Presenter: Angela NicAoidh (Angela Mackay)
[ANGELA] A còmhradh rium a-nise tha Mark Wringe, a tha na òraidiche aig Sabhal Mòr Ostaig agus a tha air Gàidhlig ionnsachadh. Fàilte ort, Mark.
[MARK] Mòran taing.
[ANGELA] An innis thu dhomh an toiseach co às a tha thu agus ciamar a thàinig thu gu Gàidhlig anns a' ciad dol a-mach?
[MARK] Rugadh mi ann an Cille Bhrìghde an Ear, faisg air Glaschu. Cha deach mo thogail ann, feumaidh mi a ràdh; bha sinn ann an iomadach àite, a' gluasad bho àite gu àite airson grunn bhliadhnachan nuair a bha mi beag, ach 's ann, tha mi a' creidsinn, nuair a bha mi anns an àrd-sgoil ann an Cille Mheàrnaig a thòisich mi a' gabhail ùidh ann an Gàidhlig. Chan e gu robh Gàidhlig ga teagasg anns an sgoil, ach 's ann an uairsin, tha mi a' smaointinn, na mo dheugaire òg ... Bha mi mothachail gu robh Gàidhlig ann. Chuala mi bloigh beag Gàidhlig air an rèidio. Dh'fhaillich orm an stèisean sin a lorg a-rithist. Tha mi a-nise a' tuigsinn gur e 's dòcha Uilleam Carrocher agus cairteal na h-uaireach de Ghàidhlig a bhiodh ann, ach sin an seòrsa saoghal a bh' ann. Bha e doirbh coinneachadh ri Gàidhlig an uair sin.
[ANGELA] Carson Gàidhlig?
[MARK] Uill, bu toigh leam cànanan a-riamh, agus a h-uile cothrom a bh' agam, bha mi ag ionnsachadh cànan. Rinn mi Gearmailtis agus Fraingis san sgoil, mar a tha mòran a' dèanamh, agus bha Acadamaidh Cille Mheàrnaig a' tabhann Ruisis an uair sin agus ghabh mi an cothrom sin a dhèanamh. Rinn mi teisteanas Àrd-ìre ann am bliadhna. Nan robh Gàidhlig air a bhith aca anns an sgoil bha mi air Gàidhlig a dhèanamh, ach cha robh. Cha robh ann an àite sam bith a bha faisg sam bith, sam bith oirnn. Ged a bha mi air leabhraichean a cheannach, gu sònraichte, MacLaren's Gaelic Self-Taught - cheannaich mi sin ann am Menzies, ann am bùth Menzies ann an Cille Mheàrnaig.
[ANGELA] Dè a rinn thu an uair sin? Càite an deach thu airson Gàidhlig ionnsachadh gu ceart?
[MARK] Chaidh mi gu Oilthigh Dhùn Èideann agus rinn mi Ceiltis agus Ruisis anns a' chiad bhliadhna. Bha mi gu math fortanach gu robh Uilleam MacMhathain gar teagasg cuideachd. Tha mi caran moiteil às gu robh mi nam oileanach nuair a bha esan fhathast ann, agus 's e a bha gar teagasg air a' chiad bhliadhna le MacLaren's Gaelic Self-Taught, agus e a' sìor innse dhuinn, "Tha seo ceàrr. Tha seo ceàrr," agus sinn ag atharrachadh na rudan a bha sgrìobhte anns an leabhar. Ach bha oileanaich ann à Uibhist 's à Leòdhas agus às na Hearadh agus bha e math a bhith nan cuideachd, agus 's e rud a dh'obraich dhòmhsa gu sònraichte gu robh feadhainn ann a bha dìreach gu nàdarra a' bruidhinn Gàidhlig 's gu robh sinn a' bruidhinn Gàidhlig nar measg fhìn. Cha dèanadh na clasaichean leotha fhèin a' chùis. Dh'fheumadh tu rudeigin eile a dhèanamh, agus bha sinne a' dèanamh an oidhirp sinn fhìn is thòisich sinn ag iarraidh clasaichean tro mheadhan na Gàidhlig. 'S e rud gu math ùr, annasach a bh' ann dhan an luchd-teagasg aig an àm, ach bha iad deònach, Dòmhnall Meek agus Raghnall Mac Ille Dhuibh, bha iad gu math deònach feuchainn, agus sin mar a thachair e.
