Everything You Need To Learn Scots Gaelic
Scots Gaelic (Scottish Gaelic or Erse) is a Celtic language native to the Gaels of Scotland and Ireland. It has been in decline since the late 18th century when it began to be replaced by English.
Today there are over 50,000 native speakers of Scots Gaelic with communities existing primarily in the Highlands, the Hebrides Islands and Galloway.
Scots Gaelic is closely related to Irish and Manx, sharing a common origin in Old Irish.
We’ve compiled a list of of useful resources to help you learn Scots Gaelic. Though the list isn’t huge, there’s plenty here to get you started.
Scots Gaelic Language Learning Books
Kick off your studies with a comprehensive Scots Gaelic course/study book. These books are often the most effective in terms of getting you familiar with Scots Gaelic grammar, structure etc. They’re also great for learning new vocabulary and building a solid foundation in Scots Gaelic.
A concise English-Scottish Gaelic dictionary is also and essential addition to any learner’s library. These are indispensable in helping you learn new words, phrases and expressions you might come across while reading or listening to Scots Gaelic.
Scots Gaelic Children’s Books
As a beginner, reading children’s books in Scots Gaelic will be beneficial to you. They’re written using simple syntax and vocabulary, making them quite easy to comprehend. They’re also filled with colorful illustrations to aid with memorization.
By reading Scottish Gaelic kids’ books, you’ll not only add plenty of new words to your vocabulary, but your general command of the language will improve, too.
Scots Gaelic Fiction
Progressing onto more challenging reading material is a great way to continue your Scots Gaelic studies. That’s where Scottish Gaelic books for older readers come in. Though these books are harder to read, the benefits for doing so are incalculable.
You’ll improve your overall comprehension of Scots Gaelic if you read these books, since you’ll be exposed to language that’s more complex.
Scots Gaelic Digital Courses
Believe it or not, you can find a digital video course for Scottish Gaelic on Udemy. A rare find, indeed, and one that might be worth looking at, as this will give you the chance to hear spoken Gaelic from a native, something you simply couldn’t get from a book (obviously).