Gaelic Language

Scotland

Scotland is one of four constituent nations which form the United Kingdom (the other three are England, Wales and Northern Ireland). Scotland forms the northern part of the island of Great Britain.

Scotland is 31,510 sq. miles in area; it is 274 miles long from North to South and varies in breadth between 24 and 154 miles.

The official language is English, although Gaelic is spoken, primarily in the North and West of Scotland. For your information, the local date and time are available in Gaelic. The Scots language (which has many similarities to English, but also draws on French and Gaelic) is also spoken. Whereas Gaelic is the language of the Highlands & Islands, Scots is the language of the Lowlands.

The national flower is the thistle, although the heather which covers significant moorland areas is also closely associated with the country, providing peat for the fire and, along with lichens, dyes for tartan. Both are illustrated to the right.

Scotland is divided into three main regions; the Highlands, the Midland Valley and the Southern Uplands. The cities of Edinburgh, Glasgow and Dundee together with numerous towns, most of the population and the majority of Scotland's industry is located within the Midland Valley. This broad valley averages 50 miles across and runs WSW to ENE across the centre of the country. It is geologically distinct from the surrounding regions, being composed of Devonian Old Red Sandstone, peppered with ancient volcanoes, as against the older sedimentary rocks forming the Southern Uplands or the ancient metamorphic melange, comprising the Highlands to the north.

Scotland includes 787 islands, of which most belong to groups known as the Hebrides, Orkney and Shetland. Only 62 exceed three square miles in area.

Of 26 rivers flowing directly into the sea, the most significant are Clyde, Forth and Tay. They open into significant estuaries and support three of the major cities of Scotland (Glasgow, Edinburgh and Dundee respectively).

Scotland is well known for its mountainous and beautiful scenery. Much of the upland within the UK is contained within the borders of Scotland, along with the highest peaks.

Scotland is also noted for its lochs (this name is generally used for lakes in Scotland). Much of the west coast of the country is intersected by Sea Lochs, the longest of which, Loch Fyne, penetrates more than 40 miles inland. Notable fresh-water lochs include Loch Ness (the one with the Monster!).

Government in Scotland is in four tiers. A new Scottish Parliament was elected in 1999, following devolution of powers from the United Kingdom Parliament in London. This is the first time Scotland has had its own parliament in 300 years. The Scottish Parliament, which sits in Edinburgh, is responsible for most aspects of Scottish life. The national parliament in Westminster (London) retains responsibility for areas such as defence, foreign affairs and taxation. The European Parliament in Brussels (Belgium) exercises certain powers vested in the European Union.

The Scottish Parliament is supported the Scottish Executive also based in Edinburgh. The Scottish Government is led by a First Minister. A Secretary of State for Scotland remains part of the UK Cabinet, and is supported by the Scotland Office (previously the Scottish Office) based in Glasgow, with offices in Edinburgh and London.

Local government is divided into 29 unitary authorities and three island authorities, having been subject to a major reorganisation in 1995.

Scotland has its own legal system, judiciary and an education system which, at all levels, differs from that found "south of the border" in England and Wales.

Edinburgh is the second financial centre of the UK and one of the major financial centres of the world.

Gaelic Language

If you had been living in the Highlands over 250 years ago you would have spoken Gaelic.

These Gaelic words and phrases are followed by a phonetic guide to pronouncing them.

Practise saying them first then try to have a conversation with a partner!

ciamar a tha thu (kim ar a ha oo) - how are you?

tha gu math tapadh leat (ha gu mah tap-a let) - very well thank you

chan eil dona tapadh leat (cha nyel dona tapa leat) - not bad thank you

latha math (la -a mah) - good day

failte (faal tche) - welcome

a bheil thu traing? (a veil oo trang) - are you busy?

a bheil thu sgith? (a veil oo ski) - are you tired?

a bheil thu fuar? (a veil oo foor?) - are you cold?

tha (ha) - yes

chaneil (cha nail) - no

caite bheil thua dol? (catch i veil oo dol) where are you going?

tha mi a dol don taigh-beag (ha me a - dol don tie bake) - I am going to the toilet

tha mi a dol don traigh (ha me a dol don try) I am going to the beach

tha mi a dol dhachaigh (ha me a dol gach ay) - I am going home

de tha sin? (jay ha sheen?) - what's that?

Try counting to ten!

a h aon (a houn) 1

a dha (a ga) 2

a tri (a tree) 3

a ceithir (a care) 4

a caig (a co ik) 5

a sia (a sheea) 6

a seachd (a sheck) 7

a h-achd (a och) 8

a naoi (a noi) 9

a deich (a jake) 10

Дата добавления: 2015-11-28