[ANGELA] Dè cho furasta no duilich 's a bha e dhut Gàidhlig ionnsachadh?
[MARK] Uill ... Bidh daoine tric a' cantainn, "O 's e cànan doirbh a th' ann an Gàidhlig, nach e? " Chan eil mise ag aontachadh gur e cànan doirbh a th' ann. Ma tha ùidh agad ann an cànan, ionnsaichidh tu cànan. Agus 's e rud ... tha, gu h-àraid an-diugh, tha a h-uile cothrom mun cuairt ort Gàidhlig a chluinntinn, fiu 's ged nach eil cuideigin faisg ort far a bheil thu a' fuireach, tha an-diugh, telebhisean, rèidio, iPlayer, an teadar-lìon ... Tha a h-uile rud ann an-diugh. Bha cothroman aig daoine ann an Alba, fiu 's anns na seachdadan, nam biodh iad ag ionnsachadh Gàidhlig. Dh'fhaodadh tu Gàidhlig a chluinntinn. Cha bhiodh e cho furasta, ceart gu leòr, agus seo an gearan a th' aig a h-uile neach ionnsachaidh ... Chan eil e furasta a bhith gad bhogadh fhèin anns a' chànan mar a thachras ann an dùthchannan far a bheil mòr-chànan ga bruidhinn.
[ANGELA] Fhad 's a bha thu san oilthigh, fhuair thu eòlas air mar a bha cùisean ag obrachadh ann an Èirinn agus anns a' Chuimrigh. Dè a' bhuaidh a thug seo ort?
[MARK] Dh'ionnsaich sinn beagan mu dheidhinn, uill, Èirinn gu sònraichte, agus bha ùidh agam ann an Èirinn 's a' chiad chothrom a bh' agam, chaidh mi air làithean-saora ann. Chòrd e rium glan. Bha mi ag ràdh rium fhèin, "Chòrdadh e rium beagan ùine a chur seachad an seo." Agus thàinig an cothrom sin nuair a dh'fhàg mi an oilthigh. Fhuair mi obair airson bliadhna a' teagasg ann an Oilthigh na Gaillimhe ann an taobh siar na h-Èireann, agus greiseag an dèidh sin, chaidh an dreuchd a shanasachd mar dhreuchd cheart oifigeil mar òraidiche 's chaidh mi air ais ann agus bha mi ann airson aona bhliadhn' deug. Bha e cho inntinneach an seòrsa spèis agus inbhe a bh' ann dhan a' chànan, gu faiceadh tu i air feadh na dùthcha, air na sràidean, agus gu robh daoine a' gabhail rithe mar rud a bha cudromach agus a' buntainn ris an dùthaich gu lèir. 'S bha mi riamh bhon uair sin a' smaoineachadh gum bu chòir a h-uile Gàidheal òg a dhol a dh'Èirinn agus a thogail misneachd, dìreach a bhith ag iarraidh barrachd na bha sinne ag iarraidh, a bith a' sùileachadh barrachd. Sin mar a thig adhartas, tha mi a' creidsinn.
[ANGELA] Tha thu a-nise a' fuireach san Eilean Sgitheanach ann an coimhearsnachd Ghàidhlig. Ciamar a tha seo a' còrdadh riut?
[MARK] Tha glan. Chan iarrainn a bhith a' fuireach ann an àite sam bith eile, feumaidh mi a ràdh. 'S e coimhearsnachd uabhasach beòthail a th' ann an Slèite, agus tha daoine às gach àite ann. Chan eil a' Ghàidhlig cho làidir aig cuid sa choimhearsnachd sa bha i nuair a thàinig mise a Shlèite an toiseach, tràth anns na h-ochdadan, ach tha rudan math a' tachairt cuideachd. 'S toigh leam an t-àite seo. Tha e math a bhith ag obair còmhla ri daoine a tha a' bruidhinn Gàidhlig agus tha e math a bhith a feuchainn ri oileanaich - feadhainn dhiubh òg agus feadhainn nach eil cho òg - a chuideachadh anns na h-amasan a th' acasan gu bhith a' fàs fileanta ann an Gàidhlig agus an cànan a chleachdadh nan dreuchdan agus anns an t-saoghal a tha a-mach romhpa. 4 Chan urrainn dhomh smaoineachadh air àite far a bheil an aon spiorad am measg an luchd-obrach, agus tha sin fhèin prìseil.
