Category Archives: Diana Gabaldon

Outlander Scottish Press Day roundup – Hint Sam speaks in English to BBC Radio

I don’t often post the general Outlander TV series related news but I figured today would be a good exception since most of the articles are calling out the attention paid to Gàidhlig language and culture in the production. I’m also including a link to the BBC Radio Nan Gàidheal program Aithris Na Maidne.

The Scotsman

The first article released yesterday was from The Scotsman. It’s a bit filled with hyperbole for my taste. The author makes it sound a bit like 2000 Outlander fans have been storming Doune Castle. Àdhamh isn’t credited as the Gaelic coach in this article but they did talk to Sam a bit about it and he highlights the Gàidhlig being an important part of the story. I am a bit worried now about exactly how bad Jamie’s scars are going to look after this quote from Sam:

Heughan, who admitted he has had to die his hair red for the part, said: “It feels like I get beaten up in every show. I do have hundreds of scars in the show. My whole back is covered in them. It looks really gruesome. We did a shoot last week when there was a crowd of extras there and people were almost passing out when they saw them. They look amazing.”

You can read the entire The Scotsman article here.

Continue reading →

Great Scot! All about Waulking or Milling Frolics

I thought I would start this week off looking at a very specific type of Scottish song associated with the waulking of cloth.  It is only in Scotland (and by migration to Nova Scotia) that waulking became closely associated with traditional Gàidhlig songs. Women used the rhythmic songs to both help them in their work and also to pass the time more enjoyably.

Waulking (also known as fulling) is the process in making cloth where it is beaten to make it thicker and water resistant (especially needed in Scotland). Fulling mills were introduced in medieval times but in many more remote and self-sufficient areas, the process continued to be done by hand up into the 20th century. As part of the exodus of Highland Scots during the Clearances after the failed uprising in 1745, the process was carried to Cape Breton, Nova Scotia in the new world where the process became known as milling.  There are still milling frolics held today in an effort to maintain old traditions.

A short explanation of milling:

For those of an Outlandish persuasion, Diana Gabaldon does a great scene describing waulking in Dragonfly in Amber: Continue reading →

“Outlandering” (Words From Karol’s Mental Outlander Dictionary)

I have to say that I have done a lot of Outlandering over the years. My latest victims…I mean converts…are my Mom and Sister in law. They both looked at me bleary eyed this weekend and complained of eye strain because they couldn’t stop reading!

karollynn45's avatarOutlander Musings

With the upcoming series permiere on Starz, there will be a lot of new readers coming into the land of Outlander…new people who will drool and swoon over the sexiness that IS Sam Heughan in the role of Jamie Fraser.  Three episodes in,  Diana’s book will be flying off the shelves.

New Twitter and Facebook fans will flock to find other readers, it will be a fun time for all of us Old School readers.

However, I have started early.  I am starting to make friends read the books now.  I am doing what I am calling Outlandering….

OUTLANDERING:  The fine art of making friends, family, and anyone else I can get my hands on, reading the novels and getting them involved by showing them Jamie Fraser.  Using words, websites and pictures.

I’ve been doing this for years…my latest was a young woman I met online a few years ago. …

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Now even Gàidhlig speakers can read about Outlander!

Unfortunately, I am not yet one of them. I have been able to pick out a few tidbits.

The caption under the photo seems to reference something about Irish Actress Caitriona Balfe who is Claire Randall and Sam Heughan from New Galloway
who is Jamie Fraser.

The rest of the article, I can only pick out a few words.  I do see references to 18th and 20th centuries, young Scot and Diana Gabaldon’s 25 million books sold. There are also references to Ron D. Moore, Klingons and Star Trek. And lastly, there is a quote from Àdhamh that seems to reference something about the Gàidhlig.

I have sent a Tweet to Àdhamh asking if he can summarize for us in English, but I know he and the cast are very busy filming on location at the moment. However, I will post as soon as I get a good summary or translation.

An_Comhghallach has his own bit part in the newest Outlander Cartoon!

As we all know, Herself has been onset this past week to film a cameo part in Outlander.  I thought I would share the truly awesome cartoon done by “Outlander Cartoons” (@vivigodinho_) in which our own @an_comhghallach has a bit part!  I am in awe of the talent required to create these cartoons!

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For more awesome Outlander cartoons, see this link for the Outlander Cartoons tumblr blog.

Stay tuned for an upcoming wrap-up post for all new Gaelic words and phrases overheard on Twitter this week (including useful phrases for rugby matches and another cartoon to match).