ![GorillaMan](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/g/50afbb/32.png) [@GorillaMan](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/GorillaMan)\ **Post date:** [May 16, 2005, 11:34pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/learning-scots-gaelic/304143/9 "2005-05-16T23:34:18Z")
A as in Acrobat. (Although plenty of people still pronounce it the ‘usual’ way, just to keep you on your toes.) ---
**Author:** ![Northern\_Piper](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/northern_piper/32/5304_2.png) [@Northern\_Piper](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Northern_Piper)\ **Post date:** [May 17, 2005, 5:22am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/learning-scots-gaelic/304143/10 "2005-05-17T05:22:28Z")
**InvisibleWombat** , the bobdunsire forum is not just about piping - that’s why **Kevbo** mentioned it. For example, there is a thread going on right now about Gaelic pronunciation. One of the posters on that thread gave a link to [Beag air Bheag](http://www.bbc.co.uk/scotland/alba/foghlam/beag_air_bheag/index.shtml), which is a free introductory site run by the BBC that you might find interesting. There’s also a thread on Gaelic Bibles which your humble servant started - some use them as learning aids. ---
**Author:** ![Futile\_Gesture](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/f/f05b48/32.png) [@Futile\_Gesture](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Futile_Gesture)\ **Post date:** [May 17, 2005, 3:16pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/learning-scots-gaelic/304143/11 "2005-05-17T15:16:15Z")
> [@Kevbo](#): > > [bobdunshire.com](http://bobdunshire.com) > > is primarly a piping site, but they do have a (Scotts) “tradition and culture” section on the boards where you can find lots of info, ask questions, etc. It’s [www.bobdunsire.com](http://www.bobdunsire.com). bobduns **h** [ire.com](http://ire.com) is a link farm trap. And “Scots”, single ‘t’. > [@Northern Piper](#): > > One of the posters on that thread gave a link to Beag air Bheag, which is a free introductory site run by the BBC that you might find interesting. Hmmm. Looks kind of familiar… ---
**Author:** ![Improbability](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/i/cc9497/32.png) [@Improbability](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Improbability)\ **Post date:** [May 17, 2005, 3:25pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/learning-scots-gaelic/304143/12 "2005-05-17T15:25:15Z")
> [@GorillaMan](#): > > There’s no hard & fast rule. But as Scots is a separate language (or dialect, depending on who you listen to), ‘Scots Gaelic’ is prone to confusion. > > In general, I’d only ever use ‘Scottish’ as an adjective. It’s perhaps a slightly PC-influenced approach, but not everybody likes ‘Scots’ as an adjective. ‘Scotch’ is what Americans call real whisky, or it’s something you do to plans. And I understand your point about Gaelic being taken as meaning Irish - but that’s never the case here, or in Ireland: Irish = Irish Gaelic, Gaelic = Scottish Gaelic. That distinction is true, yes. We never call the native language in Ireland ‘Gaelic’, even though it’s a Gaelic language. We just call it Irish, plain and simple. When other people ask me if I can speak Gaelic, I always have to do a double take. ---
**Author:** ![rocking\_chair](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/rocking_chair/32/2918_2.png) [@rocking\_chair](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/rocking_chair)\ **Post date:** [May 17, 2005, 11:48pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/learning-scots-gaelic/304143/13 "2005-05-17T23:48:26Z")
i started picking up irish through music. perhaps you could find gaelic songs and hear and read the lyrics at the same time? when you go into b daltons or borders the language section usually has gaelic sep. as irish (for ireland) and gaelic (for scotland). all the language books and dictionaries i’ve picked up have it sep. that way. ---
**Author:** ![PookahMacPhellimey](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/pookahmacphellimey/32/3175_2.png) [@PookahMacPhellimey](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/PookahMacPhellimey)\ **Post date:** [May 18, 2005, 3:47pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/learning-scots-gaelic/304143/14 "2005-05-18T15:47:56Z")
> [@rocking chair](#): > > i started picking up irish through music. perhaps you could find gaelic songs and hear and read the lyrics at the same time? Yes, that’s what I was thinking too. I’d recommend Catherine Ann MacPhee - a beautifull singer who only ever sings in Gaelic.