[ANGELA] An innis thu beagan mu dheidhinn an obair agad?
[MARK] Uill, tha mi a' teagasg modalan air cànan, air eachdraidh a' chànain, Gàidhlig na hÈireann, feadhainn air litreachas cuideachd. An seo, tha e a' ciallachadh gu bheil thu a' coinneachadh ri daoine aig diofar aoisean, chan e dìreach feadhainn a tha amach às an sgoil no feadhainn a tha suas ann am bliadhnachan, 's tha sin uabhasach math. Tha e math a bhith ag obair ann an àite far a bheil an aon amas aig a h-uile duine, agus 's e sin maith na Gàidhlig. Ged a shaoileadh daoine bho muigh gu bheil thu an àite iomallach, tha thu ann an àite a tha a' tarraing dhaoine bho air feadh an t-saoghail, agus tha sin sònraichte. Agus tha càirdeas am measg an luchd-obrach nach eil thu a' faighinn ann am mòran àiteachan. Tha spèis ann dhan an rud a tha thu a' dèanamh agus tha sinn a' faighinn cothrom a bhith ag obair air cuspairean a tha a' còrdadh rinn mar, tha, òraidichean, mar sgoilearan, agus feuchainn ri sin a chur an cèill do dh'oileanaich ann an dòigh a tha a' dol gam brosnachadh cuideachd.
[ANGELA] Tha pàirt mhòr air a bhith aig a' Ghàidhlig agad nad bheatha. Dè cho cudromach 's a tha i dhut, agus am b' urrainn dhut smaoineachadh air do bheatha às a haonais?
[MARK] 'S e ... 'S e gibht a bh' ann dhomh, tha mi a' smaoineachadh, gun do choinnich mi ri saoghal agus cultar a bha cho tarraingeach agus coimhearsnachd cho còir, cho inntinneach - daoine le tàlant agus ... ceòl, òrain, litreachas ... Chan urrainn dhomh sin a shamhlachadh a-nise, beatha gun Ghàidhlig. Tha mi mothachail gur dòcha gun tig an t-àm nuair nach bi Gàidhlig ann, agus tha mi ga mo mheas fhìn fortanach gu bheil mi beò aig an àm seo agus gun d' fhuair mi cothrom coinneachadh ri daoine aig an robh fìor liut ann an Gàidhlig agus tha an seanachasan, eirmseachd, craic cho math, ach tha mi a' smaoineachadh gum biodh e gu math duilich a bhith, tha, beò às aonais Gàidhlig.
[ANGELA] Mòran taing, a Mhark.
[MARK] 'S e do bheatha.
Presenter: Angela NicAoidh (Angela Mackay)
[ANGELA] Talking to me now is Mark Wringe, who is a lecturer at Sabhal Mòr Ostaig and who has learnt Gaelic. Welcome, Mark.
[MARK] Thank you.
[ANGELA] Would you tell me to begin with where you are from and how you came to Gaelic in the first place?
[MARK] I was born in East Kilbride, near Glasgow. I didn't grow up there, I must admit; we lived in various different places, moving from place to place for many years when I was little, but it was, I suppose, when I was in high school in Kilmarnock that I began to take an interest in Gaelic. It's not that Gaelic was taught in the school, but that was when, I think, as a young teenager ... I was aware of the existence of Gaelic. I heard a snippet of Gaelic on the radio. I was unable to find that station again. I now understand that it was probably William Carrocher with a quarter of an hour of Gaelic, but that's the way things were. It was difficult to encounter Gaelic at that time.
[ANGELA] Why Gaelic?
[MARK] Well, I've always loved languages, and every opportunity I got, I learnt a language. I took German and French in school, as many people do, and Kilmarnock Academy offered Russian at that time and I took the opportunity to study it. I completed the Higher in one year. If they had offered Gaelic in the school, I would have studied Gaelic, but they didn't. It wasn't offered in any place that was anywhere near us. Although I had bought books, specifically, MacLaren's Gaelic SelfTaught - I bought that in Menzies, in the Menzies shop in Kilmarnock.
