Useful links for learners
le GunChleoc
- BeurlaEnglish
- Gàidhlig ShìmplidhSimple Gaelic
- GàidhligGaelic
If you wish to learn Gaelic there's a lot of useful stuff available on the internet. Here's a selection of links for you.
Online Dictionaries
Stòr-Dàta Briathrachais Gàidhlig - The dictionary of Sàbhal Mòr Ostaig. The search interface also ties in with a list of other online dictionaries. As with most online-dictionaries, you get a big list of words without explanations, so finding the right one can be a bit difficult sometimes. It will do for starters though, and I use it all the time. It's also very convenient for finding words fast that you have forgotten, or if you wish to read a text and don't want to spend ages trawling though a book for the words. It has the base forms of words listed, so if you run across an irregular form you don't know the base form for, you won't find it. Select Briathrachan Beag for that, it has some inflected forms listed. It's only a little dictionary though, as the name says (beag = little).
Faclair nan Gnàthasan Cainnte - The dictionary of akerbeltz.org. It contains whole expressions, which you won't find in the Stòr-Dàta.
Dwelly-d - The online version of Dwelly's great Scots-Gaelic/English dictionary. Searchable in both directions!
Grammar Sites
akerbeltz.org - Two sections of this site will be interesting for you grammar-wise. Beagan Gràmair - A Bit of Grammar - Explains how the pronunciation works, and covers some important grammar points. Some of it is written in a humorous way, so it's actually quite fun to read. It uses the IPA for pronunciation, which might look a bit complicated in the beginning. Don't let it put you off, you only need to learn to recognize the symbols used for Gaelic, and not the whole alphabet. It's the only way to get an exact transcription of the sounds. Fuaimean na Gàidhlig - The Sounds of Gaelic - Here you can fill the IPA symbols with life and listen to MP3s.
TAIC - This is not a grammar page per se, but an online course. Still, it is pretty gammar oriented, so you can use it as a grammar resource as well.
Gaelic Tip of the Week - Cailean Mark's Gaelic tip of the week. He explains how to find the right expressions for what you want to say, so you won't be speaking Beurlig.
Online Courses
BBC Alba Learn Gaelic - Various courses for beginners and advanced learners, all with audio content
TAIC - An online course that is a bit more grammar-oriented, and also provides sound.
Other Online Resources
BBC Alba Tbh - If you're in the UK, you can watch Gaelic TV online. For those outside the UK, only selected programmes are available.
Radio nan Gaidheal - The BBC's Gaelic language radio station. Go to "Èist a-rithist" to listen. I suggest you do this a lot, even if you don't understand a word, just let it run in the background. It will help you get used to the patterns of the language, even if you don't pay any attention. Over time, you will learn a lot without having to expend any extra effort.
More links
You can get more links at the following sites:
Donny posted by Donny2
Well done poor soul without a clock!
Akerbeltz and Taic are excellent for people that want the grammar approach but you might want to soften yourself up with some of the BBC Alba material if you are brand shining new to the language.
It is a shame there aren't a few of the first Ulpan lessons on line with sound files to give learners a taste of that method. The Welsh did that, I think they have about 40 short Ulpan lessons on line, a bit like the BBC Alba material.
And for real immersion in sounds with text accompanying there can be no better method than Litir Do Luchd ionnsachaidh. Tape a few and listen to them while doing the dishes or driving through the snowdrifts.
Of course you could always go and lurk over at NoClock's other home Fòram na Gàidhlig.