Language and Languages

Scope and Contents Archaeological note and story about the Carradh in Bearnary [Beàrnaraigh/Berneray] stating that it had writing on it which no one could read except one priest by the name of Ailein Donullach [Allan MacDonald] who could speak twelve languages. The story tells how a crew of fishermen who were stranded on Berneray amused themselves 'by shaking the carradh pillar to and fro. They threw it down and over the pre[cipice] and the pillar which stood the storm of ages was broken in three "halves" "tri...

Scope and Contents Comment on an opinion about language which reads 'Sir Charles Leyell [Lyall] say[s] that no language lasts for a 1000 years. Gaelic seems an exception.'

Scope and Contents Field notebook belonging to Alexander Carmichael, which he used to collect material mainly from a Mary MacRae, Dùnan, Letterfearn, Ros is Cromba/Ross and Cromarty, Ciorstan MacLean née Cameron, Leideag, Barraigh/Isle of Barra and Margaret Campbell née Stewart and her husband Andrew, tinkers at Bohespic, Siorrachd Pheairt/Perthshire. There are twenty folios the first fourteen of which contain text. Most of the material was collected from Mary MacRae, who sang several waulking songs and...

Scope and Contents Vocabulary note for the place 'Dun Pharlain = Dumfarlane' [Dùn Phàrlain/Dunfermline, Fìobh/Fife] and accompanying note about the person 'Banquo' that he 'Sent all who spoke the Saxon and if they acquired English he sent them away.' Text has been scored through as if transcribed elsewhere.