Association of Celtic Students

European Day of Languages web banner   This Sunday, September 26 2021, is the European Day of Languages, and this year represents 20 years since the initiative began as part of the European Year of Languages in 2001. The European Year of Languages was an initiative by the Council of Europe and the European Union, with the stated aim of promoting linguistic diversity and language learning in Europe. That year, it was decided within the Council of Europe to continue celebrating a European Day of Languages every year on the 26th of September, and it has done so together with the European Commission since. The website dedicated to the day, available in English here , informs us that three of the general objectives of the day are: 1) raising awareness about the importance of language learning to increase plurilingualism and intercultural understanding, 2) promoting European linguistic and cultural diversity, and 3) encouraging lifelong language learning, be that for the sake of studies,...

Tá scéal suimiúil le hinseacht ag pobal aiteach na Gaeilge i Meán Fómhair i mBaile Átha Cliath agus tá muid sa tóir ar lucht féachana!   Sa léiriú corraitheach úrnua Idir Mise agus Craiceann do Chluaise (24-26/09/2021) béarfar an lucht féachana ar aistear gáire, damhsa is foghlama trí 30 bliain den mhothúchán aerach, trasna na farraige ó Éirinn go Sasana agus ar ais arís.   Sa scéal faoistiniúil a chloisfear in Idir Mise agus Craiceann do Chluaise cíorfaidh an tÉireannach aerach Alan Walpole cuimhní a shaoil go neamhbhalbh. Theith Alan ón duairceas a bhí ag brú ar an bpobal – agus an pobal aiteach go háirithe – in Éirinn sna 1980idí go dtí dathanna na gclubanna aeracha i Sasana. Sa tóir ar shaol níos fearr agus saoirse phearsanta a bhí sé ach i gcaitheamh a shaoil bhí sé scartha ina aigne idir an dá thír. D’fhill sé ar Éirinn sa bhliain 2018, trí bliana tar éis an reifrinn um chomhionannas pósta. Níor aithin sé an tír a bhí roimhe amach ar theacht abhaile dó.   Tá an lé...

In this episode, Alexandra Philbin interviews Chris Oates, a PhD researcher at the University of Edinburgh whose work focuses on urban Gaelic sociolinguistics. They discuss, among other things, what this focus involves, Chris’ PhD research project and research design and applying academic research to work on language policy and planning. Chris also shares advice with other early career researchers interested in studying Celtic languages in an urban context.  Please consult the list below for more information about some of the themes and organisations that were mentioned in this episode.  Language and Law   Ethnography   Sociolinguistics   Glasgow City Council   Language Policy and Planning   Misneachd  Gaelic Medium Education   PhD Internships  This episode is in English. It was recorded in June 2021.  Host: Alexandra Philbin  Guest: Chris Oates  Music: “Kesh Jig, Leitrim Fancy” by Sláinte, CC BY-SA 3.0 US ( creativecom...

[Gaeilge] San eipeasód seo, labhraíonn Stiofán Ó Briain le hAilbe van der Heide, scoláire béaloidis atá ag obair i gCnuasach Bhéaloideas Éireann, faoin mbéaloideas agus faoi bhéaloideas na hÉireann. Pléann siad a bhfuil i gceist leis an mbéaloideas, stair an Chnuasaigh, traidisiún an luchta sí, leigheasanna dúchais in Éirinn, béaloideas na rónta agus úsáid an ábhair bhéil mar ionsparáid chruthaitheach.  [English] In this episode, Stiofán Ó Briain talks to Ailbe van der Heide, a folklore scholar who also works in the National Folklore Collection, about folklore and Irish folklore. They discuss what folklore means, the history of the Collection, Irish fairy-lore, traditional cures in Ireland, seal-lore and the use of folklore as a creative inspiration.  Féach ar na háiseanna agus na saothair thíos le tuilleadh a fhoghlaim faoi bhéaloideas na hÉireann | Take a look at the resources and works below to learn more about Irish folklore:  Máistreacht i mBéaloideas agus Eitneolaío...