[ANGELA] What did you do then? Where did you go to learn Gaelic properly?
[MARK] I went to Edinburgh University where I took Celtic Studies and Russian in my first year. I was fortunate that one of our tutors was William Matheson. I am rather proud to have been a student while he was still there, and he taught us in first year using MacLaren's Gaelic SelfTaught, frequently telling us, "This is wrong. This is wrong," and we corrected what was written in the book. But there were students there from Uist and Lewis and from Harris and it was great to be with them, and something that worked out very well for me was the fact that some of them naturally spoke in Gaelic and we spoke in Gaelic amongst ourselves. The classes alone wouldn't have been enough. You needed to do something else, and we made that effort ourselves and we began to request that classes be taught through the medium of Gaelic. That was something new and unusual for the lecturers at the time, but they were willing, Donald Meek and Ronald Black, they were willing to have a go, and that's how it came about.
[ANGELA] How easy or difficult was it for you to learn Gaelic?
[MARK] Well ... People often say, "Oh, Gaelic is a difficult language, isn't it? "I don't agree that it's a difficult language. If you are interested in a language, you will learn the language. And the thing is ... that, especially nowadays, you are surrounded by opportunities to hear Gaelic, even though there might not be anyone near where you live, nowadays, you have television, radio, iPlayer, the internet ... It's all there these days. There were opportunities for people in Scotland, even in the seventies, if they were learning Gaelic. You could hear Gaelic. It wouldn't have been as easy, right enough, and that's one complaint that every learner has ... It isn't easy to immerse yourself in the language as happens in countries where a majority language is spoken.
[ANGELA] While you were at university, you learnt about how things worked in Ireland and in Wales. What effect did that have on you?
[MARK] We learnt a little about, well, Ireland especially, and I was interested in Ireland and the first chance I got, I went there on holiday. I really enjoyed it. I said to myself, "I'd like to spend a little time here." And I got that opportunity when I left university. I got a year-long post teaching in the National University of Ireland, Galway, on the west coast of Ireland, and shortly after that, the role was advertised as an official post as a lecturer and I returned and spent eleven years there. It was fascinating to see the status and value conferred on the language, that it was visible all around the country, on the streets, and that people accepted it as something that was important and relevant to the country as a whole. And I have thought ever since then that every young Gael should go to Ireland where they will be encouraged to demand more than we asked for, to expect more. I believe that is how progress will be made.
[ANGELA] You now live on the Isle of Skye in a Gaelic community. How do you like that?
[MARK] Very much. I must say, I wouldn't want to live anywhere else. The community in Sleat is exceedingly vibrant, and includes people from many different places. Gaelic isn't as strong in some of the community as it was when I first came to Sleat in the early 1980s, but there are some good things happening too. I really like this place. It's good to work with people who speak Gaelic and it's great to try to help students - some young and others not so young - to achieve their aim to become fluent in Gaelic and to use the language in their jobs and in whatever the future may hold for them. I can't think of a place where the staff have the same spirit, and that in itself is precious.
[ANGELA] Would you tell me a little about your work?
[MARK] Well, I teach modules relating to the language, the history of the language, Irish Gaelic and also some on literature. Here, that means you meet people of different ages, not just people who are fresh out of school or those who are advancing in years, and that's very good. It's great to work in a place where everyone has the same goal, and that is to benefit Gaelic. Although people from outside may think you are in a remote location, you are in a place that attracts people from all around the world, and that is special. And there is a friendship among the staff which you don't find in many places. The work you do is appreciated and we get the opportunity to work on subjects we enjoy as lecturers, as scholars, and we try to put that across to students in such a way as to encourage them too.
[ANGELA] Gaelic has played a significant role in your life. How important is it to you, and could you imagine what your life would be like without it?
[MARK] It was ... I believe it was a gift to me that I encountered a world and a culture that were so captivating and such a generous, interesting community - people with talent and ... music, songs and literature ... I just can't imagine a life without Gaelic. I realise there may come a time when Gaelic no longer exists, and I count myself fortunate to be living in this time and to have had the opportunity to meet with people who had a true mastery of Gaelic such good stories, wit and crack, that I think it would be very difficult to live without Gaelic.
[ANGELA] Thank you very much, Mark.
[MARK] You're welcome.
