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). Tha mi a' leantainn orm ag ionnsachadh na Gàidhlig airson urram a thoirt dom sheanair. Bha e ag ràdh nach robh aige ach Beurla a-mhàin ach dh'ionnsaich mi o na h-oghaichean agam gun robh e a' bruidhinn na Gàidhlig ri bhràithrean 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 ràdh an abairt as fheàrr leam tric tron là "Bha sinn ann ach chan fhaca sinn an uilebheist!".
My name is Duncan. I am the American grandson of a Scottish Immigrant from Stornoway. My son, Duncan, and I hiked the Great Glen last summer and then toured Lewis with our distant cousins still resident on the island. I began studying Gaelic in preparation for that journey expecting to use basic phases (Gabhaidh mi am uisge-beatha mas e ur toil e). I continue to study Gaelic to honour my Grandfather. He claimed to speak only English, but after he died, I learned from cousins that he would speak with his brothers in only Gaelic during his occasional visits "home". I hope that by kindling an interest in Gaelic with my children, we can reclaim some of what my grandfather sacrificed to assimilate into America. I repeat my favourite Gaelic expression many times daily, "Bha sinn ann ach chan fhaca sinn an uilebheist!".
