Iain MacIllEathain – Preseantair] Nise an e bainne no beinne no boinne a th’ann? ‘S iomadh facal a shoilleireachas raon farsaing ar dual-chainntean. Tha beachd ann a-nis gum faodadh dual-chainntean ùra bhith nochdadh, dòighean ùra air a’ Ghàidhlig a chleachdadh. Mar eisimpleir, tha cuid ag ràdh gu bheil blas ainmeil Ghlaschu a’ toirt buaidh air Gàidhlig na h-òigridh sa bhaile. Seo Kerr Gibb.
[Kerr Gibb – Neach-aithris] Bho chionn ghoirid, nochd an earrann seo air-loidhne, a-mach air ‘weegie’ Gàidhlig, ag ràdh g’ eil òigridh agus luchd-ionnsachaidh Ghlaschu a’ bruidhinn nàdar de dhual-chainnt ùr, a thaobh blas agus gnàthasan-cainnte.
[Roibeard O Maolalaigh] Uill ma tha thu bruidhinn air blas-cainnte agus a leithid sin agus tha iomadach ‘definition’ ann ‘s dòcha air dè seòrsa rud a th’ann an dual-chainnt. Gu dearbha fhèin tha leithid ann, chan e a-mhàin ann an Glaschu, ann an Dùn Èideann, tha mi cinnteach ann an Obar Dheathain agus mar a tha fhios agad ‘s ann à Baile Ath Cliath a tha mi-fhìn agus tha leithid a rud ann agus Gaelige Baile Ath Cliath no Gaelige Baile Átha Cliath mar a chanas sinn fhìn agus cluinnidh tu an aon rud a-rithist ann am Beul Feirste cuideachd, Gaelige Beul Feirste, tha e gu math math soilleir gu bheil e eadar-dhealaichte can bhon Ghàidhlig thraidiseanta a chluinneas tu ann an tìr Chonnaill Dùn nan Gall.
[Kerr Gibb – Neach-aithris] Thuirt an t-Ollamh O Maolalaigh ge-tà gur ann gu mòr air sgàth luchd-ionnsachaidh a tha eadar-dhealachadh mar seo, fiù’s ged a thogadh an luchd-ionnsachaidh seo clann leis a’ chànan. Ach, an e dìreach droch Ghàidhlig a tha seo, mar a theireadh cuid?
[Alasdair MacCaluim] Uill tha mise smaoineachadh gur e an rud as cudromaiche gu bheil daoine a’ bruidhinn na Gàidhlig agus ma tha daoine ga tuigsinn, a h-uile duine ga tuigsinn tha sin ceart gu leòr. B’ fheàrr leam gum biodh na fuaimean uile ceart ach ‘s urrainn dhut Gàidhlig a bhruidhinn às aonais nam fuaimean ceart uile agus blas Ghlaschu a bhith ort fhathast ach ‘s e an duilgheadas a th’ann ‘s e nach eil sin a’ tachairt leis a h-uile duine mar eisimpleir chan eil na fuaimean uile agamsa ceart – na ‘l’s ‘n’s agus ‘r’s agus rudan mar sin oir dh’ionnsaich mi Gàidhlig san ìre mhòir a-mach à leabhraichean gun a bhith bruidhinn ri daoine agus tha an cunnart ann gun lean sin agus b’ fhèarr leam gu robh na fuaimean uile ceart. Ach bidh cànan ag atharrachadh agus tha mi smaoineachadh gur e rud math agus rud fallain a tha sin ‘s na dìochuimhnich gu bheil Beurla againn cuideachd agus cha bhi sinn a’ dèanamh dìmeas air daoine a chionn ‘s nach eil na fuaimean Beurla aca mar cuideigin aig a bheil Beurla bho thùs agus bidh sin ag atharrachadh le Gàidhlig cuideachd.
[Kerr Gibb – Neach-aithris] Agus math no dona, a bheil atharrachadh mar seo na rud nàdarra?
