SCOTTISH GAELIC SPEECH - KEY #1 for learners of Gàidhlig na h-Alba. What every student MUST know.

In this long-form video I give a general introduction to the KEY#1 (of 3) to acquiring my native language, Scottish Gaelic. By using a remarkable Gaelic poem (and my translation of it) I give a flavour of some of the stark differences between Gaelic and English. After establishing that Gaelic and English are 'two separate worlds' in terms of sound I explain how the letters that we are so used to (a,b,c...) have totally different roles and have to be learned afresh.
I explain how the letter 'h' is used as a 'tool' to modify sounds, rather than being an actual letter in its own right.

Of PRIMARY importance for learners is that the VOWELS in Gaelic are radically different in their sound and they dominate the language in a way that they do not in English, and they influence the sounds of the majority of the other consonants and combination (bossing them around!).

I also draw attention the the fact that there are two classes of vowels - broad and slender - and that they change the sounds of consonants and combinations in very distinct ways. Students who don't internalise this early on will remain confused about Gaelic speech until they do!

I then go on to use four carefully selected 'false friends' to illustrate some major differences in Gaelic sound and spelling:
COIN/COIN/COIN (to highlight the SHORT vowels, compared to English AND French)
LAIR/LÀIR (to highlight LONG vowels)
GAOL/GAOL (to highlight long vowels that do NOT have an accent)
BALL/BALL (to highlight the lengthening effect of DOUBLE letters, and their sliding vowel effect)

I then talk about how DELIBERATE PRACTICE of these sounds and combinations is essential if you are to speak Gaelic clearly and authentically.

Finally I explain that, if you learn this way, the door will be open to acquire ANY of the diverse dialects that are still spoken today in Scottish Gaelic.

Please let me know in the comments if KEY#1 is helpful!