Although there are now many new languages spoken in the Lowlands, Gaelic is still spoken too. Some people say Gaelic was never spoken across Scotland, but that is wrong. Gaelic was, and still is, spoken in every ceàrnaidh (corner) of Scotland. At one time Gaelic was the language of the country.
aig aon àm
at one time
mòr–chànan (m)
majority language
aig an aon àm
at the same time
mion–chànan (m)
minority language
aig a’ cheart àm
at the same time
cànan dùthchasach (m)
indigenous language
Tip: And you can check out the LearnGaelic mythbusters #2 for a bit more on this.
Have a go at reading this short section. If you don’t understand any words, try looking them up in your dictionary or the LearnGaelic faclair.
‘S e luchd–labhairt na Gàidhlig a chruthaich Rìoghachd na h–Alba, agus b’ i a’ Ghàidhlig mòr–chànan na dùthcha fad linntean. Anns a’ bhliadhna 1000 bha a’ Ghàidhlig ga bruidhinn ann an cha mhòr gach ceàrnaidh de dh’Alba.
Ach bha cànain eile ann cuideachd. Bha na Lochlannaich a’ riaghladh anns na h–Eileanan Siar agus mu thuath, agus iadsan a’ bruidhinn seann Lochlannais, ach bha Gàidhlig ga bruidhinn anns na sgìrean acasan cuideachd, agus fhuair a’ Ghàidhlig làmh–an–uachdair air an t–seann chànan Lochlannach. Mu dheas, bha an t–Seann Bheurla air tighinn a–steach ann an Lodainn an Ear agus Siorrachd Bhearaig. Bha Seann Chuimris, cànan ris an canar Cuimbris, fhathast ga bruidhinn ann an Siorrachd Rosbroig agus Siorrachd Dhùn Phris.
Mar a tha sinne san latha an–diugh, bha daoine a’ gluasad eadar na sgìrean seo, ag obair is a’ bruidhinn barrachd air aon chànan!
Lodainn an Ear
East Lothian
Siorrachd Bhearaig
Berwickshire
Siorrachd Rosbroig
Roxburghshire
Siorrachd Dhùn Phris
Dumfriesshire