Undergraduate Gaelic 2026-2027

Godlike ‘immortals’, elves, fairies, the walking dead, the Loch Ness Monster: uncanny Otherworldly beings feature widely in the literature and folklore of medieval Scotland. This course will explore the nature and significance of Gaelic Otherworld-traditions in their wider North Atlantic context. We investigate how Germanic and Celtic beliefs merged in Gaelic Otherworld-lore, how these related to pre-Christian myth and religion, and why they continued to be significant in Scotland many centuries after Christianization. All texts will be studied in translation.

This course uses selected texts from one of Europe's oldest secular literatures to introduce key moments in the history of Scottish Gaelic society. It is taught using translated texts and originals for those whose Gaelic language is good enough. Students will gain new perspectives on key areas such as Jacobitism, the Clearances, the Highland Land Wars, the Celtic Twilight Movement and the modern Gaelic renaissance. It is suitable for anyone in Programme Year 2 or above with an interest in Scottish society.

This course studies the development of shorter prose fiction in Gaelic in the twentieth (and twenty-first) century. It will investigate the importance of the short story and consider its place within the wider Gaelic culture.  Students will read a range of short stories and critical material so that they can participate actively in class discussions.

The course will introduce core concepts in language planning and policy, and will critically examine theories relating to language shift and to methods of reversing language shift. 

The course will analyse the impact of language policy on the insular Celtic languages, with particular reference to Welsh, Irish and Scottish Gaelic, and it will critically assess contemporary measures taken to address the decline of these languages. 

A level 4 Gaelic language class for students not taking Honours in Gaelic.  The course is topic based and will enable students to deal with a large range of subjects in Gaelic. The course also develops students' generic writing and oral skills.  The course runs over both semesters.

This course studies the development of shorter prose fiction in Gaelic in the twentieth (and twenty-first) century. It will investigate the importance of the short story and consider its place within the wider Gaelic culture.  Students will read a range of short stories and critical material so that they can participate actively in class discussions.

The course will introduce core concepts in language planning and policy, and will critically examine theories relating to language shift and to methods of reversing language shift.

The course will analyse the impact of language policy on the insular Celtic languages, with particular reference to Welsh, Irish and Scottish Gaelic, and it will critically assess contemporary measures taken to address the decline of these languages.