Monument to Dolly Pentreath Copyright Pauline E and reused under CC BY-SA 2.0 Cornish is most closely related to Breton and Welsh, and as such makes an interesting language for those with a knowledge of Celtic languages to learn.  The modern revival dates from the publication of Henry Jenner’s ‘Handbook of the Cornish Language’ in 1904 and currently figures for the number of speakers vary between 300 fluent speakers to several thousand with a reasonable knowledge of the language.  We await the analysis of the 2021 census in which people were encouraged to write Cornish as one of the languages they speak and use with interest! Since the Covid pandemic began we have seen a huge uptake in the numbers of people learning Cornish thanks to the provision of online, rather than face-to-face, classes.  It has been possible for people both further afield in the British Isles, as well as others from Europe, the United States and Australia to join in classes and recently when plann...

In this episode, Nina Cnockaert-Guillou chats with Hélène Bonniec, a Breton teacher in Skol an Emsav, a school teaching Breton to adults in Brittany, and Bethan Ruth Roberts, a student in Hélène's first ever online class through the medium of English. Hélène explains how and why she became a Breton teacher and talks about the school's methods and classes. Bethan, a Welsh-speaker, talks about her own interest in Breton and fighting for minority language rights. Hélène and Bethan both speak with enthusiasm about seeing the world through Breton, and give some great recommendations (see below).  Links and notes:  Skol an Emsav ( https://www.skolanemsav.bzh/br/ )  Féile Liú Lúnasa Misneach (Ireland)  Misneachd Alba ( https://www.misneachd.scot ) GBB Festival (Gouel Broadel ar Brezhoneg) ( https://gbb.bzh/en/gbb2021-eng/ )  Oulpan method (via Skol an Emsav https://www.skolanemsav.bzh/br/editions/prenan-enlinenn/94-oulpan-1-2-3.html )  Nicolas Davalan  C...

Ar an lá seo dhá bhliain ó shin, chuir mé tús le haistear focal. Bheartaigh mé go roinnfinn focal nua Gaeilge ar Twitter gach aon lá.  Ag an am sin, ní raibh sé i gceist agam feachtas fada blianta a dhéanamh de, ach ansin d’imigh bliain iomlán, bhíomar i lár paindéime agus bhí an oiread sin suilt á bhaint agam as #FocalAnLae a dhéanamh gur chinntigh mé leanúint orm. Ach d’imigh bliain eile ansin agus cé go bhfuil mé fós gafa le focail, agus go bhfuil mé fós ag iarraidh focail agus frásaí iontacha spéisiúla a roinnt le daoine ar líne, tá beartaithe agam anois an cúram laethúil a leagan díom. Tar éis dhá bhliain olltaitneamhacha, tá deireadh ag teacht le #FocalAnLae. Nuair a chuir mé tús le #FocalAnLae, uirlis chruthaitheach dom féin a bhí ann. Ba nós liom focal neamhchoitianta éigin, ar tháinig mé air i leabhar, i ndán, nó fiú san fhoclóir, a thógáil agus a roinnt, le frása samplach dem’ chuid féin lena ais. D’fhan cuid mhaith de na focail sin liom, mar gheall ar an gcleachtas crut...

  Latheirt , 'excessive ale consumption' or 'massive hangover' according to Damian McMannus written by a monk as an apology for the poor contents of the following manuscript page. A Guide to Ogam , Maynooth Monographs no. 4 (Maynooth, An Sagart: 1991) An important reminder for writing your abstract from Saint Gall MS Codex Sangallensis 904, p. 204. Writing a Conference Paper Abstract You are doing a bit of research and you decided to submit your work-in-progress to a conference. Getting your paper onto the programme is your next step, and that starts with writing an abstract that will land it a place. Abstracts are brief snippets of information that introduce, by way of summary, a potential reader to your work. Too often, they become short papers in and of themselves, or they do not provide enough information to draw the continued interest of the reader. Below are a few helpful pointers to aid in writing an abstract that will get your paper to the next step. Keep It...

