First Scottish Gaelic Dictionary
Poet involved
What happened
In 1780, the Reverend William Shaw published A Galic and English Dictionary in London, the first dictionary of Scottish Gaelic in the modern sense. This work contained a large percentage of the Scottish Gaelic vocabulary and was intended to preserve and promote the language. Shaw, a graduate of Glasgow University who had met Samuel Johnson, played a key role in documenting the Gaelic language and culture.
Literary impact
Shaw's dictionary was a crucial resource for Scottish Gaelic poets, providing them with a standardized reference for their language at a time when it was under pressure from English. Its publication helped to sustain the rich tradition of Gaelic poetry, which included the works of poets like Alasdair mac Mhaighstir Alasdair. The dictionary also contributed to the broader effort to preserve Scottish cultural heritage.
Source: Wikipedia
