Google Translate adds Scottish Gaelic

If you have any family history records or texts written in Scottish Gaelic (Gàidhlig), and haven't a clue what they say, then help is finally at hand from Google Translate (https://translate.google.co.uk), which has finally added the language to its site.

Having had a wee play with it earlier, it's definitely not bad, though it does at times recognise some Gaelic words as being Irish, returning that as the language be default - not surprising though, as many words are the same in each language.

There's a bit more on the story, including details of 12 other languages to be added (Luxembourgish - who knew?!) at www.scotsman.com/lifestyle/google-translate-to-add-13-new-languages-including-gaelic-1-4033752.

Chris

For details on my genealogy guide books, including A Decade of Irish Centenaries: Researching Ireland 1912-1923, Discover Scottish Church Records (2nd edition), Discover Irish Land Records and Down and Out in Scotland: Researching Ancestral Crisis, please visit http://britishgenes.blogspot.co.uk/p/my-books.html. My Pinterest account is at https://www.pinterest.com/chrismpaton/.

Learning Ulster Irish

A quick plug for something that may be of interest for those with roots from the north of Ireland/Northern Ireland. About twenty years ago I bought a language course that teaches folk how to speak in Ulster Irish, the dialect of Irish Gaelic spoken today still predominantly in Donegal, and until recently, in other parts of the north, such as in the Glens of Antrim etc. Ulster Irish is a dialect of the language spoken on the island, but also has a lot in common with Scottish Gaelic - the two Gaelic dialects/languages are very closely related indeed.

The course is called Now You're Talking, with a structure based on the Welsh series of the same name, and the Scottish Gaelic series Speaking Our Language, both of which had accompanying TV series (Speaking Our Language went on for years, and by a bizarre coincidence, I later worked for the main presenter of that series for three years at STV, Rhoda MacDonald!). I discovered a couple of days ago that the Ulster based version of the Now You're Talking TV series, co-produced by BBC Northern Ireland and RTE, is now available on YouTube. Here's the first episode (marvel at the dated music and graphics!), presented by Deirbhile Ní Churraighín (https://youtu.be/7nz--LpYC30):

NB: Editions of Speaking Our Language and the Welsh based Now You're Talking are also available on YouTube. The series programmes can be watched at leisure, as they are not grammar heavy, they merely present certain basic everyday conversation situations and useful phrases. Each programme, set in a different location in the north of Ireland, also has interesting features such as placename discussions, local history and more.

To purchase the book accompanying the Irish series, visit Amazon or other online book retailers.

Enjoy!

Chris

For details on my genealogy guide books, including my recently released Discover Irish Land Records and Down and Out in Scotland: Researching Ancestral Crisis, please visit http://britishgenes.blogspot.co.uk/p/my-books.html. My Pinterest account is at https://www.pinterest.com/chrismpaton/.

Scottish and Irish linguistic connections talk at PRONI

Coming next week at PRONI (www.proni.gov.uk) in Belfast:

PRONI invites you to a lunchtime talk on

Linguistic Connections between Ireland and Scotland

by Professor Mícheál Ó Mainnín

1.00pm-2.00pm, Wednesday 11 February 2015

Everyone Welcome

Admission is FREE, booking is essential

Please contact PRONI to secure your place:

E: proni@dcalni.gov.uk

T: 028 90534800

Lecture Theatre, Public Record Office, 2 Titanic Boulevard, Belfast, BT3 9HQ

The Heritage Cafe at PRONI will be open from 9.00am to 4.00pm

PRONI is approximately 1½ miles from Belfast City Hall

By bus, please take the Metro 26 route

(With thanks to PRONI - and please record this one for your YouTube channel!!)

Chris

For details on my range of genealogy guide books please visit http://britishgenes.blogspot.co.uk/p/my-books.html. To commission me for genealogical research, please visit my research site at www.scotlandsgreateststory.co.uk.

PRONI talks in Belfast October 20th-24th

From PRONI in Belfast (www.proni.gov.uk), a summary of talks happening next week:

‘CORPORATION TO COUNCIL: Governing Belfast since 1613’ LECTURE SERIES: ‘Building the City Hall’, Robert Corbett, Belfast City Council,
When: Tuesday 21st October 2014 starting at 1pm
Where: PRONI
PRONI will be hosting a series of lunchtime lectures during October and November 2014, exploring the history of the former Belfast Corporation and its influence on the development of the city. The Lectures will run on Tuesday lunchtimes during October and November Robert Corbett from Belfast City Council is giving the second in the series this week.

Admission is FREE – Please contact the PRONI to book your place through PRONI@dcalni.gov.uk or call (02890 534800)


IRISH LANGUAGE AND CULTURE LECTURE SERIES: Influence of Irish on English as we speak it, by Joe Ó Labhraí
When: Wednesday 22nd October 2014 starting at 1pm
Where: PRONI
PRONI and Foras Na Gaeilge invites you to a series of talks exploring aspects of Irish language and culture, including shared traditions and heritage. This lecture series will run on Wednesday lunchtimes throughout October and November. The second of this series of Lectures is being delivered this week by Joe Ó Labhraí.

