I would like to learn how to speak the Gaelic language...?

Question

Does anyone know how to speak Gaelic? If you do, how did you learn how to speak it?

Does anyone know any websites where I could learn it from or books/videos/Cds/ect?

Person with the best information for me will recieve 10 pts.

Answer 1

It's not an easy language to learn for a native speaker of English because it's not very similar (unlike, say, Spanish which has a lot in common with English despite being in a different language family). Aside from being inflected (like German, so if you speak that it helps) it has a different word order and I found it very, er, idiomatic. Spelling and pronunciation seem to have nothing to do with each other as well, so learning one won't help much with the other.

I don't want to discourage you, just warn you it may be too much to ask of a website. Really something interactive like a classroom is best. That said, I know it's not easy to find schools that teach Gaelic (or, "Irish" as it's called in Ireland if that helps your search), so you can at least get started with some school texts.

All my textbooks were published by An Gum (with an acute accent on the "u"). Try browsing their offerings to see what they have you like, and if they have things with audio. Here are some text suggestions:
An Focloir Poca ("The Pocket Book")
An Focloir Scoile ("The School Book")
An Focloir Beag ("The Little Book")

It's been a while, but I remember the "Buntus Cainte" series as being a relatively painless introduction to conversational Irish (again, though, in a classroom).

Also, Progress in Irish is a relatively cheap paperback with basic vocabulary, conjugations, declensions, moods, and all that fun grammar stuff. Unfortunately the exercises are useless if you're by yourself and have no one to correct them, but maybe you can find a teachers' edition.

I can't give you any help with finding CDs/videos/tapes, but I have one last piece of advice (especially when looking for audio stuff). Irish has different dialects, so just be aware of that when reading descriptions of things. You could make yourself more confused if one CD is from Connemara and another is from Munster. Textbooks are in "standard Irish" unless they say otherwise, so you can probably assume that from tapes and videos. Just check before you buy.

Answer 2

I just put this "learning the gaelic language" into a search engine and it came up with a lot of things. Just try that and maybe you can find what you are looking for.

Donald Macdonald's Gaelic Pages ... pursue the learning of Gaelic on their own, working with books, tapes, and whatever other aids they can find.
www3.sympatico.ca/donaldmacdonald/gaelic.htm
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Gaelic - language.com.au - Gaelic is the dialect spoken in rural parts of Scotland. We have stocked what we believe to be best in Gaelic learning products. www.language.com.au/gaelic.html

Irish Language Learning Materials -- Books, Tapes, CD-ROMs
Irish Gaelic Language Learning Materials -- Books, Tapes, CD-ROMs ... For other Irish learning material click on the one of the following ... www.his.com/~rory/irishstf.html

Gaelic Language - Another Path/Deafhomeschool.com
Resources for learning the Gaelic language.
www.deafhomeschool.com/study/languages/gaelic.html

Answer 3

Firstly it's called Irish. Gaelic is Irish in Irish. There is also Scots Gaelic which might confuse your search. Every child in Ireland has to learn it for 14 years so personal I hate it. But you best bet is to buy a learning pack. Here are some websites. Or check yourself with the words search "learn Irish".

http://www.peluche.de/sfuk/index.html?target=272.html
http://www.gaeltalk.net/
http://www.maths.tcd.ie/gaeilge/ LOOK AT THIS FIRST

Go n'eiri an t-adh leat (Good luck)

Answer 4

I've done some research because I've wanted to learn. I don't have any site suggetions for you sorry. However, when you are doing your research, search for Irish or Irish Gaelic. Irish and Scottish Gaelic are two different languages.

Answer 5

Well dear, I'm Irish/Canadian and I've been looking as well, but haven't come up with any good sites to go to, but if your bound and determined to do it, you could take a trip to Newfoundland because i hear the some people still speak Irish Gaelic and are willing to teach the language to people from all around, but if your looking for Scottish Gaelic i have no clue dear sorry, but good luck and happy searching.

I just went through my favourites list and come up with these links, enjoy.

Answer 6

I was forced to sit through 14 years of Irish in school, thats how I learned it. If you enter, learn to speak Irish into google, they will gove you loads of different websites and cd/books that can help you. Personally, you should get the cd's, pronouncitation is hard, it will help you better