[Roibeard O Maolalaigh] Air an aon làimh, ‘s e rud math a th’ann, ‘s e rud nàdarra a th’ann, fhios agad agus ma choimheadas sinn air an diofar can a tha eadar Gàidhlig na h-Èireann agus Gàidhlig na h-Alba – chan eil teagamh ann mu dheidhinn ach gur ann air sailleabh luchd-ionnsachaidh a thàinig na h-eadar-dhealachaidhean tha sin a-staigh. Tha cuid de fheartan ann an Gàidhlig na h-Alba a thog sinn bho na Cruithnich tha mi cinnteach, na Lochlannaich agus luchd na Beurla cuideachd ‘s tha siud a’ fàgail a rian agus an lorg mun an cànan chan eil teagamh mu dheidhinn. So ann an dòigh tha e nàdarra. Air an taobh eile dhen gnothach ge-tà, mura h-eil daoine tighinn beò ann an àrainneachd làidir Ghàidhlig tha sin a’ ciallachadh nach eil iad a’ faighinn, nach eil iad a’ togail ‘s dòcha beartas a’ chànain mar bu chòir, mar a bhiodh bho shean, air Gàidhealtachd.
[Kerr Gibb – Neach-aithris] Gàidhlig bhriste seach Gàidhlig sa chiste. Tha caochladh bheachd fhathast air atharrachaidhean blas na Gàidhlig. Kerr Gibb, BBC An Là, Glaschu.
[Iain Maclean – Presenter] Now is it bainne or beinne or boinne? There are many words which reflect our wide range of dialects. It is thought now that new dialects could emerge, new ways to use Gaelic. For example, many say that the famous Glasgow accent is having an effect on the Gaelic spoken by the city’s youngsters. Here’s Kerr Gibb.
[Kerr Gibb – Reporter] Recently, this report appeared online about ‘weegie’ Gaelic, saying that young people and learners in Glasgow are speaking with a new kind ofdialect, when it comes to accent and idioms.
[Roibeard O Maolalaigh] Well if you’re taking about things dialectal are perhaps many different definitions of what dialect is. There definitely is such a thing, not only in Glasgow, in Edinburgh, I’m sure in Aberdeen and as you know I’m from Dublin and there is Dublin Gaelic or Gaelige Baile Átha Cliath as we call it ourselves and you’ll also hear the same thing in Belfast, Belfast Gaelic, it’s very very clear that it’s different from the traditional Gaelic that you hear in Tyrconnell, County Donegal.
[Kerr Gibb – Reporter] Professor O Maolalaigh said though that it’s largely due to learners that these changes have come about, even if these learners raised children with the language. But, is this just bad Gaelic, as some would say?
[Alasdair MacCallum] Well I think the most important thing is that people speak Gaelic and if people understand it, if everyone understands it that’s OK. I’d prefer if all the sounds were correct but you can speak Gaelic without all the right sounds and a Glasgow accent but the problem is that this doesn’t happen with everyone for example I don’t have all the correct sounds – the ‘l’s and ‘n’s and ‘r’s and things like that as I learned Gaelic almost entirely from books without speaking it to anyone and there’s a danger this will continue and I would prefer the sounds to be correct. Language changes though and I think that is a good thing, a healthy thing and don’t forget we also speak English and we don’t look down on people because they don’t have the same English sounds as a native speaker and that will apply to Gaelic too.
[Kerr Gibb – Reporter] And good or bad, is a change like this natural?
[Roibeard O Maolalaigh] On one hand, it’s a good thing, it’s a natural thing you know and if we look at the difference say between Irish Gaelic and Scottish Gaelic – there’s no doubt that these changes came from learners. Many of Gaelic’s characteristics came from the Picts I’m sure, the Vikings and the English too and that affects the methodology and path of the language. There is no doubt about this. So in a way it’s natural. On the other hand though, if people don’t live in a strong Gaelic environment that means that they aren’t getting, aren’t picking up the richness of the language as they should, as happened of old in the Highlands.
[Kerr Gibb – Reporter] Broken Gaelic over no Gaelic. There are many varying opinions on changes in Gaelic accents. Kerr Gibb, BBC An Là, Glasgow.
