Saoghal Thormoid: Diciadain – Coimhearsnachdan

Tha Tormod a’ mìneachadh is a’ beachdachadh air na h-atharrachaidhean a chunnaic e fhèin air saoghal nan Gàidheal ann an Glaschu agus anns na h-Eileanan, agus a’ sònrachadh cuid de na suidheachaidhean a dh’adhbharaicheadh strì. Ged a bha eòlas air an t-saoghal air fad na bu chumhainge anns na làithean sin, an coimeas ris an tuigse a th’ aig daoine a-nis agus sinn ceangailte ann an iomadh dòigh san latha an-diugh, ‘s dòcha nach eil sinn a cheart cho ceangailte mar choimhearsnachd ‘s a bha sinn. Tha Tormod a’ bruidhinn air na Gàidheil ann an Glaschu is am beachd a bh’ aca orra fhèin, na shùilean fhèin, gun robh iad ‘s dòcha na b’ uaisle is fa leth ann an dòigh bho mhuinntir Ghlaschu, ged a chuireadh impidh orra gun togadh iad a’ Bheurla. Air an taobh eile, ged a ghabhadh cuid farmad ris na Gàidheil òga ann an cuid a dhòighean, cha robh iadsan den bharail gun robh luach ga chur sa Ghàidhlig le an co-aoisean, agus beachdan gràineil, gràin-chinnidheach ag èirigh. Agus mu dheireadh, tha Tormod a’ toirt iomradh air ciamar a bhathar a’ cleachdadh an fhacail ‘Gàidhealach’, agus e a’ sealltainn nan ceanglaichean is nan sgaraidhean, mar a bha e fhèin gam faicinn, eadar na coimhearsnachdan ann an Glaschu a thàinig bho thùs às Èirinn agus à Gàidhealtachd na h-Alba.

Norman describes and reflects upon changes he has witnessed in Gaelic community life over the years, both in Glasgow and in the Hebrides, highlighting some paradoxes and tensions. In former times geographical horizons may have been much closer in comparison with the global awareness and contacts modern connectivity enables, yet the latter may not lead to a sense of greater connectedness. He discusses how, while the Gaelic community in Glasgow may have tended to envisage itself, in his eyes, in a higher or somewhat exclusive position in relation to other Glaswegians, there was nonetheless a strongly felt imperative to acquire their language. Conversely, while young Gaels might be envied by their peers in some ways, they did not feel their language was respected by non-speakers, with apparent racial imprecations sometimes experienced. Lastly, in discussing how broadly the term “Gàidhealach” might be applied, he depicts in more detail the links and fissures, as he saw them, between Glasgow communities of Irish and Scottish Island/Highland extraction.

A full transcript of this conversation is available here on Clilstore. (The Unit Info tab also enables access to Google Translate.)

The “Saoghal Thormoid” project is a collaboration between Soillse, the inter-university research partnership which funded the recordings through its Small Research Fund, and Guthan nan Eilean (Island Voices).

Update: All recordings in both the “Saoghal Thormoid” and “Sgeulachdan Thormoid” collections are now available on the “Norman Maclean” page.

Chan eil na beachdan aig com-pàirtichean ann an rannsachadh Shoillse a’ comharrachadh beachd oifigeil sam bith aig Soillse fhèin.

Views expressed by participants in Soillse research do not reflect any official opinion of the Soillse partnership.