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Archive for December, 2010

“Ór,” “Óir” or “Órga”? “Fáinne” or “Éan”? Éan?! (Cuid a Trí: Dhá Lá Dhéag na Nollag) Posted by on Dec 31, 2010

We’re up to day five of “The Twelve Days of Christmas,” usually sung as “five gold rings,” with the word “gold” stretched into two syllables (go-old) to fit the song’s meter.   Some people sing “golden,” which will slightly change our translation into Irish.  Of special interest, though, at least don aistritheoir seo, is the theory…

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Cearca Francacha agus Lonta Dubha (Cuid a Dó don tSraith: Dhá Lá Dhéag na Nollag) Posted by on Dec 29, 2010

(le Róislín) Two birds down, done in an earlier blog, and deich mbronntanas fágtha (idir éin agus dhaoine).  This blog will deal with the “French” hens (3) and the “colly” birds (4).  And how to use adjectives with nouns that are being counted.  So buckle up for more lenition! Véarsa a Trí: “Three French Hens”…

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Sos Beag ón tSraith Nollag: An Sloinne “Ó Murchú” (Ó Murchadha) Posted by on Dec 27, 2010

Tuigim gur chuir Pamela ceist ar an ngrúpa faoin sloinne “Murphy” agus gur scríobh Tiomóid freagra di.  Go raibh maith agat, a Thiomóid, as ceist Pamela a fhreagairt.  Tá an ceart agat, a Pamela, gurb é “Ó Murchadha” an litriú i nGaeilge, ach sin an seanlitriú.  Úsáideann roinnt daoine an litriú sin inniu, ach úsáideann…

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Dhá Lá Dhéag na Nollag (The Twelve Days of Christmas) Posted by on Dec 25, 2010

(le Róislín)  For the next few (six really) blogs, I thought I’d check out the gifts mentioned sa charúl Nollag, “The Twelve Days of Christmas.”  There are so many gifts, we’ll do two per blog and see if that ends up on the actual 12th day of Christmas. Be warned, there are at least four…

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Bronntanais Choitianta agus Neamhchoitianta (don Nollaig) Posted by on Dec 22, 2010

Céard iad na bronntanais Nollag is fearr leat?  Here are some gifts, common and uncommon, and definitions.  Which are your favorite?  Moltaí ar bith?  Any suggestions? And now for the instructions.  An féidir leat iad a mheaitseáil?  Agus na bearnaí a líonadh isteach?  Freagraí thíos. Nóta a hAon: some of the blanks reflect foirmeacha gramadaí…

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Pronunciation Roundup: Téarmaí Nollag Posted by on Dec 19, 2010

Wondering how to pronounce any of the recent vocabulary?  Here are some tips, especially for séimhiú and urú.  These processes are part of the building blocks of Irish, second only, I’d say, to an aibítir í féin.  First, a brief recap of what séimhiú and urú are. Séimhiú or lenition – a softening of the…

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Daidí nó Athair (na Nollag) Posted by on Dec 16, 2010

We recently addressed the “happy” vs. “merry” distinction for Christmas greetings, discussing the use of “sona” (or shona), faoi shéan and faoi mhaise, as well as non-Christmas terms translated as “happy,” like dea-, or which may function like “happy” lie “beannachtaí” (lit. blessing).  Some day we’ll deal with a slew of other “happy” words, like…

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