Iain MacIllEathain – Preseantair] Nise an e bainne no beinne no boinne a th’ann? ‘S iomadh facal a shoilleireachas raon farsaing ar dual-chainntean. Tha beachd ann a-nis gum faodadh dual-chainntean ùra bhith nochdadh, dòighean ùra air a’ Ghàidhlig a chleachdadh. Mar eisimpleir, tha cuid ag ràdh gu bheil blas ainmeil Ghlaschu a’ toirt buaidh air Gàidhlig na h-òigridh sa bhaile. Seo Kerr Gibb.
[Kerr Gibb – Neach-aithris] Bho chionn ghoirid, nochd an earrann seo air-loidhne, a-mach air ‘weegie’ Gàidhlig, ag ràdh g’ eil òigridh agus luchd-ionnsachaidh Ghlaschu a’ bruidhinn nàdar de dhual-chainnt ùr, a thaobh blas agus gnàthasan-cainnte.
[Roibeard O Maolalaigh] Uill ma tha thu bruidhinn air blas-cainnte agus a leithid sin agus tha iomadach ‘definition’ ann ‘s dòcha air dè seòrsa rud a th’ann an dual-chainnt. Gu dearbha fhèin tha leithid ann, chan e a-mhàin ann an Glaschu, ann an Dùn Èideann, tha mi cinnteach ann an Obar Dheathain agus mar a tha fhios agad ‘s ann à Baile Ath Cliath a tha mi-fhìn agus tha leithid a rud ann agus Gaelige Baile Ath Cliath no Gaelige Baile Átha Cliath mar a chanas sinn fhìn agus cluinnidh tu an aon rud a-rithist ann am Beul Feirste cuideachd, Gaelige Beul Feirste, tha e gu math math soilleir gu bheil e eadar-dhealaichte can bhon Ghàidhlig thraidiseanta a chluinneas tu ann an tìr Chonnaill Dùn nan Gall.
[Kerr Gibb – Neach-aithris] Thuirt an t-Ollamh O Maolalaigh ge-tà gur ann gu mòr air sgàth luchd-ionnsachaidh a tha eadar-dhealachadh mar seo, fiù’s ged a thogadh an luchd-ionnsachaidh seo clann leis a’ chànan. Ach, an e dìreach droch Ghàidhlig a tha seo, mar a theireadh cuid?
[Alasdair MacCaluim] Uill tha mise smaoineachadh gur e an rud as cudromaiche gu bheil daoine a’ bruidhinn na Gàidhlig agus ma tha daoine ga tuigsinn, a h-uile duine ga tuigsinn tha sin ceart gu leòr. B’ fheàrr leam gum biodh na fuaimean uile ceart ach ‘s urrainn dhut Gàidhlig a bhruidhinn às aonais nam fuaimean ceart uile agus blas Ghlaschu a bhith ort fhathast ach ‘s e an duilgheadas a th’ann ‘s e nach eil sin a’ tachairt leis a h-uile duine mar eisimpleir chan eil na fuaimean uile agamsa ceart – na ‘l’s ‘n’s agus ‘r’s agus rudan mar sin oir dh’ionnsaich mi Gàidhlig san ìre mhòir a-mach à leabhraichean gun a bhith bruidhinn ri daoine agus tha an cunnart ann gun lean sin agus b’ fhèarr leam gu robh na fuaimean uile ceart. Ach bidh cànan ag atharrachadh agus tha mi smaoineachadh gur e rud math agus rud fallain a tha sin ‘s na dìochuimhnich gu bheil Beurla againn cuideachd agus cha bhi sinn a’ dèanamh dìmeas air daoine a chionn ‘s nach eil na fuaimean Beurla aca mar cuideigin aig a bheil Beurla bho thùs agus bidh sin ag atharrachadh le Gàidhlig cuideachd.
[Kerr Gibb – Neach-aithris] Agus math no dona, a bheil atharrachadh mar seo na rud nàdarra?
