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Bha mi ag innse dhuibh mu Raibeart Armstrong a chruthaich faclair Gàidhlig ann an ochd ceud deug, fichead ʼs a còig (1825). Bha fèill air an fhaclair. Bha rudan aige, ge-tà, a tha a’ coimhead annasach an-diugh, gu h-àraidh mar a bha earrann aige air na daoine a nochdas ann an dàin Oisein – co-dhiù na dàin a ‘chruthaich’ Seumas Bàn, no ‘Ossian MacPherson’.

Bha beachd inntinneach aig Armstrong air siostam litreachaidh na Gàidhlig. Bha e a’ leantainn an t-siostaim aig dithis sgoilearan. B’ iad sin an t-Oll. Urr. Iain Stiùbhart à Lus, a dh’eadar-theangaich an Seann Tiomnadh, agus an t-Oll. Urr. Iain Mac a’ Ghobhainn à Ceann Loch Cille Chiarain a sgrìobh sailm. 

Ge-tà, bha aon riaghailt litreachaidh a’ cur dragh air. B’ e sin ‘caol ri caol agus leathann ri leathann’. Bha Armstrong a’ cumail a-mach gur e siostam Èireannach a bh’ ann, agus gun do ghabh na Gàidheil Albannach ris ro luath. Bha e dhen bheachd gun robh e a’ cur am falach nan ceanglaichean eadar faclan Gàidhlig agus feadhainn ann an cànanan eile.

Gu mì-fhortanach dha, nochd faclair Gàidhlig eile dìreach trì bliadhna an dèidh an fhaclair aige fhèin. B’ e sin an Dictionarium Scoto-Celticum aig Comunn Gàidhealach na h-Alba. ʼS iongantach mura rinn sin cron air an uiread de na faclairean aige fhèin a chaidh a reic.

Chaidh dà urram a bhuileachadh air – Faclairiche Gàidhlig Rìoghail don Rìgh agus dotaireachd à Oilthigh Chill Rìmhinn. Ach cha robh tuarastal sam bith co-cheangailte ri fear seach fear dhiubh sin. Chuir Armstrong mòran dhen airgead aige fhèin a-steach don fhaclair, agus chaill e tòrr. 

Nuair a leig e dheth a dhreuchd ann an ochd ceud deug, leth-cheud ʼs a dhà (1852), bha an suidheachadh ionmhais aige cugallach. Bha e pòsta, le triùir nighean. Gu fortanach, bha caraidean aige anns an riaghaltas, agus fhuair e peinnsean poblach luach seasgad not (£60). Air dha bàs fhaighinn ann an Surraidh ann an ochd ceud deug, seasgad ʼs a seachd (1867), fhuair a bhanntrach peinnsean luach leth-cheud not (£50) bhon Bhanrigh.

Thòisich mi air an t-sreath seo mu Raibeart Armstrong, le bhith ag innse dhuibh mu alt anns an iris ‘An Gàidheal’ o chionn faisg air ceud bliadhna. Bha an t-ùghdar ag innse dhuinn gun robh oileanaich ceud bliadhna roimhe air Siorrachd Pheairt ainmeachadh mar an t-àite a b’ fheàrr airson na Gàidhlig agus a dualchais. Anns an alt, chaidh Peairteach cliùiteach Gàidhealach eile ainmeachadh – an t-Urr. Alasdair Stiùbhart. Sgrìobh esan an leabhar ‘Elements of Gaelic Grammar’.Ìý

Bha fèill air an leabhar sin aig an àm. Tha lethbhreac dhen dàrna eagran agam fhìn, a nochd ann an clò ann an ochd ceud deug ʼs a dhà-dheug (1812). Ach nochd ceathramh eagran dheth ann an ochd ceud deug, ochdad ʼs a sia (1886).

Cò bh’ ann an Alasdair Stiùbhart? Rugadh e sa mhansa ann am Blàr Athall ann an seachd ceud deug, seasgad ʼs a ceithir (1764). Bha athair cliùiteach airson cho math ʼs a bha a’ Ghàidhlig aige. Bha e fìor mhath mar shearmonaiche. Chaochail e ann an seachd ceud deug is ochdad (1780). 

Tha e coltach nach deach Alasdair a sgoil. Fhuair e a chuid foghlaim aig an taigh, agus aig uncail dha. Ach abair gun robh comas inntinn aige. Cluinnidh sibh tuilleadh mu dheidhinn an-ath-sheachdain.

Faclan na Litreach: riaghailt litreachaidh: spelling rule; Faclairiche Gàidhlig Rìoghail: Gaelic Lexicographer Royal; a bhanntrach: his widow; lethbhreac: copy; eagran: edition.

Abairtean na Litreach: Bha fèill air an fhaclair: the dictionary was well received; a tha a’ coimhead rudeigin annasach an-diugh: that look a bit strange today; mar a bha earrann aige air na daoine a nochdas ann an dàin Oisein: that he had a section on the characters that appear in the poems of Oisean (Ossian); a’ leantainn an t-siostaim aig dithis sgoilearan: following the system of two scholars; an t-Oll. Urr. Iain Stiùbhart à Lus, a dh’eadar-theangaich an Seann Tiomnadh: the Rev. Dr. John Stewart of Luss, who translated the Old Testament; an t-Oll. Urr. Iain Mac a’ Ghobhainn à Ceann Loch Cille Chiarain a sgrìobh sailm: the Rev. Dr. John Smith of Campbeltown who wrote psalms; ʼs iongantach mura rinn sin cron air: that probably damaged, lessened; an uiread de na faclairean aige fhèin a chaidh a reic: the number of his own dictionaries that were sold; chaidh dà urram a bhuileachadh air: two marks of esteem were bestowed upon him; dotaireachd à Oilthigh Chill Rìmhinn: a doctorate from the University of St Andrews; cha robh tuarastal sam bith co-cheangailte ri fear seach fear dhiubh sin: there was no income whatsoever connected to either of those; bha an suidheachadh ionmhais aige cugallach: his financial circumstances were poor; pòsta, le triùir nighean: married, with three daughters; fhuair e peinnsean poblach: he got a civil list pension; chaidh Peairteach cliùiteach Gàidhealach eile ainmeachadh: another renowned Gaelic speaking Perthshire man was named; rugadh e sa mhansa ann am Blàr Athall: he was born in the manse in Blair Atholl; fìor mhath mar shearmonaiche: excellent as a preacher; abair gun robh comas inntinn aige: by gosh, he had a sharp mind.

Puing-chànain na Litreach: caol ri caol agus leathann ri leathann: slender to slender and broad to broad. This is a basic Gaelic spelling rule which is often known today as leathann ri leathann is caol ri caol; it is usually referred to by its Gaelic name, even when speaking English. It means that, on either side of a consonant or consonant group, both vowels should be either broad (a, o, u) or slender (e, i). Armstrong was not a massive fan. He wrote, ‘... we ought to write deanaibh, not deanibh ... This mode of spelling is a modern invention ... introduced by the Irish, and adopted by the Gael, with  ... more precipitation than propriety.’ Despite his misgivings, Armstrong adhered to the rule!

Gnàthas-cainnt na Litreach: Air dha bàs fhaighinn ann an Surraidh: after he died in Surrey.