University of Glasgow makes Gaelic/English audio archive freely available

Tasglann èisteachd Gàidhlig/Beurla Oilthigh Ghlaschu ri fhaotainn saor ’s an-asgaidh

Their songs and stories speak of a different time.

Living memories passed down from parent to child over generations.

Now audio recordings of the traditions of crofters, farm workers and fishermen, in English and Gaelic, along with some Scots, were today (27 August) put online by the University of Glasgow.

Tha na h-òrain agus na sgeulachdan ag innse mu àm eile.

Cuimhneachain beò air an aiseag bho phàrant gu pàiste thar nan ginealaichean.

A-nis, tha clàraidhean èisteachd ann an Gàidhlig is Beurla agus beagan Albais mu dheidhinn nòsan chroitearan, luchd-obrach tuathanais agus iasgairean air an cur air-loidhne an-diugh (27 Lùnastal) le Oilthigh Ghlaschu.

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Today @DASG_Glaschu are releasing digital audio recordings of the traditions of crofters, farm workers and fishermen, in English and Gaelic!

More on this brilliant project here: https://t.co/QuY5OJ60SO#Gaelic #Gàidhlig #CluasRiClaisneachd @UofGGaidhlig pic.twitter.com/HweQno4GG7 — University of Glasgow (@UofGlasgow) August 27, 2018

It is part of the University’s continued drive to make the riches of traditional Gaelic speech more accessible to speakers, non-speakers and learners alike.

The move comes as the Digital Archive of Scottish Gaelic (DASG), an online repository of digitised texts and lexical resources for the language, celebrates its 10th anniversary.

It also heralds a new direction for DASG of focusing more on the spoken word to include oral traditions of storytelling, folklore, songs and poetry.

It is also hoped that the audio archive will help to raise interest among new audiences in learning more about Scottish Gaelic and its oral traditions.

A key element is also to return traditions and stories to those communities from whom that were freely and generously given, thus ensuring they are preserved for future generations.

At the 10th anniversary symposium held at the University of Glasgow today (27 August 2018), it was also announced that the family of renowned Gaelic Poet, Tormod MacLeòid/Norman MacLeod, known as Am Bàrd Bochd/The Poor Bard, has donated his life’s work to the DASG archive. The collection includes images, songs, tales and folklore collected in the Isle of Lewis by the bard.

Professor Rob Ó Maolalaigh, the University of Glasgow’s Professor of Gaelic and the Director of DASG/ Ollamh na Gàidhlig, Oilthigh Ghlaschu, agus Stiùiriche DASG, said: “Our archive is a living memory connecting us directly through an oral history of storytelling and song to the traditional Gàidhealtachd of previous generations.

“It is a reminder where we have come from and celebrates an important part of Scotland’s dùthchas and heritage. All three of Scotland’s indigenous languages – English, Gaelic and Scots are contained within the archive.

“Today the Gaelic language is very much part of modern Scotland. From the names of cities and towns we live in which have come from Gaelic like Kilmarnock, Stirling, and Inverness to words like loch, glen, bard, whisky and clan, the language helps put Scotland into context. We are delighted to make this audio resource freely available.”

Professor Ó Maolalaigh added: “We are deeply honoured that the family of Tormod MacLeòid has decided to donate his papers to the Bàrd’s alma mater, the University of Glasgow.”

In total, some 42 audio files are being published. Nine are from the newly launched Cluas ri Claisneachd Archive, recorded in Campbeltown in Scotland and also Cape Breton, Nova Scotia and Canada, which will be fully transcribed and searchable with detailed contents.

These recordings were mostly made during the collection phase for the Historical Dictionary of Scottish Gaelic Project (HDSG) in the 1970s. It also includes other reel-to-reel tapes and cassettes donated to Celtic and Gaelic in the College of Arts.

A further 33 audio files are being published from the Mòthan Archive, all gathered in North and South Uist, Scalpay, Harris, Barra, Berneray and Benbecula by American Tracy Chipman during the 1990s and early 2000s. These were recorded in English and Gaelic and will be fully transcribed or subtitled in due course.