[Roibeard O Maolalaigh] Air an aon làimh, ‘s e rud math a th’ann, ‘s e rud nàdarra a th’ann, fhios agad agus ma choimheadas sinn air an diofar can a tha eadar Gàidhlig na h-Èireann agus Gàidhlig na h-Alba – chan eil teagamh ann mu dheidhinn ach gur ann air sailleabh luchd-ionnsachaidh a thàinig na h-eadar-dhealachaidhean tha sin a-staigh. Tha cuid de fheartan ann an Gàidhlig na h-Alba a thog sinn bho na Cruithnich tha mi cinnteach, na Lochlannaich agus luchd na Beurla cuideachd ‘s tha siud a’ fàgail a rian agus an lorg mun an cànan chan eil teagamh mu dheidhinn. So ann an dòigh tha e nàdarra. Air an taobh eile dhen gnothach ge-tà, mura h-eil daoine tighinn beò ann an àrainneachd làidir Ghàidhlig tha sin a’ ciallachadh nach eil iad a’ faighinn, nach eil iad a’ togail ‘s dòcha beartas a’ chànain mar bu chòir, mar a bhiodh bho shean, air Gàidhealtachd.
[Kerr Gibb – Neach-aithris] Gàidhlig bhriste seach Gàidhlig sa chiste. Tha caochladh bheachd fhathast air atharrachaidhean blas na Gàidhlig. Kerr Gibb, BBC An Là, Glaschu.
[Iain Maclean – Presenter] Now is it bainne or beinne or boinne? There are many words which reflect our wide range of dialects. It is thought now that new dialects could emerge, new ways to use Gaelic. For example, many say that the famous Glasgow accent is having an effect on the Gaelic spoken by the city’s youngsters. Here’s Kerr Gibb.
[Kerr Gibb – Reporter] Recently, this report appeared online about ‘weegie’ Gaelic, saying that young people and learners in Glasgow are speaking with a new kind ofdialect, when it comes to accent and idioms.
[Roibeard O Maolalaigh] Well if you’re taking about things dialectal are perhaps many different definitions of what dialect is. There definitely is such a thing, not only in Glasgow, in Edinburgh, I’m sure in Aberdeen and as you know I’m from Dublin and there is Dublin Gaelic or Gaelige Baile Átha Cliath as we call it ourselves and you’ll also hear the same thing in Belfast, Belfast Gaelic, it’s very very clear that it’s different from the traditional Gaelic that you hear in Tyrconnell, County Donegal.
[Kerr Gibb – Reporter] Professor O Maolalaigh said though that it’s largely due to learners that these changes have come about, even if these learners raised children with the language. But, is this just bad Gaelic, as some would say?
[Alasdair MacCallum] Well I think the most important thing is that people speak Gaelic and if people understand it, if everyone understands it that’s OK. I’d prefer if all the sounds were correct but you can speak Gaelic without all the right sounds and a Glasgow accent but the problem is that this doesn’t happen with everyone for example I don’t have all the correct sounds – the ‘l’s and ‘n’s and ‘r’s and things like that as I learned Gaelic almost entirely from books without speaking it to anyone and there’s a danger this will continue and I would prefer the sounds to be correct. Language changes though and I think that is a good thing, a healthy thing and don’t forget we also speak English and we don’t look down on people because they don’t have the same English sounds as a native speaker and that will apply to Gaelic too.
[Kerr Gibb – Reporter] And good or bad, is a change like this natural?
[Roibeard O Maolalaigh] On one hand, it’s a good thing, it’s a natural thing you know and if we look at the difference say between Irish Gaelic and Scottish Gaelic – there’s no doubt that these changes came from learners. Many of Gaelic’s characteristics came from the Picts I’m sure, the Vikings and the English too and that affects the methodology and path of the language. There is no doubt about this. So in a way it’s natural. On the other hand though, if people don’t live in a strong Gaelic environment that means that they aren’t getting, aren’t picking up the richness of the language as they should, as happened of old in the Highlands.
[Kerr Gibb – Reporter] Broken Gaelic over no Gaelic. There are many varying opinions on changes in Gaelic accents. Kerr Gibb, BBC An Là, Glasgow.