Dr MARSAILI MACLEOD

Dr MARSAILI MACLEOD The University of Aberdeen School of Language & Literature Lecturer work +44 (0)1224 272148 pref marsaili.macleod@abdn.ac.uk pref C07 Taylor Building School of Language & Literature King's College Aberdeen AB24 3UB

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Biography

I joined the department of Celtic and Gaelic at the University of Aberdeen as a member of the Soillse research initiative in 2011. My research interests include minority language planning and policy; Gaelic identities; mobilities and their impact on Gaelic-speaking communities, and; the relationship between Gaelic and rural development.

Before I joined the Gaelic department, I held post-doctoral appointments at the Scottish Agricultural College, Queen’s University Belfast and the University of Aberdeen in the general field of social research, involving projects on rural population shift, cultural heritage and economic development. In 2009 I gained a PhD in Geography from the University of Aberdeen on the topic, ‘The Meaning of Work in the Gaelic Labour Market in the Highlands and Islands of Scotland’. This research was funded by the Economic and Social Research Council (ESRC) and Highlands & Islands Enterprise (HIE).

I am originally from Strathnaver in North West Scotland.

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Research Interests

• Minority language planning and policy
• Gaelic identities
• Mobilities and their impact on Gaelic-speaking communities
• The relationship between Gaelic and rural development.

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Collaborations

I a member of the Soillse Research Network, a national network for Gaelic research which has been formed to create new opportunities for study and research into the language and culture.

I have been collaborating with Dr Aileen Stockdale (Queen's University Belfast) and Dr Lorna Philip (University of Aberdeen) on a study examining the Rural Retirement Transition. This ESRC-funded project has explored processes and consequences of pre-retirement in-migration to remote rural areas.

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Teaching Responsibilities

• Level 1: Gaelic for Beginners
• Levels 3/4: Comparative Language Planning
• Levels 3/4: Gaelic Identities
• Levels 3/4: Power and Prejudice: Gaelic in Scottish Society

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Admin Responsibilities

• Advisor of Studies, School of Language and Literature
• Convenor, Student and Staff Consultative Committee Celtic & Gaelic
• ESRC DTC Pathway Representative, Language Sciences
• Library Representative, Celtic & Gaelic

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Recent Commissioned Reports

• MacLeod, M., Van Well, L., Sterling, J. and Kahila, P. (2009) The Role of Cultural Heritage in Rural Development. EDORA Project Report. Online. http://www.nordregio.se/Global/Research/EDORA/EDORA_2.11.pdf

• Skerratt, S. and MacLeod, M. et al. (2009) Community Facilities in Rural Scotland: A Study of their Use, Provision and Condition. Report to Scottish Government Social Research.

• HECLA Consulting, MacLeod M., Chalmers, D. and Danson, M. (2008) Measuring the Gaelic Labour Market: Current and Future Potential. Report to Bòrd na Gàidhlig, FutureSkills Scotland, and Highlands & Islands Enterprise.

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Recent Conference and Seminar Talks

Invited speaker:

• MacLeod, M. (2011) 'Economising' culture: the functioning of Scots Gaelic in the Highlands and Islands labour market. Invited speaker to seminar, Regional Development in Minority Language Areas, Féile Idirnáisiúnta Pan Cheilteach 2011(Pan Celtic International Festival), Dingle, April 29 2011.

• MacLeod, M., Stockdale, A. and Philip, L. (2010) Retiring to Rural Areas: Evidence form N. Ireland, Wales and Scotland. Invited speaker to seminar, An age old problem – where now for rural services, Centre for Ageing Research and Development in Ireland (CARDI), Galway, December 9, 2010.

• MacLeod, M. (2007) Working linguascapes: the 'professionalisation' of Gaelic in the Scottish Highlands & Islands. Invited speaker to the Department of Welsh Seminar Series, Cardiff University. March 27, 2007.

• MacLeod, M. (2007) Technologisation and the Gaelic Language: a new research agenda? Invited speaker to the Language Policy and Planning Seminar Series, University of Edinburgh, January 25, 2007.

• MacLeod, M. (2005) Language Careers – Working in the Gaelic Language. Invited speaker to the Highland Council Gaelic Language Select Committee, November 3, 2005.

