John Stuart-Murray will give an illustrated talk about his novel Reading the Gaelic Landscape at the Aros Centre on Skye on Saturday 26th July at 4.00pm.
Reading the Gaelic Landscape aims to encourage people to read and understand Gaelic and investigate the history around them. Murray determined to write it after a woman could not tell him why Poll nam Muc (Pool of the Pigs) and Loch Bad an Òig (Loch of the Spot/Thicket of Youth) were so named, despite the fact both landmarks were close beside the croft her family had lived on for generations.
Murray’s work provides non-speakers and learners with a grounded way to explore the figurative and symbolic style of Gaelic, investigating the act of naming by categorising place name vocabulary and the significance of names through relevant commentaries about Gaelic ecology, culture and landscape. As he goes far beyond the scope of word for word translation, fluent Gaelic speakers may also be given a new insight into their native or adopted tongue.
Just as upcoming series Outlander is said to be helping to stimulate a Gaelic renaissance, Reading the Gaelic Landscape makes its own contribution to preserving the Ancient Scots Language, which is now spoken by only 1% of the population. It also promotes academic research in and using Gaelic, as it uses place names to speculate about species extinction and the history of the mythical Caledonian Forest.
It’s not only the dramatic landscapes and quirky names of Skye that makes Murray’s visit highly appropriate; Reading the Gaelic Landscapes also explores how Gaelic poets – specifically influential and prolific Rasaay poet Sorley Maclean – used Highland landscapes symbolically in their work. Further connecting his work to the Skye landscape is a close look at the Fingalian legend, which Murray will discuss just below (one of many) Fingal’s Seat, at the Aros Centre in Portree. The event is free.
If you’ve ever wondered about the meaning of the hill name or headland you’ve just walked on, or how to pronounce it, you can listen to the pronunciation and meaning of all the walking routes on Walkhighlands with Gaelic names. For example Rubha Hunish at the north end of Skye illustrates the island’s Norse and Gaelic heritage – Rubha is Gaelic for headland and Hunish is Norse and means “headland of the bear cub” reflecting its shape. Listen to the recording by pressing the button on the Rubha Hunish route description.