Sharing Gaelic Voices

The summer issue of NATECLA’s journal “Language Issues” takes a look at Community Languages, and features an article on Guthan nan Eilean/Island Voices by Gordon Wells. “Sharing Gaelic Voices: Peatcutting in Polish or Surfing in Sindhi?” can be viewed as a Gaelic-focussed companion to, and update of, the 2012 project description (written from an ESOL point of view) in the British Council’s “Innovations in ELT for Migrants and Refugees”.

Professor Conchúr Ó Giollagáin of the University of the Highlands and Islands, and the Soillse inter-university research network, adds another perspective: “Guthan nan Eilean may also be seen as creative initial steps in an emerging agenda of documentation of natural language… The project demonstrates how the community of speakers can take a pro-active and productive role… in this vital task.”

Regular readers will have noticed that a “Peatcutting in Polish” video already exists, as an example of the potential for “re-purposing” that is among the issues discussed in the article.

Perhaps more examples will be forthcoming in the months ahead?

A copy of the article has been added to the Island Voices Research/Reports page, with the kind agreement of NATECLA.

It can also be accessed here.

2018 Update: The number of languages featured in Island Voices films is now into double figures! Check our Other Tongues page.