Presenter: Angela NicAoidh (Angela Mackay)
[ANGELA] A còmhradh rium a-nise tha Mark Wringe, a tha na òraidiche aig Sabhal Mòr Ostaig agus a tha air Gàidhlig ionnsachadh. Fàilte ort, Mark.
[MARK] Mòran taing.
[ANGELA] An innis thu dhomh an toiseach co às a tha thu agus ciamar a thàinig thu gu Gàidhlig anns a' ciad dol a-mach?
[MARK] Rugadh mi ann an Cille Bhrìghde an Ear, faisg air Glaschu. Cha deach mo thogail ann, feumaidh mi a ràdh; bha sinn ann an iomadach àite, a' gluasad bho àite gu àite airson grunn bhliadhnachan nuair a bha mi beag, ach 's ann, tha mi a' creidsinn, nuair a bha mi anns an àrd-sgoil ann an Cille Mheàrnaig a thòisich mi a' gabhail ùidh ann an Gàidhlig. Chan e gu robh Gàidhlig ga teagasg anns an sgoil, ach 's ann an uairsin, tha mi a' smaointinn, na mo dheugaire òg ... Bha mi mothachail gu robh Gàidhlig ann. Chuala mi bloigh beag Gàidhlig air an rèidio. Dh'fhaillich orm an stèisean sin a lorg a-rithist. Tha mi a-nise a' tuigsinn gur e 's dòcha Uilleam Carrocher agus cairteal na h-uaireach de Ghàidhlig a bhiodh ann, ach sin an seòrsa saoghal a bh' ann. Bha e doirbh coinneachadh ri Gàidhlig an uair sin.
[ANGELA] Carson Gàidhlig?
[MARK] Uill, bu toigh leam cànanan a-riamh, agus a h-uile cothrom a bh' agam, bha mi ag ionnsachadh cànan. Rinn mi Gearmailtis agus Fraingis san sgoil, mar a tha mòran a' dèanamh, agus bha Acadamaidh Cille Mheàrnaig a' tabhann Ruisis an uair sin agus ghabh mi an cothrom sin a dhèanamh. Rinn mi teisteanas Àrd-ìre ann am bliadhna. Nan robh Gàidhlig air a bhith aca anns an sgoil bha mi air Gàidhlig a dhèanamh, ach cha robh. Cha robh ann an àite sam bith a bha faisg sam bith, sam bith oirnn. Ged a bha mi air leabhraichean a cheannach, gu sònraichte, MacLaren's Gaelic Self-Taught - cheannaich mi sin ann am Menzies, ann am bùth Menzies ann an Cille Mheàrnaig.
[ANGELA] Dè a rinn thu an uair sin? Càite an deach thu airson Gàidhlig ionnsachadh gu ceart?
[MARK] Chaidh mi gu Oilthigh Dhùn Èideann agus rinn mi Ceiltis agus Ruisis anns a' chiad bhliadhna. Bha mi gu math fortanach gu robh Uilleam MacMhathain gar teagasg cuideachd. Tha mi caran moiteil às gu robh mi nam oileanach nuair a bha esan fhathast ann, agus 's e a bha gar teagasg air a' chiad bhliadhna le MacLaren's Gaelic Self-Taught, agus e a' sìor innse dhuinn, "Tha seo ceàrr. Tha seo ceàrr," agus sinn ag atharrachadh na rudan a bha sgrìobhte anns an leabhar. Ach bha oileanaich ann à Uibhist 's à Leòdhas agus às na Hearadh agus bha e math a bhith nan cuideachd, agus 's e rud a dh'obraich dhòmhsa gu sònraichte gu robh feadhainn ann a bha dìreach gu nàdarra a' bruidhinn Gàidhlig 's gu robh sinn a' bruidhinn Gàidhlig nar measg fhìn. Cha dèanadh na clasaichean leotha fhèin a' chùis. Dh'fheumadh tu rudeigin eile a dhèanamh, agus bha sinne a' dèanamh an oidhirp sinn fhìn is thòisich sinn ag iarraidh clasaichean tro mheadhan na Gàidhlig. 'S e rud gu math ùr, annasach a bh' ann dhan an luchd-teagasg aig an àm, ach bha iad deònach, Dòmhnall Meek agus Raghnall Mac Ille Dhuibh, bha iad gu math deònach feuchainn, agus sin mar a thachair e.
