This course will study the history of the Gaelic in Scotland and explore the mechanisms by which a language, spoken by up to half the population in Scotland around 1500, was spoken by only 4.5% of Scots by 1901 (and 1% today). The spotlight will fall on initiatives taken by a scotophone (and latterly anglophone) government and church, by means of education, administration and religion, to curb and control Gaelic and the various ways in which Gaelic speakers responded to such initiatives and to the declining status of their language over the centuries. This new course will parallel an existing (English language) History course - The History of the Gaelic, language, c.1400-1914 (HIST 4248). Students will attend a common lecture but will be able to submit Gaelic language work for assessment and to attend Gaelic language seminars.

2 x 1 hour sessions per week (10 lectures and 10 seminars) as scheduled in My Campus. One lecture each Tuesday morning, 10-11am, shared in common with the parallel History course, HIST 4248.

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The standard assessments for this course are:

■ Essay (2500 words) -20%  in Gaelic, which should draw on primary source research

■ Presentation (10 minutes) - 10% in Gaelic, with handout and PowerPoint

■ Seminar Participation - 10% in Gaelic

■ Exam (2 hour duration) - 60% The student can choose to write in either Gaelic or English.

If required, for instance where a disability prevents a student from undertaking a specific method of assessment, the following alternatives are available:

■ There is no alternative to the essay, but flexible deadlines can be offered as reasonable adjustments (students should follow the usual process for extensions)

■ 1:1 presentation / Q&A with course convenor or recorded presentation as alternative to seminar presentation.

■ There is no alternative to the exam, but extra time can be offered as reasonable adjustment.

Further reasonable adjustments may be provided where necessary. Students are encouraged to consult with the course convenor.

This course aims to:

■ Develop the intellectual and analytical skills acquired during the first and second years, whether in History, Celtic and Gaelic or elsewhere.

■ Provide students with an overview of the pressures being brought to bear on a speech and language group from central authority - and how Gaelic speakers reacted to these pressures.

■ Introduce students to the ways in which historical analysis can help in understanding the dynamics that affected Gaelic Society.

■ Develop an understanding of the interaction of the Gaidhealtachd with the Anglophone, Scotophone and wider world from a variety of perspectives.

■ Help develop critical and analytical skills through the close reading of sources by studying historical documents and historiographical debate (in translation where necessary).

■ Develop primary source research and essay writing skills.

■ Encourage the development of transferable skills by fostering individual initiatives, personal choice and group discussion.

By the end of this course students will be able to:

■ Describe the forces at work in changing the dominant speech in communities. 

■ Discuss critically and fairly assess the distinctive features of Gaelic society in Scotland and demonstrate awareness of a variety of responses to anglicisation and acculturation.

■ Critically and fairly evaluate the intentions and motivations of politicians, educationalists and administrators and their agendas regarding language in the Highlands.

■ Engage with and comment on debates in historiography and Gaelic Studies.

■ Contextualise and analyse a number of primary sources (accessed either in English or in Gaelic, in translation, as may be necessary).