Gaelic

Anns an leasan seo bheir sinn sùil air na diofar dhualchainntean agus blasan na Gàidhlig, am fuaimneachadh, am briathrachas agus an ruitheam.

Bidh gu leòr againn air an abairt eirmseach èibhinn seo a chluinntinn: Tha cànan na dhualchainnt le arm is cabhlachd , 'A language is a dialect with an army and navy', a sgaoil Max Weinreich, an cànanaiche Iùdhach agus eachdraiche Iùdhais/Giùdais.

Gu dearbh, faodaidh na loidhnichean eadar dualchainnt agus cànan a bhith rudeigin mì‑shoilleir, agus cha bhiodh ann ach aon chànan mura robh cànain ag atharrachadh tro dhualchainnt.

Aig aon àm b' e aon chànan a bh' anns a' Ghàidhlig ann an Alba agus Èirinn, ach tro na linntean dh'fhàs fuaimneachadh, gràmar, agus briathrachas ann an Alba cho eadar‑dhealaichte gun robhar den bheachd gum b' e cànan fa leth a bh' anns a' Ghàidhlig a‑bhos an seo.

Bithear tric ag ràdh gu bheil tòrr dhualchainntean agus tòrr beairteis sa Ghàidhlig, agus ged a tha sin fìor, chan eil cànan ann anns nach eil dualchainntean.

Tha Eadailtis gu math eadar‑dhealaichte anns cha mhòr gach baile san Eadailt.

Tha Gearmailtis eadar‑dhealaichte anns gach sgìre, agus a' gabhail a‑steach Gearmailtis na h‑Eilbheise agus Gearmailtis na h‑Ostaire, a tha air an aithneachadh mar dhualchainntean.

Bidh mòran (de) luchd‑ionnsachaidh ag amas air blas no dualchainnt shònraichte, 's dòcha an tè a bhruidhneadh san teaghlach aca no sa choimhearsnachd sa bheil iad a' fuireach, le an sinnsearan no fiù 's caraidean.

Ach co-dhiù bhios ùidh agad ann an dualchainnt shònraichte no nach bi, tha e cudromach gum bi luchd‑ionnsachaidh uile eòlach air na diofar fhuaimean agus fhaclan a chleachdas luchd‑labhairt a' chànain. Cha tèid thu ro fhada ann an còmhradh mura h‑eil thu a' tuigsinn dè tha am fear eile ag ràdh!

Smaoinich air cho eadar‑dhealaichte is a tha Beurla anns gach sgìre de dh'Alba, gun luaidh air Sasainn, Canada, Astràilia, Sealainn Nuadh agus na Stàitean Aonaichte.

Mar sin, ma chluinneas tu bainne , beinne , no boinne , cuimhnich gun cluinn thu 'milk', 'mulk', is 'melk' sa Bheurla cuideachd!

English

In this lesson we look at the various Gaelic dialects and accents, their pronunciation, vocabulary and rhythm.

Many of us will have heard this witticism of Max Weinreich, the Jewish linguist and historian of Yiddish, who said: 'A language is a dialect with an army and navy'.

Indeed, the lines between dialect and language can be somewhat blurred, and there would only be one language if languages did not change through dialect.

At one time Gaelic was one language in Scotland and Ireland, but over the centuries the pronunciation, grammar and vocabulary in Scotland became so different that Gaelic here came to be regarded as a separate language.

It is often said that there are many dialects and a lot of richness in Gaelic, and although that is true, there are few, if any, languages that do not have dialects.

Italian is very different in almost every village or town in Italy.

German is different in each region, including Swiss German and Austrian German, which are recognised as dialects.

Many learners choose to aim for a specific accent or dialect, perhaps the one spoken in their family or in the community where they live, by their ancestors or even friends.

But whether you have an interest in a certain dialect or not, it is important for all learners to familiarise themselves with the different sounds and words used by speakers of the language. You won't get far in conversation if you don't understand what the other person is saying!

Think about how different English is in each area of Scotland, not to mention England, Canada, Australia, New Zealand and the United States.

So, if you hear bainne , beinne , or boinne , remember that you also hear 'milk', 'mulk', and 'melk' in English!