The audio tapes range from fishing terminology to songs and poems as well as stories about everything from courting to traditional ailment cures to fairy stories and premonitions.

Many of those featured in the audio archive have since died and it will be the first time their families and friends have heard the recordings.

DASG has managed to trace the family of Donald MacDonald who was recorded in Daliburgh, South Uist.

Mary Ann Campbell, a great niece of Mr MacDonald, said: “It is lovely and moving to hear Dòmhnall’s voice again. He was always very welcoming and looked forward to his many visitors, they used to come from all over the world.

He was a kind, softly spoken and modest man and never boasted about any of his work.

“His work was often published in the local paper. We are fortunate as a family that we now have his book to look at some of his bàrdachd or poetry, it was just unfortunate that is was published after his death.

“He always spoke Gàidhlig to us and yes we speak Gàidhlig as a family.”

DASG is looking to trace families of those featured on the audio recordings to reunite them with their relatives’ voices and stories.

Abi Lightbody, Àrd-Neach-Taic Corpais is Tasglann-Èisteachd/ Senior Audio Archive and Corpus Assistant, said: “I am delighted to be able to share these wonderful audio files with the public. I am from a small village in

Stirlingshire where Gaelic is no longer spoken and so I began learning Gaelic when I started studying at the University of Glasgow back in 2010.

“Learning Gaelic has opened up Scotland to me and a part of our own culture of which I previously had very little knowledge. I am delighted that fluent speakers, learners and people who have no Gaelic at all can now enjoy these recordings.

“The way we use and speak Gaelic is changing and these recordings allow people to access the rich idiomatic Gaelic of previous generations, whether they are interested in terminology, stories and legends or songs and music.”

The Digital Archive of Scottish Gaelic is funded by the British Academy, and is an online repository of digitised texts, lexical resources and fieldwork recordings for Scottish Gaelic. Here is a link to a blog post about the Audio DASG project.

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Tasglann èisteachd Gàidhlig/Beurla Oilthigh Ghlaschu ri fhaotainn saor ’s an-asgaidh

‌Tha na h-òrain agus na sgeulachdan ag innse mu àm eile.

Cuimhneachain beò air an aiseag bho phàrant gu pàiste thar nan ginealaichean.

A-nis, tha clàraidhean èisteachd ann an Gàidhlig is Beurla agus beagan Albais mu dheidhinn nòsan chroitearan, luchd-obrach tuathanais agus iasgairean air an cur air-loidhne an-diugh (27 Lùnastal) le Oilthigh Ghlaschu.

Today @DASG_Glaschu are releasing digital audio recordings of the traditions of crofters, farm workers and fishermen, in English and Gaelic!

More on this brilliant project here: https://t.co/QuY5OJ60SO#Gaelic #Gàidhlig #CluasRiClaisneachd @UofGGaidhlig pic.twitter.com/HweQno4GG7 — University of Glasgow (@UofGlasgow) August 27, 2018

Tha e na phàirt de dh’oidhirp leantainneach an Oilthighe air saidhbhreas cainnt traidiseanta Gàidhlig a dhèanamh nas ruigsinnich do luchd-labhairt, daoine gun Ghàidhlig agus luchd-ionnsachaidh le chèile.

Tha an gluasad seo a’ tighinn fhad ’s a tha Tasglann Didseatach Gàidhlig na h-Alba (DASG), stòr didseataichte air-loidhne de theacsaichean is goireasan briathrachais don chànan, a’ comharrachadh an 10mh ceann-bliadhna.

Tha e cuideachd ag ainmeachadh slighe ùr dha DASG a thaobh a bhith a’ cuimseachadh barrachd air an fhacal labhairte gus nòsan co-cheangailte ri seanchas, beul-aithris, òrain agus bàrdachd a ghabhail a-steach.

Thathar an dòchas gun cuidich an tasglann èisteachd le ùidh a thogail am measg luchd-èisteachd ùr ann a bhith ag ionnsachadh barrachd mu Ghàidhlig na h-Alba agus na traidiseanan beul-aithris a tha na lùib.

