UofG and Mòd Ghlaschu host Gaelic in a Global and Digital context seminar

Published: 9 October 2019

The University of Glasgow and Mòd Ghlaschu 2019, join forces to prompt a new national conversation on Gaelic – what next? Tha Oilthigh Ghlaschu agus Mòd Ghlaschu 2019 a’ tighinn còmhla gus còmhradh ùr nàiseanta mun Ghàidhlig, a phiobrachadh – dè an ath cheum?

An image of the Kelvin Hall

The University of Glasgow has joined forces with Mòd Ghlaschu Local Organising Committee to host a special seminar event to consider the future of Gaelic in a Global and Digital context

The event comes as Glasgow prepares to host the Royal National Mòd 2019, the largest annual celebration of Gaelic Language and Culture.

The special seminar event on Thursday 10 October will ask invited speakers and delegates to reflect upon how Gaelic communities have changed particularly as a result of technology and digital media.

 
Tha Oilthigh Ghlaschu air ceanglaichean a thogail le comataidh eagrachaidh Mòd Ghlaschu gus aoigheachd a thoirt do sheiminear cudromach a bhios a’ beachdachadh air àm teachdail na Gàidhlig ann an co-theacsa Chruinneil agus Dhidseatach.

Tha an tachartas a’ gabhail àite fhad ’s a tha Glaschu ag ullachadh airson aoighheachd a thoirt don Mhòd Nàiseanta Rìoghail 2019, an comharrachadh bliadhnail air Cànan is Cultar na Gàidhlig as motha a th’ ann.

Bheir an seiminear sònraichte seo air Diardaoin 10 Dàmhair, cuireadh do luchd-labhairt agus riochdairean gus cnuasachadh air mar a tha coimhearsnachdan Gàidhlig air atharrachadh, gu h-àraid mar thoradh air teicneòlas agus meadhanan didseatach. 

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Among those taking part is Gaelic learner and BBC Scotland reporter Aileen Clarke; Gaelic speaker and artist Frances Driscoll, who grew up in Glasgow from an initially non-Gaelic speaking household; University of Glasgow’s Professor Alison Phipps, UNESCO Chair Refugee Integration through Languages and the Arts and CEO of Bòrd na Gàidhlig, Shona MacLennan.

Professor Bernadette O’Rourke, Professor of Sociolinguistics and Hispanics at the University of Glasgow, explains: “In the globalised world in which we now live, we need to re-think what it means to be a Gaelic speaker in the twenty first century.

"This involves supporting existing communities and making new connections with Gaelic speakers in new spaces, not only in Scotland, but all over the world including virtual and digital communities. This event is an exciting opportunity to explore these opportunities for the future of Gaelic in the world.”

The seminar is being organised as part of the UNESCO International Year of Indigenous Languages 2019 and it will also look at how the demographics of Gaelic speakers continues to change with a growing number of ‘new speakers’ emerging through increased opportunities in Gaelic education.

The event will conclude with a debate around policy and activism and question whether a change is required to better meet the needs of the language’s evolution in Scotland.

Fiona Dunn, Gaelic Development Manager at the University of Glasgow said: “We are delighted to be working with Mòd Ghlaschu on this important event which aims to spark a new national conversation on Gaelic and we hope this will be the first of more events of this nature.”

In the last 30 years, the City of Glasgow has played a pivotal role in the development of Gaelic in Scotland and Mòd Ghlaschu Convenor, Donald-Iain Brown said: “As an organising committee, we want the Glasgow Mòd to be much more than a festival. We have always been determined that the Glasgow Mòd will have a lasting impact on the city and indeed upon Gaelic more broadly both nationally and internationally. This seminar presents a perfect opportunity to bring together Gaelic speakers, learners, researchers, artists, development & policy practitioners and to take important steps towards shaping a new vision for Gaelic in a modern era.”

The seminar event will also mark the launch of a brand-new exhibition, GUGA by the Hunterian Museum and Art Gallery. GUGA is an exhibition that will consider Gaelic identities and will run from October 10th until February 2nd, 2020.

MG ALBA will also be in attendance to launch a new phase in the life of Learn Gaelic, a national learning resource for Gaelic learners, speakers and teachers.

University of Glasgow and Mòd Ghlaschu 2019, are grateful to Bòrd na Gàidhlig, the primary funder of this event.

 

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Am measg na bhios a’ gabhail pàirt, bidh an neach-ionnsachaidh Gàidhlig agus neach-naidheachd aig BBC na h-Alba, Aileen Clarke; an neach-labhairt Gàidhlig agus neach-ealain, Frances Driscoll, a dh’fhàs suas ann an Glaschu ann an dachaigh anns nach robh Gàidhlig air a labhairt bho thùs; an t-Ollamh Alison Phipps bho Oilthigh Ghlaschu, Cathraiche Amalachas Fhògarraich tro Chànanan is Ealain aig UNESCO agus Àrd-Oifigear Bhòrd na Gàidhlig, Shona NicIllinnein.

