The first publicly available recordings of Gaelic speech will give a previously unseen perspective on tongue shapes used while speaking the language, according to researchers.

Recordings using ultrasound technology are now available on a new website section called ‘Teangannan na Gàidhlig,’ meaning ‘Gaelic Tongues’.

A research team, led by Lancaster University, made video recordings of people’s tongues while they spoke Gaelic and Western-Isles English to investigate what kinds of movements are used to produce different consonants.

Using ultrasound tech, they were able to get a side profile image of the tongue inside the mouth while people were speaking.

A selection of the videos is now available in a new section of a website dedicated to videos of speech sounds, Seeing Speech, created by speech and language specialists at the University of Glasgow and Queen Margaret University in Edinburgh.

The research presents full speed and slow-motion ultrasound videos featuring a selection of Gaelic ‘l’, ‘n’ and ‘r’ sounds. Videos of English ‘l’ and ‘r’ sounds were made for comparison.

Gaelic ‘l’, ‘n’ and ‘r’ sounds are quite unusual compared to other languages as there are three different kinds of ‘l’, three different ‘n’s and three ‘r’ sounds.

The research shows how speakers moved their tongue forwards or backwards to produce the differences between sounds.

The project was led by Dr Claire Nance (Lancaster University), working with Sam Kirkham (Lancaster University). The videos were made by Lancaster University’s Di Wang with support from Eleanor Lawson (Queen Margaret University).

The Gaelic section was added to the Seeing Speech website with help from Eleanor Lawson (Queen Margaret University), Jane Stuart-Smith (University of Glasgow), and technical knowledge from Brian Aitken (University of Glasgow).

This project was funded by an ESRC Impact Acceleration Account, with support from Marsaili MacLeod (University of the Highlands and Islands).

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Commenting on the research, Dr Claire Nance said: “These recordings give a fascinating view inside the mouth while people are speaking. It’s really important to understand the details of Gaelic speech sounds so that we can support Gaelic learning and teaching and document the language.

“We would like to thank BBC Alba, BBC Radio nan Gàidheal, and Comhairle nan Eilean Siar, who have all helped us collect the data.”

Gaelic is a declining language in Scotland but is a part of the country’s history and is still a likely to be heard in areas such as the Highlands and Islands, the Isle of Skye, and to a lesser extent in Argyll & The Isles. This research will help to build on and preserve the legacy of Gaelic in Scotland.

Results from the 2011 Census showed that the decline in the number of Gaelic speakers has slowed since 2001. According to government statistics from that period, around 1.1% of the Scottish population spoke Gaelic.

In 2005 the Scottish Parliament passed the Gaelic Language (Scotland) Act 2005 was passed with a view to securing the status of Gaelic as an official language of Scotland commanding equal respect to the English language.

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