William Shaw (Gaelic scholar)

William Shaw (fl. 1778-1802) was a Scottish Gaelic scholar and Church of Scotland minister best known for his contributions to Gaelic lexicography and grammar. He is considered an important figure in the study and preservation of the Gaelic language during a period of decline and societal pressure to adopt English.

Shaw was born in Ardclach, Nairnshire. He served as the minister of Ardclach from 1778 until his death.

His most significant work is An Analysis of the Gaelic Language (1778), a comprehensive grammar and vocabulary. This work, although imperfect by modern standards, was a pioneering effort. It provided a systematic description of Gaelic grammar and included a substantial vocabulary, contributing significantly to the understanding and standardization of the language. It was followed by A Gaelic and English Dictionary (1780), which further expanded his lexicographical efforts. These publications were highly influential and used as standard references for many years.

However, Shaw's work was not without its critics. One frequent criticism concerns his orthography. He introduced a modified spelling system for Gaelic that was not universally accepted and differed significantly from traditional Gaelic orthography. While his intention was to simplify the spelling and make it more accessible, it was often seen as artificial and inconsistent. This orthographic system, which was influenced by English spelling conventions, ultimately proved unpopular and was largely abandoned.

Despite these criticisms, William Shaw's contributions to the study and documentation of the Gaelic language remain historically significant. His dictionaries and grammars provided valuable resources for scholars and helped to raise awareness of the importance of preserving Gaelic culture and heritage.