[ANGELA] Dè cho furasta no duilich 's a bha e dhut Gàidhlig ionnsachadh?
[MARK] Uill ... Bidh daoine tric a' cantainn, "O 's e cànan doirbh a th' ann an Gàidhlig, nach e? " Chan eil mise ag aontachadh gur e cànan doirbh a th' ann. Ma tha ùidh agad ann an cànan, ionnsaichidh tu cànan. Agus 's e rud ... tha, gu h-àraid an-diugh, tha a h-uile cothrom mun cuairt ort Gàidhlig a chluinntinn, fiu 's ged nach eil cuideigin faisg ort far a bheil thu a' fuireach, tha an-diugh, telebhisean, rèidio, iPlayer, an teadar-lìon ... Tha a h-uile rud ann an-diugh. Bha cothroman aig daoine ann an Alba, fiu 's anns na seachdadan, nam biodh iad ag ionnsachadh Gàidhlig. Dh'fhaodadh tu Gàidhlig a chluinntinn. Cha bhiodh e cho furasta, ceart gu leòr, agus seo an gearan a th' aig a h-uile neach ionnsachaidh ... Chan eil e furasta a bhith gad bhogadh fhèin anns a' chànan mar a thachras ann an dùthchannan far a bheil mòr-chànan ga bruidhinn.
[ANGELA] Fhad 's a bha thu san oilthigh, fhuair thu eòlas air mar a bha cùisean ag obrachadh ann an Èirinn agus anns a' Chuimrigh. Dè a' bhuaidh a thug seo ort?
[MARK] Dh'ionnsaich sinn beagan mu dheidhinn, uill, Èirinn gu sònraichte, agus bha ùidh agam ann an Èirinn 's a' chiad chothrom a bh' agam, chaidh mi air làithean-saora ann. Chòrd e rium glan. Bha mi ag ràdh rium fhèin, "Chòrdadh e rium beagan ùine a chur seachad an seo." Agus thàinig an cothrom sin nuair a dh'fhàg mi an oilthigh. Fhuair mi obair airson bliadhna a' teagasg ann an Oilthigh na Gaillimhe ann an taobh siar na h-Èireann, agus greiseag an dèidh sin, chaidh an dreuchd a shanasachd mar dhreuchd cheart oifigeil mar òraidiche 's chaidh mi air ais ann agus bha mi ann airson aona bhliadhn' deug. Bha e cho inntinneach an seòrsa spèis agus inbhe a bh' ann dhan a' chànan, gu faiceadh tu i air feadh na dùthcha, air na sràidean, agus gu robh daoine a' gabhail rithe mar rud a bha cudromach agus a' buntainn ris an dùthaich gu lèir. 'S bha mi riamh bhon uair sin a' smaoineachadh gum bu chòir a h-uile Gàidheal òg a dhol a dh'Èirinn agus a thogail misneachd, dìreach a bhith ag iarraidh barrachd na bha sinne ag iarraidh, a bith a' sùileachadh barrachd. Sin mar a thig adhartas, tha mi a' creidsinn.
[ANGELA] Tha thu a-nise a' fuireach san Eilean Sgitheanach ann an coimhearsnachd Ghàidhlig. Ciamar a tha seo a' còrdadh riut?
[MARK] Tha glan. Chan iarrainn a bhith a' fuireach ann an àite sam bith eile, feumaidh mi a ràdh. 'S e coimhearsnachd uabhasach beòthail a th' ann an Slèite, agus tha daoine às gach àite ann. Chan eil a' Ghàidhlig cho làidir aig cuid sa choimhearsnachd sa bha i nuair a thàinig mise a Shlèite an toiseach, tràth anns na h-ochdadan, ach tha rudan math a' tachairt cuideachd. 'S toigh leam an t-àite seo. Tha e math a bhith ag obair còmhla ri daoine a tha a' bruidhinn Gàidhlig agus tha e math a bhith a feuchainn ri oileanaich - feadhainn dhiubh òg agus feadhainn nach eil cho òg - a chuideachadh anns na h-amasan a th' acasan gu bhith a' fàs fileanta ann an Gàidhlig agus an cànan a chleachdadh nan dreuchdan agus anns an t-saoghal a tha a-mach romhpa. 4 Chan urrainn dhomh smaoineachadh air àite far a bheil an aon spiorad am measg an luchd-obrach, agus tha sin fhèin prìseil.
