Everyday Gaelic [Paperback]

Morag MacNeill (Author)

Book Description

Publication Date: August 30, 2006 | ISBN-10: 1841583707 | ISBN-13: 978-1841583709

Since English is also spoken in the Gaelic-speaking areas, communication in Gaelic is not so much a matter of necessity as of choice and interest. This book, therefore, covers more than just the phrases needed by an outsider in a foreign land - it also dips into the chatty, the personal and domestic aspects of the language. It ranges from simple words and phrases to the more complex and idiomatic. Hopefully it will serve the non-speaker of Gaelic who wishes to utter the odd phrase and get an idea of the language, the person whose parents spoke Gaelic and who understands it but is unwilling to 'try his hand' and also the keen learner, who might like to gain a greater scope of everyday phrases than those contained in grammar books of the language. Obviously the whole of the Gaelic language cannot be contained in one book. Therefore a selection has been made of those words and phrases most likely to be useful in everyday situations, for example meeting and greeting, aspects of travelling, the weather and eating and drinking. If this selection has been successful, the reader will find the book not only informative but also interesting. Everyday Gaelic was originally published by Gairm Publications in 1984 and has been reprinted many times. This is a revised and expanded edition which features up-to-date orthography.

Editorial Reviews

About the Author

Morag MacNeill was born in Greenock and learned Gaelic as a teenager. She was a full-time primary school teacher and now works as a supply teacher, mainly in the Gaelic medium. She has done extensive teaching of adults within night class, adult education groups and organisations. She has lived in Inverness since 1970.

Product Details

• Paperback: 138 pages
• Publisher: Birlinn Ltd (August 30, 2006)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 1841583707
• ISBN-13: 978-1841583709
• Product Dimensions: 8 x 5.8 x 0.4 inches
• Shipping Weight: 10.6 ounces (View shipping rates and policies)
• Average Customer Review: 4.2 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (8 customer reviews)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #116,676 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)

Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

44 of 44 people found the following review helpful:

4.0 out of 5 stars An indespensible guide to conversational idioms, June 2, 1999

By A Customer

This review is from: Everyday Gaelic (Paperback)

This very conveniently organized, compact and user-friendly book should be a staple on every Gaelic learner's bookshelf. It not only provides an excellent vocabulary of idiomatic phrases, but does so with the pithy wit that Scottish Gaels are so famous for.

Phrases are pressented in idiomatic English, idiomatic Gaelic and phonetic transcription side by side. The phonetics are fairly intuitive and easy to use. Basic gramar points are also covered, but as sidebars to the main focus, which is conversation.

This book truly fills an essential function in the progression from beginning to intermediate skill in Gaelic.

23 of 23 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Great little book - be sure to get the version with audio CD, February 20, 2008

By 

Eironic - See all my reviews

This review is from: Everyday Gaelic (Paperback)

This is definitely a worthwhile purchase for anyone interested in Scottish Gaelic. But one should be aware that there are two versions of this book in print - one with and one without the accompanying audio CD. According to Amazon's description and the photo of the book, the version they are selling does not include the CD, but the retail price and ISBN that they list for this title are for the one with the CD. So someone looking for this book might be hesistant in buying it from Amazon, because you might be paying for the book/CD version and only getting the book. None of the other customer reviews mention an audio CD or whether they actually ordered this title from Amazon specifically, so that is not helpful is determining which version Amazon actually stocks.

If you are looking from the book/CD version online (sorry, I won't name where to look here, but there are other retail sites that carrying both versions, so shop around - or pester Amazon to sort out this confusion), know that the cover of the book should have a yellow banner in the bottom corner reading "Includes Audio CD." It should also have an ISBN ending in 709 (the book-only version ends with 402, and is about $10 less retail). As a student of Scottish Gaelic, I highly recommend getting the book/CD version. Even with phonetic help, Gaelic learners benefit greatly from hearing the pronounciation and cadance of a native Gaelic speaker, as spoken Gaelic is quite distinct from spoken English or other non-Celtic languages.

20 of 20 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars More than a useful phrase book, August 21, 2001

By 

David Card (San Jose, CA USA) - See all my reviews

This review is from: Everyday Gaelic (Paperback)

This little book is very useful for a broad range of everyday conversational situations. It is most appropriate for travelers in Gaelic-speaking areas. The topical organization is great; particular situations are easy to find quickly. The phonetic pronunciation guides, with each phrase, are reasonably accurate and provide at least a good start toward accurate pronunciation of the Gaelic words and phrases - even showing how syllables and sounds are run together in phrases. Light in spirit, serious in intent. A "must-have" for any Gaelic learner who wants to use Gaelic in everyday situations.