Chaidh am brath-naidheachd seo a sgaoileadh le Ainmean-Àite na h-Alba

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Chaidh am brath-naidheachd seo a sgaoileadh le Ainmean-Àite na h-Alba

Chaidh Àrd-Ollamh na Gàidhlig bho Oilthigh Dhùn Èideann ainmeachadh mar Chathraiche ùr Ainmean-Àite na h-Alba (AÀA), am buidheann nàiseanta airson ainmean-àite na h-Alba aontachadh.

Tha an t-Oll. Wilson MacLeòid, Rannsaiche Poileasaidh Cànain agus Litreachas na Gàidhlig, a’ tighinn dhan dreuchd às dèidh Ruaraidh Mhic an t-Saoir, cànanaiche is seinneadair Gàidhlig à Uibhist a Deas, a bha na chathraiche air AÀA fad dà bhliadhna.

Bidh AÀA a’ toirt stiùireadh dha iomadh buidheann airson stuthan a leithid soidhnichean rathaid dà-chànanach agus Gàidhlig, soidhnichean malairteach, mapaichean, taisbeanaidhean agus rannsachadh. Bidh AÀA a’ faighinn a phrìomh mhaoineachaidh bho Bhòrd na Gàidhlig.

À Boston sna Stàitean Aonaichte, tha còrr is fichead bliadhna de eòlas aig Wilson ag obair aig àrd-ìre foghlaim. Tha e air còig leabhraichean deug a sgrìobhadh is a dheasachadh, a’ mhòr-chuid dhiubh mu chànan is chultar na Gàidhlig, a leithid Gaelic in Modern Scotland: Policies, Movements, Ideologies (2020).

Tha an t-eòlas a tha aig Wilson air poileasaidh is reachdas cànain agus air foghlam oilthighe, agus an spèis a th’ aige airson na Gàidhlig, ga dhèanamh na shàr-thagraiche airson dreuchd a’ Chathraiche.

A’ gabhail na dreuchd, thuirt Wilson, “Tha mi air bhioran gus cur ris an obair chudromach aig AÀA le bhith toirt seachad taic airson riochdachadh na Gàidhlig ann an cruth-tìre chànanach Alba.”

Thuirt Jo NicDhòmhnaill bho Chomhairle na Gàidhealtachd, Leas-Chathraiche AÀA, “Tha Comhairle na Gàidhealtachd a’ cur luach mòr air an eòlas ionmholta a th’ aig Ainmean-Àite na h-Alba agus air an rannsachadh mhionaideach a bhios iad a’ dèanamh air tùsan eachdraidheil. Tha sinn fìor thoilichte fàilte a chur air an Ollamh Wilson MacLeòid gu dreuchd a’ Chathraiche. Mar sgoilear cliùiteach de chànan is chultar na Gàidhlig, tha an t-Ollamh MacLeòid a’ toirt beairteas eòlais agus buannachdan lìonmhor chun na buidhne. Bu toil leinn cuideachd taing a thoirt do Ruaraidh Mac an t-Saoir airson na thug e fhèin seachad a thaobh eòlas is ùine thar nam bliadhnaichean. Tha sinn a’ coimhead air adhart ri bhith a’ togail air an dàimh-obrach thorrach a th’ againn le AÀA agus na com-pàirtichean aca.” 

Thuirt Ealasaid Dhòmhnallach, Ceannard Bhòrd na Gàidhlig, “Tha sinn a’ cur fàilte air an naidheachd gun deach an t-Ollamh Wilson MacLeòid ainmeachadh mar Chathraiche ùr Ainmean-Àite na h-Alba. Bidh AÀA a’ dèanamh obair chudromach ann a bhith ag ath-lorg agus a’ gleidheadh ar Dualchais agus a’ leasachadh cleachdadh na Gàidhlig tron chomhairle a bheir iad do raon farsaing de bhuidhnean. Tha mi cinnteach gum bi an t-Ollamh MacLeòid air leth soirbheachail na dhreuchd ùr agus tha mi a’ coimhead air adhart ri bhith a’ faicinn na buaidh a bhios aige air a’ bhuidheann.”

This press release was distributed by Ainmean-Àite na h-Alba

Professor of Gaelic from the University of Edinburgh has been appointed as Chair of Ainmean-Àite na h-Alba (AÀA), the national authority on Gaelic place-names in Scotland.

Professor Wilson McLeod, Researcher of Gaelic language policy and Gaelic literature, has taken over the position from Ruaraidh MacIntyre, Gaelic linguist from South Uist, who served as Chair for two years.

AÀA provides guidance to a wide variety of organisations for various purposes including bilingual and Gaelic road signs, commercial signs, maps, presentation and research, and receives core funding from Bòrd na Gàidhlig.

Born in Boston USA, Wilson has more than twenty years’ experience working in the higher education sector and is now Emeritus Professor of Gaelic at the University of Edinburgh. He has authored or edited fifteen books, most of them on Gaelic language and culture, including Gaelic in Modern Scotland: Policies, Movements, Ideologies (2020).

Wilson’s experience in language policy and legislation, university education and his passion for the Gaelic language, makes him the ideal candidate for Chair.

In accepting the post of Chair of Ainmean-Àite na h-Alba he said, “I am excited to contribute to AÀA’s important work in providing expert support for the representation of Gaelic in Scotland’s linguistic landscape.”

Jo MacDonald, of Highland Council, and Vice-chair of AÀA said, “The Highland Council greatly values Ainmean-Àite na h-Alba’s expertise on place-names and the detailed research that it undertakes of historic sources. We are delighted to welcome Professor Wilson McLeod to the post of Chair. As a distinguished scholar of Gaelic language and culture, Professor McLeod brings a wealth of experience and will be a great asset to the team. We would also like to thank Ruaraidh MacIntyre for his valuable contribution and commitment over the years. We look forward to building on our positive and productive working relationship with AÀA and its partner organisations.”

Ealasaid MacDonald, CEO, Bòrd na Gàidhlig said: “We welcome the news that Professor Wilson McLeod has been named as the new Chair of Ainmean-Àite na h-Alba. AÀA undertake important work in the re-discovery and preservation of our Heritage and developing the use of Gaelic through the advice they provide to a wide range of organisations.  I’m sure professor McLeod will be very successful in his new role and look forward to seeing the impact he has on the organisation.”