• MacLeod, M (2005) The Relationships between Language Maintenance & Socio-economic Development.  Invited speaker to a seminar run by Highlands and Islands Enterprise, February 25, 2005.

• MacLeod, M. (2005) The Rise or Demise of the Gaelic Economy.  Invited speaker to the Sabhal Mòr Ostaig Seminar Series, May 27, 2005.

Contributed paper:

• MacLeod, M. (2011) A’ Bhuaidh shòisio-chànanach an cois an atharrachaidh ann an slòigh nan sgìrean Gàidhlig / The sociolinguistic consequences of demographic change in the Gaelic ‘heartlands’. Paper presented at the inaugural Soillse conference, September 2011, Sabhal Mòr Ostaig, Isle of Skye.

• Philip, L., MacLeod, M. And Stockdale, A. (2011) Tales from a small island. Paper presented at the European Society for Rural Sociology Biannual International Conference, August 2011, Crete.

• Stockdale, A., Philip, L. and MacLeod, M. (2011) Retirement Transition Migration: Implications for Rural Development. Paper presented to the Anglo-American-Canadian Quadrennial Rural Geography Conference, July 2011, Brandon University, Canada.

• Stockdale, A., MacLeod, M. And Philip, L. (2010) Blurred Lifecourses, Migration and the Production of Rural Space. Paper to be presented at the RGS-IBG Annual International Conference, September 2010, London.

• MacLeod, M. (2009) Whose Language is it Anyway? Implication of the (Re)Appropriation of Gaelic for Rural Development Strategies. Paper presented at the XXIII European Society for Rural Sociology Congress, August 2009,Vaasa, Finland.

• MacLeod, M., Stockdale, A., Munro, G. and Philip, L. (2009). Employment in the ‘Gaelic language industries’: negotiating linguistic space in the workplace. Paper presented at the RGS-IBG Annual International Conference, August 2009, Manchester.

• MacLeod, M. (2009) Gàidhlig san àite-obrach: eadar poileasaidh ’s cleachdadh / Gàidhlig in the workplace: between policy and practice. Paper presented at Cleachdadh na Gàidhlig (Using Gaelic) Conference, July 2009, Isle of Skye.

• MacLeod, M. (2006) Gaelic Language Skills in the Workplace. Paper presented at the 6^th Language and Politics Symposium on the Gaeltacht and Scotstacht, Queens University, Belfast, September 2006.

• MacLeod, M. (2006) Gaelic Professionals in Gaelic Language Regeneration. Paper presented at Rannsachadh na Gàidhlig, July 2006, Isle of Skye.

• MacLeod, M. (2005) Language as Capital – Gaelic in the Scottish Regional Economy. Paper presented at the X International Conference on Minority Languages, July 2005, Trieste, Italy.

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Publications

Contributions to Journals

Articles

• Stockdale, A., MacLeod, M. & Philip, LJ. (2012). 'Connected life-courses: influences on and experiences of 'mid life' in-migration to rural areas'. Population, Space and Place.
  [Online] DOI: 10.1002/psp.1709
• Farmer, J., Philip, LJ., Farrington, JH., King, G. & MacLeod, M. (2010). 'Territorial tensions: misaligned management and community perspectives on health services for older people in remote rural areas'. Health & Place, vol 16, no. 2, pp. 275-283.
  [Online] DOI: 10.1016/j.healthplace.2009.10.010

Contributions to Conferences

Papers

• Tait, EJ., Wallace, CD., Mellish, CS., MacLeod, M. & Hunter, CJ. (in press). 'Creating Sustainable Digital Community Heritage Resources using Linked Data'. Paper presented at Supporting Digital Humanities: Answering the Unaskable, Copenhagen, Denmark, 17/11/11 - 18/11/11,.
• Stockdale, A., Catney, G., MacLeod, M. & Philip, LJ. (2012). 'Urban to rural migration in Northern Ireland: a lifecourse perspective'. Paper presented at Third Biennail British-Irish Population Geography Conference, Belfast, United Kingdom, 18/04/12 - 18/04/12,.
• Mellish, CS., Wallace, CD., Tait, EJ., MacLeod, M. & Hunter, CJ. (2011). 'Can Digital Technologies Increase Engagement with Community History?'. Paper presented at Digital Engagement, Newcastle, United Kingdom, 15/11/11 - 17/11/11,.

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