Admission is FREE – Please contact the PRONI to book your place through PRONI@dcalni.gov.uk or call (02890 534800)


LUNCHTIME LECTURE SERIES: ‘Exploring Family History’ – Shops and Shoppers, Dr Janice Holmes, Open University in Ireland
When: Thursday 23rd October 2014 starting at 1pm
Where: PRONI
Open University in Ireland has agreed to give a lunchtime lecture series on topics relating to Exploring Family History. This Lecture series will run on Thursday lunchtimes during October with Dr Janice Holmes is giving the fourth of this series this week on Shops and Shoppers.

Admission is FREE – Please contact the PRONI to book your place through PRONI@dcalni.gov.uk or call (02890 534800)


THE ROAD TO WAR LECTURE SERIES: 'If the nation is to be saved women must help in the saving’: Women and War in Ireland, 1914-18 Dr Senia Paseta, University of Oxford
When: Thursday 23rd October 2014 starting at 7pm
Where: PRONI
Dr Senia Paseta is a historian of modern Ireland with a particular interest in the history of education, religious identity formation, political movements, and ideas in the late nineteenth and early twentieth centuries. Her current research is in the history of women and political activism in Britain and Ireland. Her new book, Irish Nationalist Women, 1900-1918 (Cambridge, 2013), examines how politically active women worked within broader nationalist and feminist contexts during a volatile period of Irish history.

Admission is FREE – Please contact the PRONI to book your place through PRONI@dcalni.gov.uk or call (02890 534800)

(With thanks to the latest PRONI Express email)

Chris

Now available for UK research is the new second edition of the best selling Tracing Your Family History on the Internet: A Guide for Family Historians, whilst my new book British and Irish Newspapers is also now out. And please consider purchasing the great new version of Caledonia by The Libations at 79p via www.caledonia2014.com - all profits go to help fund Scottish foodbanks

The Hidden History of Protestants and the Irish Language

A talk taking place at PRONI (www.proni.gov.uk) in Belfast this week:

The Hidden History of Protestants and the Irish Language
When: Wednesday 11th June, 1pm to 2pm
Where: PRONI
Linda Ervine, Irish Language Development Officer at East Belfast Mission, will be in PRONI to deliver a talk that will look directly at the historical links between Protestants and the Irish Language. For more information about this event, please click here.


Also, in Strabane:

Presentations on the work of photographer Herbert Cooper
When: Tuesday 10th June, 7pm to 8pm
Where: Strabane Library
The work of Strabane photographer Herbert Cooper will be celebrated in Strabane Library from 3 June - 1 July where selected images will be exhibited in the Library foyer.
PRONI and Libraries NI are holding an event to complement the exhibition on Tuesday 10 June 2014, from 7pm to 8pm in Strabane Public Library Civic Room. Two presentations will be given during the evening, followed by a question and answer session. More information can be found by clicking here.

Please email (proni@dcalni.gov.uk) or call (028 90 534800) to reserve your place for each talk - admission is FREE.

(With thanks to Gavin McMahon)

Chris

Now available for UK research is the new second edition of the best selling Tracing Your Family History on the Internet: A Guide for Family Historians, whilst my new book British and Irish Newspapers is also now out. And FindmyPast - please reinstate the original Scottish census citations on your new site.

PRONI hosted talks in Belfast for June

From the latest newsletter from PRONI in Belfast (www.proni.gov.uk), details on events coming soon in June:

TALK: The Hidden History of Protestants and the Irish Language
Thursday 11th June, 1pm to 2pm

Linda Ervine, Irish Language Development Officer at East Belfast Mission, will be in PRONI to deliver a talk that will look directly at the historical links between Protestants and the Irish Language.

http://www.proni.gov.uk/index/exhibitions_talks_and_events/talks_and_events/hidden_histories.htm


LUNCHTIME POETRY: War Words: poetry inspired by the First and Second World Wars
Monday 30 June, 1pm to 2pm

PRONI is pleased to announce details of a special poetry reading on the theme of war. The First and Second World Wars inspired gifted writers from Wilfred Owen to Timothy Corsellis to commit to paper their personal wartime narratives. These texts, often graphic and harrowing, have gone on to become parts of the world's cultural fabric. Join us to hear two locally-based writers who have been similarly inspired.

http://www.proni.gov.uk/index/exhibitions_talks_and_events/talks_and_events/war_words.htm

(With thanks to Garth Stewart at PRONI)

Chris

Now available for UK research is the new second edition of the best selling Tracing Your Family History on the Internet: A Guide for Family Historians, whilst my new book British and Irish Newspapers is also now out. And FindmyPast - please reinstate the original Scottish census citations on your new site.

Irish Dialect Sound Recordings 1928-31

An interesting new project has gone online providing access to records of native Irish Gaelic speakers from the early part of the 20th century. Called The Doegen Records Web Project: Irish Dialect Sound Recordings 1928-31, the site is accessible at www.doegen.ie.

From the site:

This archive of Irish dialect sound recordings made during 1928-31 contains folktales, songs and other material recited by native Irish speakers from 17 counties. Crucially, it includes examples of dialects that are now extinct. The collection also includes a speech in English by W. T. Cosgrave, who was head of the Irish government that funded the recording scheme.

