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Téarmaí Nollag: Nollaig Shona duit! Nollaig Shona daoibh! srl. Posted by róislín on Dec 24, 2009
(le Róislín) Here are some of the basic terms for this holiday season: Oíche Nollag, Christmas Eve, but Oíche Lá Nollag, the night of Christmas Day An Nollaig, Christmas (note the use of the definite article, “the” Christmas) Lá Nollag, Christmas Day Nóta 1: Irish doesn’t really have a separate word for “eve” to distinguish “the…
Deireadh Hanukkah, an Grianstad ag Tarraingt orainn, agus an Nollaig faoinár Súile Posted by róislín on Dec 18, 2009
Tá Hanukkah ag tarraingt chun deiridh ach tá grianstad an gheimhridh ag tarraingt orainn, ar an Luan, an 21ú lá (say: an t-aonú lá is fiche) de mhí na Nollag. Agus tá an Nollaig í féin sa mhullach orainn. The word “grianstad” breaks apart quite straightforwardly into “grian” (sun) and “stad” (stop), just…
An Dréadal agus an Roithleagán Rotha: Cineálacha Caiseal Posted by róislín on Dec 14, 2009
(le Róislín) A dréadal (plural: dréadail) is a version of a type of caiseal ([KASH-ul] spinning top) also known as a “teetotum” in English. Interestingly, while the word “dréadal” seems to be a recent adaptation in Irish, the Irish word for “teetotum,” roithleagán rotha, has been around for a good while. As have teetotums in general…
Téarmaí an tSéasúir: Nollaig agus Hanukkah, and Some Vowel Harmony, to Boot! Posted by róislín on Dec 11, 2009
(le Róislín) Luí na gréine, an Aoine, 11 Mí na Nollag, tús Hanukkah. In recognition of the beginning of Hanukkah at sunset on Friday, this blog will discuss the Irish word for “menorah.” That will also give us the opportunity for a recap session to discuss vowel harmony (caol le caol agus leathan le leathan)…
Téarmaí Nollag (Christmas Terms in Irish) Posted by róislín on Dec 7, 2009
(le Róislín) The next of the non-stop seasonal festivities is upon us, and I must admit that there are some pretty clever fógraí le téamaí Nollag out there on TV. I saw a good one this morning in which a réinfhia [RAYN-EE-uh] and a míonótár [MEEN-oh-tawr] were sitting in a booth in a diner, debating…
Aoine Dhubh, Aoine an Bhreacáin, agus Cibearluan! (ar leanúint / continued) Posted by róislín on Dec 1, 2009
(le Róislín) This is the continuation of the post-Thanksgiving shopping terms begun earlier today. An fhorbairt is nuaí (the latest development), new this year, I believe, is Plaid Friday, an alternative marketing approach, which has its own website (www.PlaidFriday.com). The term and the concept were devised in the East Bay area of San Francisco/Oakland…
Aoine Dhubh, Aoine an Bhreacáin, agus Cibearluan! (Téarmaí Siopadóireachta Iar-Lá an Altaithe) Posted by róislín on Nov 30, 2009
(le Róislín) Two new terms caught my attention this post-Thanksgiving shopping season, giving us now a trio of shopping catchphrases designed to encourage all of us to spend more money, be it in the boscaí móra, (big boxes), siopaí miondíoltóirí neamhspleácha (shops of independent retailers), or ar líne (online). “Aoine Dhubh” has been around for…