The latest doings of Gordon Wells
Fred Riley
Some of you - particularly those who, like myself, were his pupils on An Cùrsa Inntrigidh - might be interested in the latest blog entry of Gordon Wells, Gaelic polyglot/math and all-round renaissance man :). I've copied the lastest post below, which you can get from the source at http://gordonwellsuist.wordpress.com/. There's reference to language learning materials, and for the musically inclined to his new role in the band Bi Beò. His website is at http://www.gordonwells.co.uk/
Tìoraidh
Fred
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Publications Update
Posted by gordonwellsuist on August 25, 2008
This has been a big year for various publications in which I've played a part, and they're a curious mix of audio and video as well as text-based productions (with a bit of music thrown in). They include:
1. "Teach Yourself Gaelic Conversation", co-written with Strathclyde University's Boyd Robertson. Part of the famous Hodder and Stoughton "Teach Yourself" series it's a 3CD package plus booklet. Available in "all good bookshops" and also online, eg from the Gaelic Books Council, Comhairle nan Leabraichean at www.gaelicbooks.org.
2. The 2-disc DVD/CDRom package of "Guthan nan Eilean/Island Voices" has finally been produced, consisting of all the videos and transcripts/translations already available online at http://www.languages.dk/archive/video_data/Scottish_Island_Voices.pdf, but with much better quality reproduction than you get with .wmv files. The package will be available for sale after the October launch. (Earlier in the year I also produced some online extension exercises for learners of English based on these materials. These can be found at http://www.languages.dk/materials.html#Scottish_Island_Voices.)
3. I had an editing role in the 2 audio CDs that go with the latest reprint of Pàdruig Moireasdan's collection of songs and stories "Thugam agus Bhuam" – also available at www.gaelicbooks.org. I had the pleasure and privilege of recording a pleasant chat with Lachie Morrison while he sang through some of his favourite songs from his father's collection, which makes an interesting addition to the text of the book itself, alongside a recording of the actual recital of one of the stories.
4. Lastly, and perhaps even further removed from the usual language learning focus, the beginning of the year saw the release of Bi Beò's first CD "Beò an dùil", in which I played a supporting instrumental and vocal role. James McLetchie and Kevin De Las Casas together composed an album's worth of new Gaelic songs, including lyrics and translations – more detail at www.myspace.com/bhibeo.
It's been a while since I had a hand in any kind of publication – and now four come along in a row. That's worse than the proverbial number 19 bus!