[ANGELA] An innis thu beagan mu dheidhinn an obair agad?
[MARK] Uill, tha mi a' teagasg modalan air cànan, air eachdraidh a' chànain, Gàidhlig na hÈireann, feadhainn air litreachas cuideachd. An seo, tha e a' ciallachadh gu bheil thu a' coinneachadh ri daoine aig diofar aoisean, chan e dìreach feadhainn a tha amach às an sgoil no feadhainn a tha suas ann am bliadhnachan, 's tha sin uabhasach math. Tha e math a bhith ag obair ann an àite far a bheil an aon amas aig a h-uile duine, agus 's e sin maith na Gàidhlig. Ged a shaoileadh daoine bho muigh gu bheil thu an àite iomallach, tha thu ann an àite a tha a' tarraing dhaoine bho air feadh an t-saoghail, agus tha sin sònraichte. Agus tha càirdeas am measg an luchd-obrach nach eil thu a' faighinn ann am mòran àiteachan. Tha spèis ann dhan an rud a tha thu a' dèanamh agus tha sinn a' faighinn cothrom a bhith ag obair air cuspairean a tha a' còrdadh rinn mar, tha, òraidichean, mar sgoilearan, agus feuchainn ri sin a chur an cèill do dh'oileanaich ann an dòigh a tha a' dol gam brosnachadh cuideachd.
[ANGELA] Tha pàirt mhòr air a bhith aig a' Ghàidhlig agad nad bheatha. Dè cho cudromach 's a tha i dhut, agus am b' urrainn dhut smaoineachadh air do bheatha às a haonais?
[MARK] 'S e ... 'S e gibht a bh' ann dhomh, tha mi a' smaoineachadh, gun do choinnich mi ri saoghal agus cultar a bha cho tarraingeach agus coimhearsnachd cho còir, cho inntinneach - daoine le tàlant agus ... ceòl, òrain, litreachas ... Chan urrainn dhomh sin a shamhlachadh a-nise, beatha gun Ghàidhlig. Tha mi mothachail gur dòcha gun tig an t-àm nuair nach bi Gàidhlig ann, agus tha mi ga mo mheas fhìn fortanach gu bheil mi beò aig an àm seo agus gun d' fhuair mi cothrom coinneachadh ri daoine aig an robh fìor liut ann an Gàidhlig agus tha an seanachasan, eirmseachd, craic cho math, ach tha mi a' smaoineachadh gum biodh e gu math duilich a bhith, tha, beò às aonais Gàidhlig.
[ANGELA] Mòran taing, a Mhark.
[MARK] 'S e do bheatha.
Presenter: Angela NicAoidh (Angela Mackay)
[ANGELA] Talking to me now is Mark Wringe, who is a lecturer at Sabhal Mòr Ostaig and who has learnt Gaelic. Welcome, Mark.
[MARK] Thank you.
[ANGELA] Would you tell me to begin with where you are from and how you came to Gaelic in the first place?
[MARK] I was born in East Kilbride, near Glasgow. I didn't grow up there, I must admit; we lived in various different places, moving from place to place for many years when I was little, but it was, I suppose, when I was in high school in Kilmarnock that I began to take an interest in Gaelic. It's not that Gaelic was taught in the school, but that was when, I think, as a young teenager ... I was aware of the existence of Gaelic. I heard a snippet of Gaelic on the radio. I was unable to find that station again. I now understand that it was probably William Carrocher with a quarter of an hour of Gaelic, but that's the way things were. It was difficult to encounter Gaelic at that time.
[ANGELA] Why Gaelic?
[MARK] Well, I've always loved languages, and every opportunity I got, I learnt a language. I took German and French in school, as many people do, and Kilmarnock Academy offered Russian at that time and I took the opportunity to study it. I completed the Higher in one year. If they had offered Gaelic in the school, I would have studied Gaelic, but they didn't. It wasn't offered in any place that was anywhere near us. Although I had bought books, specifically, MacLaren's Gaelic SelfTaught - I bought that in Menzies, in the Menzies shop in Kilmarnock.
