Complete Gaelic Beginner to Intermediate Book and Audio Course

Learn to read, write, speak and understand a new language with Teach Yourself

Boyd Robertson, Iain Taylor

• Publisher: Teach Yourself
• Year: 2011
• Print ISBN: 9781444105919
• eBook ISBN: 9781444132267
• Topic: Languages & Linguistics
• Subtopic: Languages
• Index: Languages & Linguistics

Are you looking for a complete course in Gaelic which takes you effortlessly from beginner to confident speaker? Whether you are starting from scratch, or are just out of practice, Complete Gaelic will guarantee success! This edition is fully updated to reflect the published spelling conventions, and has complete audio support online.The course is structured in thematic units and the emphasis is placed on communication, so that you effortlessly progress from introducing yourself and dealing with everyday situations, to using the phone and talking about work. By the end of this course, you will approach Level B2 of the Common European Framework for Languages: Can interact with a degree of fluency and spontaneity that makes regular interaction with native speakers quite possible without strain for either party.Learn effortlessly with a new easy-to-read page design and interactive features: NOT GOT MUCH TIME?
One, five and ten-minute introductions to key principles to get you started.AUTHOR INSIGHTS
Lots of instant help with common problems and quick tips for success, based on the author's many years of experience.GRAMMAR TIPS
Easy-to-follow building blocks to give you a clear understanding.USEFUL VOCABULARY
Easy to find and learn, to build a solid foundation for speaking.DIALOGUES
Read and listen to everyday dialogues to help you speak and understand fast.TEST YOURSELF
Tests in the book and online to keep track of your progress.TRY THIS
Innovative exercises illustrate what you've learnt and how to use it.AUDIO
Access the audio for this course for free by downloading it to the Teach Yourself Library app or streaming it on library.teachyourself.com.The course is available as a print book (9781444105919) and as a pack comprising the book and double CD (9781444102369).

1

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Ciamar a tha thu?

How are you?

In this unit you will learn how to:

• Introduce yourself and others

• Ask how someone is and reply

• Ask where someone is from and reply

• Use some personal names and place names

• Use some forms of courtesy

• Say thanks

Còmhradh (Dialogue)

Mairead NicRath meets her friend Tormod MacÌomhair on the Uig, Skye-Tarbert, Harris ferry one day. They are later joined by Mairead’s cousin Iseabail NicLeòid, whom Tormod does not know.

CD1, TR 2

Mairead	Hallo, a Thormoid.
Tormod	Hallo, a Mhairead. Ciamar a tha thu?
Mairead	Tha gu math, tapadh leat. Ciamar a tha thu fhèin?
Tormod	Tha gu math, tapadh leat. Tha i brèagha an-diugh.
Mairead	Tha gu dearbh.
(Iseabail joins them.)
	A Thormoid, seo Iseabail.
Tormod	Hallo, Iseabail. ’S mise Tormod MacÌomhair.
Iseabail	Hallo, a Thormoid. ’S mise Iseabail NicLeòid. Ciamar a tha sibh?
Tormod	Tha gu math, tapadh leibh. Ciamar a tha sibh fhèin?
Iseabail	Meadhanach math, tapadh leibh. Cò às a tha sibh, a Thormoid?
Tormod	Tha mi à Leòdhas. Cò às a tha sibh fhèin, Iseabail?
Iseabail	Tha mi às an Eilean Sgitheanach.

QUICK VOCAB

Hallo, a Thormoid. Hallo, Norman.

Hallo, a Mhairead. Hallo, Margaret.

Ciamar a tha thu? How are you? (familiar singular)

Tha gu math, tapadh leat. Fine, thanks. (familiar singular)

Ciamar a tha thu fhèin? How are you yourself?

Tha i brèagha an-diugh. It’s a lovely day today.

Tha gu dearbh. Yes indeed.

A Thormoid, seo Iseabail. Norman, this is Ishbel (… here is Ishbel)

Hallo, Iseabail. Hallo, Ishbel.

’S mise Tormod MacÌomhair. I’m Norman MacIver.

’S mise Iseabail NicLeòid. I’m Ishbel MacLeod.

Ciamar a tha sibh? How are you? (plural and formal singular)

Tha gu math, tapadh leibh. Fine, thanks. (plural and formal singular)

Ciamar a tha sibh fhèin? How are you yourself?

Meadhanach math, tapadh leibh. Reasonably well, thank you.

Cò às a tha sibh, a Thormoid? Where are you from, Norman?

Tha mi à Leòdhas. I’m from Lewis.

Cò às a tha sibh fhèin, Iseabail? Where are you from yourself, Ishbel?

Tha mi às an Eilean Sgitheanach. I’m from Skye.

Mìneachadh (Explanation)

Surnames
Many Scottish surnames begin with the Gaelic word Mac meaning son, e.g.: MacDonald, MacInnes, MacAllister. These literally mean Son of Donald, Son of Angus and Son of Alasdair. In Gaelic, the form of such surnames changes when referring to a female. Murdo MacRae is Murchadh MacRath, but Margaret MacRae is Mairead NicRath.

Nic means daughter (of). A similar system operates in Iceland with the forms -son and -dottir at the end of surnames, e.g.: Magnusson and Magnusdottir. Other forms of Gaelic surnames also change when referring to a female person, as in the examples below:

Males	Females
Tormod Caimbeul	Iseabail Chaimbeul
Iain Camshron	Mairead Chamshron
Alasdair Grannd	Màiri Ghrannd

Familiar and formal forms
In Gaelic there are two ways of saying you. Thu is used in contexts of familiarity and informality, as when addressing someone you know well, or someone your own age. In less familiar, more formal settings, such as conducting business and when showing respect to older persons and to one’s superior, the form sibh is used. Sibh is also the plural form of you. The same distinction is made between tapadh leat (familiar singular) and tapadh leibh (plural and formal singular).

Obair (Exercises)

1 Lìon na beàrnan. (Fill the gaps.) Fill in the gaps in the following sentences with the appropriate names from the box b...

Table of contents

• Cover
• Title Page
• Contents
• Meet the authors
• Only got a minute?
• Only got five minutes?
• Introduction
• Spelling and pronunciation
• 1 Ciamar a tha thu?
• 2 Càit’ a bheil sibh a’ dol?
• 3 Dè ’n aois a tha thu?
• 4 ’S toil leam biadh Innseanach
• 5 Dè tha thu ag iarraidh?
• 6 Dè tha thu a’ dèanamh?
• 7 Chan eil mi gad chluinntinn
• 8 ’S e Muileach a tha ann
• 9 Càit’ a bheil am banca?
• 10 Chaidh sinn a-null thairis an-uiridh
• 11 Feumaidh mi falbh
• 12 Dè ’s fheàrr leatsa?
• 13 Tha sin nas fheàrr
• 14 Tha mi air mo shàrachadh
• 15 Tha dùil againn falbh
• 16 Nach tèid sinn gu diosgo?
• 17 Chan urrainn dhomh a ràdh le cinnt.
• 18 Dè b’ àbhaist dhuibh a bhith a’ dèanamh?
• 19 Dè thuirt i?
• 20 Tha iad an dòchas ur faicinn
• 21 Bhiodh sin math
• 22 An còrdadh e riutsa?
• 23 Cuin a chaidh an taigh a thogail?
• Sùil air ais
• Na Freagairtean
• Faclair
• Ainmean: Appendix
• Grammatical index
• Copyright