Ollamh Sòiseo-cànanachais is Eòlais Hiospanach aig Oilthigh Ghlaschu, Bernadette O’Rourke ag ràdh: “Anns an t-saoghal dhlùth-chruinnichte sa bheil sinn beò a-nis, feumaidh sinn ath-smaoineachadh mu bhrìgh a bhith nad neach-labhairt Gàidhlig sa chiad linn air fhichead.

"Tha seo a’ ciallachadh a bhith a’ cur taic ri coimhearsnachdan a th’ ann agus a’ togail cheanglaichean ùra le luchd-labhairt Gàidhlig ann an àiteachan ùra, chan ann a-mhàin ann an Alba ach air feadh an t-saoghail air fad, a’ gabhail a-steach choimhearsnachdan mas-fhior agus didseatach. Is e cothrom brosnachail a th’ anns an tachartas seo gus na cothroman sin a rannsachadh a thaobh àm teachdail don Ghàidhlig san t-saoghal.”

Tha an seiminear ga eagrachadh mar phàirt de Bhliadhna Eadar-nàiseanta Mion-Chànanan Dùthchasach UNESCO agus coimheadaidh e cuideachd ri mar a tha sluagh-thomhas luchd-labhairt na Gàidhlig a’ leantainn air adhart ag atharrachadh, le àireamh a tha a’ sìor fhàs de ‘luchd-labhairt’ ùr a’ tighinn am bàrr tro chothroman meudaichte ann am foghlam Gàidhlig. Crìochnaichidh an tachartas le deasbad mu thimcheall poileasaidh agus iomairteachd, a’ ceasnachadh a bheil atharrachadh a dhìth gus feumalachdan mean-fhàs a’ chànain ann an Alba a choileanadh ann an dòigh nas èifeachdaich.

Thuirt Fiona Dunn, am Manaidsear Leasachaidh Gàidhlig ann an Oilthigh Ghlaschu: “Tha sinn air leth toilichte a bhith ag obair còmhla ri Mòd Ghlaschu air an tachartas chudromach seo a tha ag amas air conaltradh nàiseanta ùr mu Ghàidhlig a lthòiseachadh, agus tha sinn an dòchas nach e seo ach a’ chiad fhear de thuilleadh thachartasan den t-seòrsa seo.”

Sna 30 bliadhna mu dheireadh, tha pàirt dheatamach air a bhith aig Baile-mòr Ghlaschu ann an leasachadh na Gàidhlig ann an Alba, agus thuirt Neach-gairm Mòd Ghlaschu, Dòmhnall-Iain MacIlleDhuinn: “Mar chomataidh eagrachaidh, tha sinn airson gum bi Mòd Ghlaschu na thachartas a bhios fada nas motha na fèis. Tha sinn a-riamh air a bhith deimhinnte gum bi buaidh mhaireannach aig Mòd Ghlaschu air a’ bhaile agus gu dearbh air a’ Ghàidhlig ann an dòigh nas fharsainge gu nàiseanta agus gu h-eadar-nàiseanta. Tha an seiminear seo a’ solarachadh cothrom foirfe airson luchd-labhairt, luchd-ionnsachaidh, luchd-rannsachaidh, luchd-ealain, luchd-leasachaidh agus luchd-cleachdaidh poileasaidh a thoirt còmhla agus ceumannan cudromach a ghabhail a dh’ionnsaigh lèirsinn ùr don Ghàidhlig ann an saoghal nuadh-aimsireil.”

Bidh an seiminear cuideachd a’ comharrachadh an fhoillseachaidh air taisbeanadh ùr-nodha, GUGA, le Taigh-tasgaidh agus Gailearaidh Ealain an Hunterian. Is e taisbeanadh a th’ ann an GUGA a bhios a’ beachdachadh air dearbh-aithnean Gàidhlig agus bidh e a’ ruith bho 10mh Dàmhair gu 2na Gearran 2020.

Bidh MG ALBA an làthair gus ìre ùr ann am beatha Learn Gaelic a chur air bhog, stòras ionnsachaidh nàiseanta do luchd-ionnsachaidh, luchd-labhairt agus luchd-teagaisg na Gàidhlig.

Tha Oilthigh Ghlaschu agus Mòd Ghlaschu 2019 taingeil do Bhòrd na Gàidhlig, prìomh bhuidheann maoineachaidh an tachartais seo.


For more information, contact Áine Allardyce in Communications and Public Affairs Office, University of Glasgow on 0141 330 7126 or email aine.allardyce@glasgow.ac.uk

Airson tuilleadh fiosrachaidh, cuiribh brath gu Áine Allardyce ann an Oifis Chonaltraidhean is Chùisean Poblach Oilthigh Ghlaschu air 0141 330 7126 no post-d gu aine.allardyce@glasgow.ac.uk

 

First published: 9 October 2019

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