’S e prìomh eileamaid den chùis na traidiseanan is sgeulachdan a thilleadh gu na coimhearsnachdan sin bho an tàinig iad le deòin agus fialaidheachd, mar sin a’ dèanamh cinnteach gu bheil iad glèidhte do na ginealaichean a tha ri teachd.

Aig co-labhairt an 10mh ceann-bliadhna a chumadh ann an Oilthigh Ghlaschu an-diugh (27 Lùnastal 2018), chaidh ainmeachadh gu bheil teaghlach a’ Bhàird chliùitich Ghàidhlig, Tormod MacLeòid, aithnichte mar Am Bàrd Bochd, air obair a bheatha a bhuileachadh mar thabhartas air tasglann DASG. Am measg a’ chruinneachaidh tha ìomhaighean, òrain, sgeulachdan is beul-aithris a thionail am bard fhèin ann an Eilean Leòdhais.

Thuirt an t-Àrd-Ollamh Rob Ó Maolalaigh, Ollamh na Gàidhlig ann an Oilthigh Ghlaschu agus Stiùiriche DASG: “Tha an tasglann againn mar chuimhne bheò a tha gar ceangal gu dìreach tro eachdraidh beòil de sheanchas agus òrain ri Gàidhealtachd thraidiseanta nan ginealaichean a dh’fhalbh.

“Tha e a’ cur nar cuimhne cò às a thàinig sinn agus a’ comharrachadh pàirt chudromach de dhùthchas is dualchas na h-Alba. Tha na trì cànanan tùsail ann an Alba – Beurla, Gàidhlig agus Albais - air an cleachdadh san tasglann.

“A-nis, tha cànan na Gàidhlig gu mòr na phàirt de dh’Alba an latha an-diugh. Bho ainmean nam bailtean-mòra agus nam bailtean sa bheil sinn a’ còmhnaidh a tha air a thighinn bhon Ghàidhlig leithid Sruighlea, Cill Mheàrnaig agus Inbhir Nis gu facail mar loch, gleann, bàrd, uisge-beatha agus clann, tha an cànan a’ cuideachadh le Alba a chur ann an co-theacsa. Tha sinn air leth toilichte an goireas èisteachd seo a sholarachadh saor ’s an-asgaidh do na h-uile.”

Thuirt an t-Àrd-Ollamh Ó Maolalaigh cuideachd: “’S e urram fìor mhòr a th’ ann dhuinn gun do cho-dhùin teaghlach Thormoid MhicLeòid na pàipearan aige a bhuileachadh air alma mater a’ Bhàird, Oilthigh Ghlaschu.”

Gu h-iomlan, tha mu 42 faidhle èisteachd gam foillseachadh. Tha a naoi bho Thasglann Cluas ri Claisneachd a tha air ùr fhoillseachadh agus clàraichte ann an Ceann Loch Chille Chiarain ann an Alba agus cuideachd ann an Ceap Breatainn, Alba Nuadh is Canada, a bhios làn tar-sgrìobhte agus comasach an sgrùdadh le beachdan mionaideach.

Bha na clàraidhean sin dèante sa mhòr-chuid aig àm cruinneachaidh do Phròiseact Faclair Eachdraidheil Gàidhlig na h-Alba (HDSG) anns na 1970an. Tha e a’ gabhail a-steach teipichean is cèiseagan ridhle-gu-ridhle a thugadh mar thabhartas do Cheiltis agus Gàidhlig ann an Colaiste nan Ealan.

Tha 33 faidhle èisteachd eile gam foillseachadh bho Mòthan, uile air an cruinneachadh ann an Uibhist a Tuath is Deas, Sgalpaigh, Na Hearadh, Barraigh, Beàrnaraigh agus Beinn nam Fadhla leis an Aimeireaganach Tracy Chipman tro na 1990an agus tràth sna 2000an. Bha iad sin clàraichte ann am Beurla agus Gàidhlig agus bidh iad air an làn tar-sgrìobhadh no air am fo-thiotaladh an ceann sreath.