This multi-media archive is a project of the Royal Irish Academy Library in collaboration with the Digital Humanities Observatory.

You can browse by county, speaker or title via an interactive map. There are many dialects of Irish, with those in the north closer in structure to Scottish Gaelic, so you will notice widespread differences in intonation etc across the island. I've had a lot of fun listening to this so far, but for those with no Gaelic at all, there are handy translations also available.

(With thanks to @IrishRootsMag)

Chris

My latest book, Discover Scottish Civil Registration Records, is now available from http://www.gould.com.au (print) and http://www.gen-ebooks.com/unlock-the-past.html (ebook), whilst Tracing Your Irish Family History on the Internet is available at http://www.pen-and-sword.co.uk/Tracing-Your-Irish-History-on-the-Internet/p/3889/. My next Pharos Scottish course, Scotland 1750-1850: Beyond the OPRs, starts Nov 13th - see http://pharostutors.com.

Amhrán na gCupán - When I'm gone (as Gaeilge)

This just blew me away - it's not genealogy, but in the heritage and culture category, so gets an honourable mention! It's a song in Irish Gaelic recorded in Colaisde Lurgan, Co. Galway, and it is just beautifully done, because it treats the language as if it is still here, and not something to be revered from antiquity.

It doesn't matter if you have no Gaelic, this is just an experience - sit back and enjoy, then get a few plastic cups and have a go yerself...!

(Lyrics are at http://songsinirish.com/pop/amhran-na-gcupan.html!)

(With thanks to Ali MacDonald)

Chris

My new book, Tracing Your Irish Family History on the Internet, is now available from Pen and Sword. My Scottish land and church records ebooks are available at http://www.gen-ebooks.com/unlock-the-past.html, whilst my next Pharos Scottish course, Scottish Research Online, starts Sep 4th - see http://pharostutors.com/details.php?coursenumber=102. Time to smash a few brick walls...!

Ireland's forgotten English dialects

I love a good story about dialects and forgotten languages, but this one just came from nowhere! Ireland has been invaded, colonised, and done over by just about nation within boat range - but one of the things brought in by every successive invasion has been cultural change.

We often read about the Irish language, and the different dialects of Gaelic across the island. Ulster Gaelic is very different to that much further south, for example, almost Scottish Gaelic in character. One of the fave books on my shelf is Athchló Uladh which has many stories from the northern Antrim island of Rathlin reprinted within it (Sgealtan Rachreann) in both Rathlin Gaelic and a more conventional Irish - the Gaelic I've spent some time trying to understand is that from Scotland, so I find the Rathlin text much easier to read. Then there's the movement in the north that you might have heard of to promote the use of the Ulster dialect of the Scots language, which is not a variant of English, but a separate Germanic language very closely related to English, taken to Ulster during the Plantations.

But how many have you heard of Yola or Fingalian?! Yola is a medieval dialect of English taken to Wexford in the 12th century by Anglo-Normans and used there until the 19th century. Fingalian is a separate medieval dialect of English used near Dublin. Romanticism and politics have a lot to answer for - your ancestor may well not have been a Gaelic or modern English speaker at all!

Do have a look at the following article in The Journal about Ireland's forgotten medieval English dialects, and listen to the songs written in Yola and sung in the YouTube clip on the site - absolutely fascinating stuff - it's available at www.thejournal.ie/readme/column-yola-and-fingalian-%E2%80%93-the-forgotten-ancient-english-dialects-of-ireland-985649-Jul2013.

And remember, family history is about working out what your ancestors did actually do in the past, not what the broad sweep of history says they did - and if anyone can find a Yola speaking ancestor, do let me know!

By the way - about twenty years ago I remember reading a study, possibly a census report, that showed that neither Gaelic or Scots was the second most spoken language in Northern Ireland back then. It was actually one of the Chinese languages... God only knows where its speakers' politics lay though! :)

(With thanks to @IrishRootsMag)

Chris

My new book, Tracing Your Irish Family History on the Internet, is now available from Pen and Sword. My Scottish land and church records ebooks are available at http://www.gen-ebooks.com/unlock-the-past.html, whilst my next Pharos Scottish course, Scottish Research Online, starts Sep 4th - see http://pharostutors.com/details.php?coursenumber=102. Time to smash a few brick walls...!

Ulster-Scots could be studied to A-level

The Northern Irish executive is proposing that Ulster-Scots - also known as Ullans (Ulster Lallans) - could be studied at school to GCSE level, along with its culture and heritage. A similar strategy is also being suggested for the Irish language. The full story is at www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-northern-ireland-18983567

COMMENT: I'd personally consider it a real breakthrough if the Northern Irish executive could come up with a single exam that looked at the merits of both traditions, instead of continuing to polarise the subjects for the next generation.

Chris

Check out my Scotland's Greatest Story research service www.ScotlandsGreatestStory.co.uk
New book: It's Perthshire 1866 - there's been a murder... www.thehistorypress.co.uk/products/The-Mount-Stewart-Murder.aspx (from June 12th 2012)