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The Acquisition of Scottish Gaelic Phonology

Research output: Contribution in Book/Report/Proceedings - With ISBN/ISSNChapter

Published
Publication date25/07/2025
Host publicationThe Acquisition of the Celtic Languages
EditorsVicky Chondrogianni, Ciara O'Toole, Enlli Thomas
Place of PublicationCambridge
PublisherCambridge University Press
Pages69-89
Number of pages21
ISBN (electronic)9781009284899
ISBN (print)9781009284936
<mark>Original language</mark>English

Abstract

This chapter firstly outlines the phonological structure of Gaelic, as well as aspects of phonetic implementation. I then consider methods used so far in the study of Gaelic phonological acquisition, as well as reviewing work in this area to date. The journey of language acquisition is varied across different sectors of the Gaelic-speaking population, as well as individuals. For example, while some children acquire Gaelic and English virtually simultaneously in the home, other children acquire Gaelic sequentially through a form of immersion schooling known as Gaelic Medium Education (GME). Many lie somewhere on a simultaneous-sequential continuum. Adult acquirers of Gaelic are a hugely diverse population, which naturally leads to a range of differing outcomes in the acquisition of phonology. In this overview of the field, I consider the different factors associated with multilingual phonological acquisition, and how they have predicted or challenged results obtained from data-driven studies of Gaelic. The chapter ends with a discussion about the multiple future directions needed for research in this area, including larger studies of primary-aged populations, and more focus on universities as an important locus of adult language acquisition. Previous research in multilingualism has largely focussed on major language contexts, leaving much to be learned from this minority language setting.