Just a few years ago, many Nova Scotia residents called Gaelic their first or second language. It can be heard in traditional folk songs and seen on some road signs. There are individuals in the area who are fighting to protect the Gaelic language.
Lewis MacKinnon is one of those individuals and has written a book of poetry in Gaelic, which he then translated into English. In addition, MacKinnon works with the provincial Office of Gaelic Affairs. He is attempting to bring Gaelic into the 21st century and at the same time reach young Gaelic speakers.
MacKinnon says, "Perhaps, the best way to put it is that it is hoped that through the English interpretation/translation, a sense of the meaning that the poems are attempting to convey is provided to the non-Gaelic reader. In terms of translating poetry, sometimes there is a difference in how the poem is expressed verbally, i.e. not all poems translated into English read as well as perhaps they do in Gaelic."
MacKinnon vows to keep working in Gaelic to keep it alive, yet has no plans to write the Great Gaelic Novel any time in the near future.
22 December 2008