Tha na teipichean èisteachd a’ còmhdach briathrachas bho iasgach gu òrain is dàin a thuilleadh air sgeulachdan mu gach nì bho shuirighe gu leigheasan traidiseanta ghalaran gu sgeulachdan sìthe agus ro-fhaireachdainnean.

Tha mòran dhiubh sin a nochd anns an tasglann èisteachd air bàsachadh on uair sin agus is e seo a’ chiad uair a bhios an teaghlaichean ’s an caraidean air na clàraidhean a chluinntinn.

Thàinig aig DASG air teaghlach Dhòmhnaill MhicDhòmhnaill a chaidh a chlàradh ann an Dalabrog, Uibhist a Deas, a lorg.

Thuirt Màiri Anna Chaimbeul, ogha piuthar/bràthair Mhgr MhicDhòmhnaill, “Tha e àlainn agus drùidhteach guth Dhòmhnaill a chluinntinn a-rithist. Bha e an-còmhnaidh glè fhàilteach agus a’ coimhead air adhart ri luchd-tadhail a bha lìonmhor. B’ àbhaist dhaibh a bhith a’ tighinn bho air feadh an t-saoghail. B’ e duine coibhneil, socair, beusach a bh’ ann agus cha bhiodh e uair sam bith a’ bòstadh mu phàirt sam bith de a chuid obrach.

“Bhiodh an obair aige gu minig air fhoillseachadh sa phàipear ionadail. Tha sinn fortanach mar theaghlach gu bheil an leabhar aige againn a-nis airson coimhead ri cuid de a bhàrdachd no a dhàin, bha e dìreach mì-fhortanach gun deach fhoillseachadh an dèidh a bhàis.

“Bhiodh e an-còmhnaidh a’ labhairt Gàidhlig rinne agus bithidh, bidh sinn a’ labhairt Gàidhlig mar theaghlach.”

Tha DASG a’ coimhead ri teaghlaichean nan daoine sin a tha a’ nochdadh sna clàraidhean èisteachd a lorg, gus an coinneachadh a-rithist ri guthan is sgeulachdan an càirdean.

Thuirt Abi Lightbody, Àrd-Neach-Taic Corpais is Tasglann-Èisteachd: “Tha mi air leth toilichte a bhith comasach air na faidhlichean èisteachd mìorbhaileach seo a roinn leis a’ phoball. Tha mise à baile beag ann an Siorrachd

Shruighlea far nach eil Gàidhlig air a labhairt tuilleadh agus mar sin thòisich mi ag ionnsachadh Gàidhlig nuair a thàinig mi mar oileanach gu Oilthigh Ghlaschu air ais ann an 2010.

“Tha ionnsachadh na Gàidhlig air Alba agus pàirt den chultar againn fhìn fhosgladh a-mach dhomh, air nach robh ach eòlas glè bheag agam roimhe. Tha mi air mo dhòigh gum faod fileantaich, luchd-ionnsachaidh agus daoine aig nach eil Gàidhlig idir, tlachd a ghabhail às na clàraidhean sin.

“Tha an dòigh sa bheil sinn a’ cleachdadh agus a’ labhairt Gàidhlig ag atharrachadh agus tha na clàraidhean seo a’ ceadachadh cothrom do dhaoine air Gàidhlig shaidhbhir ghnàthas-cainnteach nan ginealaichean a dh’fhalbh a chluinntinn, eadar gu bheil ùidh aca ann am briathrachas, sgeulachdan agus fionn-sgeòil no òrain agus ceòl.”

Tha Tasglann Didseatach Gàidhlig na h-Alba maoinichte le Acadamaidh Bhreatainn, agus tha e na stòr didseataichte air-loidhne de theacsaichean, goireasan faclaireil agus clàraidhean bhon taobh a-muigh air Gàidhlig na h-Alba. Seo ceangal gu post bloga mu phròiseact Èisteachd DASG.

For more information and photographs contact Aine Allardyce in the University of Glasgow Communications and Public Affairs Office on 0141 330 7126 or email aine.allardyce@glasgow.ac.uk