Duncan
Don't panic! English follows the Gaelic!
‘S e Donnchadh an t-ainm a th' orm. ‘S e ogha Ameireaganach bho in-imrich Albannach a th' annam. San t-samhradh, choisich mi fhèin is mo mhac sa Ghleann Mhòr agus chaidh sinn air turas mun cuairt Leòdhais le ar co-oghaichean a tha fhathast a' fuireach air an eilean. Thòisich mi ag ionnsachadh abairtean beaga airson ar turais (Gabhaidh mi uisge-beatha mas e ur toil e). ÌýTha mi a' leantainn orm ag ionnsachadh na Gà idhlig airson urram a thoirt dom sheanair. Bha e ag rà dh nach robh aige ach Beurla a-mhà in ach dh'ionnsaich mi o na h-oghaichean agam gun robh e a' bruidhinn na Gà idhlig ri bhrà ithrean nuair a thilleadh e dhachaigh. Tha mi 'n dòchas tuigse fhaighinn air na dh'fhuiling mo sheanair ri linn eilthireachd a dh'Ameireagaidh. Bidh mi ag rà dh an abairt as fheà rr leam tric tron là "Bha sinn ann ach chan fhaca sinn an uilebheist!".
My name is Duncan. ÌýI am the American grandson of a Scottish Immigrant from Stornoway. ÌýMy son, Duncan, and I hiked the Great Glen last summer and then toured Lewis with our distant cousins still resident on the island. ÌýI began studying Gaelic in preparation for that journey expecting to use basic phases (Gabhaidh mi am uisge-beatha mas e ur toil e). ÌýI continue to study Gaelic to honour my Grandfather. ÌýHe claimed to speak only English, but after he died, I learned from cousins that he would speak with his brothers in only Gaelic during hisÌýoccasionalÌývisits "home". ÌýI hope that by kindling an interest in Gaelic with my children, we can reclaim some of what my grandfather sacrificed to assimilate into America. ÌýI repeat my favourite Gaelic expression many times daily, "Bha sinn ann ach chan fhaca sinn an uilebheist!".