San eapasod seo tha Ciarán Mac Siúlaí agus Lodaidh MacFhionghain, Ceannard Oifis Iomairtean na Gàidhlig, a bhruidhinn còmhla mu dheidhinn sgeul, eachtraidh, agus beirteas na Gàidhlig agus nan Gàidheal an ann Alba Nuadh thar nam bliadhnaichean. Tha an eapasod seo sa’ Ghàidhlig agus Beurla. Ma tha thu ag iarraidh nas mò eòlas a faighinn mu dhèidhinn Gàidhlig ‘is na Gàidheil ann ann Alba Nuadh faodaidh thu sin a faighinn san ceanglaichean seo thìos.  In this Episode Kieran Walker and Lewis MacKinnon, the Executive Director of the Nova Scotian Office of Gaelic Affairs, talk together about the story, history and richness of Gaelic and the Gaels in Nova Scotia over the years. This episode is in Gaelic and English. If you are wanting to find more information about Gaelic and the Gaels in Nova Scotia you can find it in the links below.  Buidhnean | Organizations   https://gaelic.novascotia.ca  https://gaeliccollege.edu  https://highlandvillage.novascotia.ca  https:...

("'Siarad Cymraeg'" by nicdafis is licensed under CC BY-NC-SA 2.0) Croeso (welcome) to the latest in our series of posts about learning the Celtic languages! If you’re interested in learning Welsh, there are loads of free resources available online. Which ones you choose to use might depend on whether you want to learn North or South Walian. It’s completely up to you which you go for – some people choose one over the other based on their location or a family link, others prefer the way one sounds, and still others decide at random. SaySomethingIn is a popular choice for learners of both dialects – its focus on speaking practice is ideal for people who want to learn conversational Welsh, and the first several challenges are free. You can supplement your learning by listening to the Welsh radio station or, if you are based in the UK, watching programmes on S4C Clic . For further listening practice, you can use Glossika , a website which uses spaced repetition of recor...

In this episode, Kensa Broadhurst talks about the Cornish Gorsedh, Gorsedh Kernow, with Elizabeth Carne, Grand Bard, and Pol Hodge, Deputy Grand Bard. They discuss what the Gorsedh is, its formation, how people become Bards and the activities with which the Gorsedh is involved.  Y’n towlen ma Kensa Broadhurst a gews a-dro Gorsedh Kernow gans Melennek, Bardh Meur, ha Mab Stennak Veur, Kannas Bardh Meur. I a dhadhel pyth yw an Orsedh, hy fondyans, fatel wra an dus a dheuth ha bos Berdh ha gwriansow an Orsedh.  Links & notes:   Elizabeth Carne (Melennek), Grand Bard  Pol Hodge (Mab Stenak Veur), Deputy Grand Bard  Gorsedh Kernow ( www.gorsedhkernow.org.uk )  Federation of Old Cornwall Societies ( www.oldcornwall.net )  Cornish Language Board ( www.kesva.org )  Henry Jenner, First Grand Bard  Robert Morton Nance, Second Grand Bard  Lowender Peran Festival ( www.lowenderperan.co.uk )  Kernewek Lowender Festival in Australia ( www.ke...

Learning Scottish Gaelic (+ resource list) Over the past 6 years since I started learning Gaelic at university, I have encountered many people eager to acquire the language but who lack the financial means to take classes and who, as a result, never really got started. If you are one of those people, I hope that this post will give you an overview of some of the resources available and help you dive into this beautiful language.   How to Get Started Probably the most useful resource, in my opinion at least, are the Progressive Gaelic books , the first two of which are also available as Kindle Editions . The PG series are the textbooks we used during the first two years of my university Gaelic course and, to this day, I will use them to look up grammar points if I have a lapse in memory. They contain explanations of grammar points, vocabulary, grammar exercises, short texts and dialogues. Audio files for the first book and answer files for the first two books are available through ...