[ANGELA] What did you do then? Where did you go to learn Gaelic properly?
[MARK] I went to Edinburgh University where I took Celtic Studies and Russian in my first year. I was fortunate that one of our tutors was William Matheson. I am rather proud to have been a student while he was still there, and he taught us in first year using MacLaren's Gaelic SelfTaught, frequently telling us, "This is wrong. This is wrong," and we corrected what was written in the book. But there were students there from Uist and Lewis and from Harris and it was great to be with them, and something that worked out very well for me was the fact that some of them naturally spoke in Gaelic and we spoke in Gaelic amongst ourselves. The classes alone wouldn't have been enough. You needed to do something else, and we made that effort ourselves and we began to request that classes be taught through the medium of Gaelic. That was something new and unusual for the lecturers at the time, but they were willing, Donald Meek and Ronald Black, they were willing to have a go, and that's how it came about.
[ANGELA] How easy or difficult was it for you to learn Gaelic?
[MARK] Well ... People often say, "Oh, Gaelic is a difficult language, isn't it? "I don't agree that it's a difficult language. If you are interested in a language, you will learn the language. And the thing is ... that, especially nowadays, you are surrounded by opportunities to hear Gaelic, even though there might not be anyone near where you live, nowadays, you have television, radio, iPlayer, the internet ... It's all there these days. There were opportunities for people in Scotland, even in the seventies, if they were learning Gaelic. You could hear Gaelic. It wouldn't have been as easy, right enough, and that's one complaint that every learner has ... It isn't easy to immerse yourself in the language as happens in countries where a majority language is spoken.
[ANGELA] While you were at university, you learnt about how things worked in Ireland and in Wales. What effect did that have on you?
[MARK] We learnt a little about, well, Ireland especially, and I was interested in Ireland and the first chance I got, I went there on holiday. I really enjoyed it. I said to myself, "I'd like to spend a little time here." And I got that opportunity when I left university. I got a year-long post teaching in the National University of Ireland, Galway, on the west coast of Ireland, and shortly after that, the role was advertised as an official post as a lecturer and I returned and spent eleven years there. It was fascinating to see the status and value conferred on the language, that it was visible all around the country, on the streets, and that people accepted it as something that was important and relevant to the country as a whole. And I have thought ever since then that every young Gael should go to Ireland where they will be encouraged to demand more than we asked for, to expect more. I believe that is how progress will be made.
[ANGELA] You now live on the Isle of Skye in a Gaelic community. How do you like that?
[MARK] Very much. I must say, I wouldn't want to live anywhere else. The community in Sleat is exceedingly vibrant, and includes people from many different places. Gaelic isn't as strong in some of the community as it was when I first came to Sleat in the early 1980s, but there are some good things happening too. I really like this place. It's good to work with people who speak Gaelic and it's great to try to help students - some young and others not so young - to achieve their aim to become fluent in Gaelic and to use the language in their jobs and in whatever the future may hold for them. I can't think of a place where the staff have the same spirit, and that in itself is precious.
[ANGELA] Would you tell me a little about your work?
[MARK] Well, I teach modules relating to the language, the history of the language, Irish Gaelic and also some on literature. Here, that means you meet people of different ages, not just people who are fresh out of school or those who are advancing in years, and that's very good. It's great to work in a place where everyone has the same goal, and that is to benefit Gaelic. Although people from outside may think you are in a remote location, you are in a place that attracts people from all around the world, and that is special. And there is a friendship among the staff which you don't find in many places. The work you do is appreciated and we get the opportunity to work on subjects we enjoy as lecturers, as scholars, and we try to put that across to students in such a way as to encourage them too.
[ANGELA] Gaelic has played a significant role in your life. How important is it to you, and could you imagine what your life would be like without it?
[MARK] It was ... I believe it was a gift to me that I encountered a world and a culture that were so captivating and such a generous, interesting community - people with talent and ... music, songs and literature ... I just can't imagine a life without Gaelic. I realise there may come a time when Gaelic no longer exists, and I count myself fortunate to be living in this time and to have had the opportunity to meet with people who had a true mastery of Gaelic such good stories, wit and crack, that I think it would be very difficult to live without Gaelic.
[ANGELA] Thank you very much, Mark.
[MARK] You're welcome.