A simple letter for established Gaelic learners. Roddy Maclean has created this letter for learners who have progressed beyond basic learning, but find the Litir do Luchd-ionnsachaidh (Letter to Gaelic Learners) too advanced. Accompanying text is available in both English and Gaelic.
Episodes available:
Indefinitely 
Mon, 20 May 13
Duration:
4 mins
How many Gaelic words do we have for ‘snow’? They’re not at all as plentiful as the words for high ground or boggy ground. But there’s a few. Ruairidh looks into the words for snow in this week's letter. Accompanying text is available in both English and Gaelic at bbc.co.uk/litirbheag
Mon, 13 May 13
Duration:
4 mins
On the 12th of July 1746, there was an important interview on board a ship. The vessel was anchored off the shore of Applecross. Asking the questions was General John Campbell. He was in charge of the search for Charles Edward Stuart, after the Battle of Culloden. The woman answering the questions was Flora MacDonald. The pair were on board HMS Furnace.
Mon, 6 May 13
Duration:
4 mins
We’re still in the Great Glen this week. Ruiairidh will tell you about a guy who was living in Fort Augustus. He was famous as the ‘lion-hunter’. Find out about this most interesting of characters. Accompanying text is available in both English and Gaelic at bbc.co.uk/litirbheag
Mon, 29 Apr 13
Duration:
5 mins
Aig fìor cheann a deas Loch Lòchaidh, tha Magh Comair. Ann am Beurla – Mucomir. Tha baile-fearainn ann. Tha an t-ainm a’ ciallachadh magh no blàr anns a bheil dà abhainn a’ tighinn còmhla – ann an ‘comar’. ’S iad sin Abhainn Spiothain agus Abhainn Lòchaidh. Accompanying text is available in both English and Gaelic at bbc.co.uk/litirbheag
Mon, 22 Apr 13
Duration:
5 mins
Do you know what a ‘dochy’ is? It’s spelled, in English, D-O-C-H-Y. I’m certain that in Gaelic it’s spelled D-O-C-H-A-I-D-H. It is, or was, an oaken stick. It was short and thick. It was heavy, with a large hard head on it. Find out more about the dochy and when it was used in this week’s letter. Accompanying text is available in both English and Gaelic at bbc.co.uk/litirbheag
Mon, 15 Apr 13
Duration:
5 mins
Ruairidh was told us, last week, about the death of Iain Garbh Mac ’Ille Chaluim of Raasay. His birlinn sank off the north coast of Skye in 1671. This week Ruairidh turns his attention to how that loss people in the West Highlands deeply upset as he was well-respected and much-loved. Accompanying text is available in both English and Gaelic at bbc.co.uk/litirbheag
Mon, 8 Apr 13
Duration:
5 mins
Ruairidh has another story about Iain Garbh of Raasay. Find out what happened to him after he was tricked by MacLeod of Dunvegan. Did he heed warnings? Was he a cautious man? Did he marry? Ruairidh has all the answers in this week’s letter. Accompanying text is available in both English and Gaelic at bbc.co.uk/litirbheag
Mon, 1 Apr 13
Duration:
5 mins
Iain Garbh was living in Raasay. He was extremely strong. He wasn’t paying rent to MacLeod of Dunvegan. But he should have been. MacLeod was afraid to go and ask for the money. Accompanying text is available in both English and Gaelic at bbc.co.uk/litirbheag
Mon, 25 Mar 13
Duration:
5 mins
Ruairidh mentioned the Isle of Bute last week. In the book – A Voyage Round the Coast of Scotland and the Isles – there is an account of Bute. James Wilson wrote the book and it was published in 1842. Wilson offers a view of the name Bòd - Bute. Ruairidh considers this view and others in this letter and it makes for fascinating reading. Accompanying text is available in both English and Gaelic at bbc.co.uk/litirbheag
Mon, 18 Mar 13
Duration:
4 mins
This week, Ruairidh begins the letter with an old saying – Chan ann am Bòid uile a tha an t-olc; tha cuid dheth sa Chumaradh Bheag làimh ris. Not all evil is in Bute; some is in Little Cumbrae nearby. We know that’s not true today, if it ever was, but it is a good introduction to this week’s subject; some islands in the Firth of Clyde. Accompanying text is available in both English and Gaelic at bbc.co.uk/litirbheag
The BBC Podcasts are for your personal non-commercial use only.
All title, ownership rights and intellectual property rights in and to the BBC Podcasts shall remain the property of the BBC or third parties. You may not edit, alter, adapt or add to the BBC Podcast in any way. The BBC Podcasts are made available by the BBC on an "as is" and "as available" basis and the BBC gives no warranty of any kind in relation to the BBC Podcast. To the maximum extent permitted by law the BBC will not be liable for any loss or damage which you may suffer as a result of, or connected to, the download or use of the BBC Podcasts.
You need Javascript enabled and Flash version 10 installed to access this audio. Please view our BBC Webwise guide.
Witness - history as told by the people who were there. Five days a week we will be talking to people who lived through moments of history to bring you a personal perspective on world events.
Fri, 31 Dec 10
9 minutes
Will Gompertz enters the Royal Collection to examine some of the objects that have adorned, defined and described the story of a thousand years of the British Monarchy.
The programmes are broadcast…
Sat, 31 Mar 12
27 minutes
BBC © 2013 The BBC is not responsible for the content of external sites. Read more.
This page is best viewed in an up-to-date web browser with style sheets (CSS) enabled. While you will be able to view the content of this page in your current browser, you will not be able to get the full visual experience. Please consider upgrading your browser software or enabling style sheets (CSS) if you are able to do so.
