Host Organisation: Ainmean-Àite na h-Alba
HEI:Â University of the Highlands & Islands; University of Edinburgh
School: Sabhal Mòr Ostaig, the National Centre for Gaelic Language and Culture
Supervisors: Prof Richard A. V. Cox, Sabhal Mòr Ostaig, University of the Highlands and Islands; Dr Jacob King, Ainmean-Àite na h-Alba (Gaelic Place-Names of Scotland); Dr Peadar Ó Muircheartaigh, University of Edinburgh.
Keywords:Â Scottish Gaelic, Landscape Semantics, Place-names, Historical Semantics.
Discipline+Catalyst:Â Linguistics, Modern Languages
Knowledge Exchange Hub: Heritage
I carried out a SGSAH-funded internship with Ainmean-Àite na h-Alba (AÀA) from January to June 2025. During this time, I worked part-time (2 days a week) for AÀA, contributing to their research efforts, as well as their social media output and engagement.
What was your internship and what did you do?
My main research focus was on settlement names on the Isle of Skye. The Isle of Skye was chosen because this is the study area of my PhD and because I am familiar with the island and many of its settlements as I live here. The purpose of my research efforts was to improve coverage of the Isle of Skye in AÀA’s online place-name database. To this end, I double-checked existing database entries, made corrections or expansions where necessary and created new entries for settlement names on Skye that were not yet included in the database. After finishing the research on settlement names for Skye, my research efforts were expanded to include neighbouring areas (Raasay, Lochalsh).
Additionally, I began work on double-checking and publishing database entries that had previously been left invisible and on adding names that database users had previously searched for that were not yet available in the database.
What aspects of the internship did you find most rewarding?
Undertaking independent research and regularly discussing it with AÀA’s researcher has greatly improved my research skills and knowledge of relevant resources for studying Skye’s place-names. These skills are of key importance for my PhD research and will also be valuable for potential future employment in academia. Doing the internship part-time, while also continuing to work on my PhD project part-time allowed me to apply and strengthen these newly developed skills in my own research straight away which was beneficial for my use of these skills in both conducting research for AÀA and my own research.
In terms of research dissemination, I created regular social media content for AÀA’s Facebook and Bluesky pages. The following posts appeared weekly: Ainm-à ite na Seachdaine (‘Place-name of the week’), Eileamaid na Seachdaine (‘Element of the week’), Mapa Gà idhlig na Seachdaine (‘Gaelic map of the week’). I also regularly shared information about resources, place-names to mark special days and information about events and blog posts on social media. The social media posts generated regular engagement on both platforms with people liking and sharing posts, as well as commenting on them. Below are screenshots of a couple of examples of my social media posts.
In addition to my involvement in the social media pages, I wrote regular blog posts for AÀA’s website. I was free to choose any topic related to place-names and their study. The blog posts were inspired by research I did for AÀA’s database, as well as my PhD research. Most of my blog posts looked at the meaning and use of individual place-name elements (e.g. talamh ‘earth, ground’ for Earth Day, An eileamaid talamh ann an ainmean-à ite) and different phenomena connected with place-names (e.g. reinterpretation of the meaning of Norse names by Gaelic speakers, Ath-mhìneachadh ann an ainmean-à ite). The blog posts were a great opportunity for me to practice my written Gaelic while sharing information about different aspects of place-names and increasing AÀA’s online presence. As the blog posts were aimed at a general audience, they involved a different writing style from my usual written academic Gaelic and, therefore, allowed me to improve and practice my language skills. Being able to communicate my research findings with a non-academic audience will be invaluable when engaging in dissemination activities for my PhD research, as well as for potential future employment in academia or in other fields that engage in knowledge exchange, such as in tourism or the heritage sector.
What are some of the skills you have picked up or improved through the internship?
Overall, the internship has been hugely beneficial to my development as a researcher. It was great to be part of a Gaelic speaking workplace and regularly use and practice my Gaelic language skills. In addition to research and knowledge exchange skills, the internship also gave me the opportunity to strengthen my skills in working with different digital applications by creating social media content and blog posts and engaging in regular maintenance of AÀA’s database.
The internship has also had a positive impact on AÀA and contributed to their goals. In addition to increasing their social media following through regular engagement and improving the coverage of their online place-name gazetteer, the internship highlighted the need for an additional member of staff. AÀA have been successful in securing funding to hire a new part-time member of staff that will continue to work on research and dissemination activities after the end of my internship. Mealaibh ur naidheachd!
CONNECT WITH REBECCA (she/her)
Email: 21016714@uhi.ac.uk