Archive for 'Irish Language'
Cúig Fhrása (Béarla) Gan Mhaith (De Réir Fhionntán Uí Thuathail aka Fintan O’Toole) (Cuid 2/4) Posted by róislín on Jan 8, 2012
(le Róislín) Remember what gátar, déine, and tarrtháil have in common? Hmmm, the first two have related meanings and are nearly interchangeable (beart gátair, austerity measure; cáinaisnéis déine, austerity budget) but “tarrtháil” is completely different in function as well as meaning. It’s an ainmfhocal briathartha, not a gnáthainmfhocal (ordinary noun). We could also note that…
Cúig Fhrása (Béarla) Gan Mhaith (De Réir Fhionntán Uí Thuathail aka Fintan O’Toole) (Cuid 1/4) Posted by róislín on Jan 4, 2012
(le Róislín) Noted journalist Fintan O’Toole recently published his list of five phrases that he thinks should be outlawed in 2012 (http://www.irishtimes.com/newspaper/opinion/2012/0103/1224309734610_pf.html). Not that words are typically actually outlawed as such, but he feels these five phrases “distort or conceal” reality and are misleading. For example, we constantly discuss “austerity,” but meanwhile certain individuals are…
Cleamairí ‘gus Geamairí ‘gus Geocaigh, a Thiarcais! Posted by róislín on Jan 1, 2012
(le Róislín) There are three possible words for mummers in the title of this blog, cleamairí, geamairí, and geocaigh. There’s actually at least one more we could add, “cleathaire,” but that would break the tripartite catchiness of the phrase! (for more on “tripartite catchiness,” please see the note below). In this blog, we’ll look at…
Meaitseáil Na Téarmaí (Téarmaí Shéasúr na Nollag) Posted by róislín on Dec 29, 2011
(le Róislín) We’ve had lots of vocabulary lately, much of which might be new to many readers. So how about a little review, matching the holiday concept or item to the holiday involved? The holidays will be listed in Colún A and the items and concepts in Colún B. And once again, for the dúshlán…
Maidir le Dreoilíní Posted by róislín on Dec 26, 2011
(le Róislín) Wren Day has become increasingly well-known outside of Ireland, ever since the Clancy Brothers recorded “The Wran (i.e. Wren) Song” in 1955. Groups as diverse as Steeleye Span and the Chieftains have added to the musical legacy of the wren festivities. Well, festive for everyone except an dreoilín. Ar an dea-uair, the wrens…
Séasúr na Nollag (The Christmas Season) – Ó Thús go Deireadh (From Beginning to End) Posted by róislín on Dec 24, 2011
(le Róislín) Ceist mhaith, nach ea? Cathain a thosaíonn séasúr na Nollag? Braitheann sé, is dócha, ar an áit ina bhfuil tú. I Meiriceá? In Éirinn? In áit eile? Ar bhealach d’fhéadfadh muid a rá go dtosaíonn an Nollaig i mí Iúil mar bíonn an oiread sin de rudaí a bhaineanns leis an gcoincheap sin. B’fhéidir…
Cén Sórt Sróine Atá ag Rúdolf? (Cuid a Trí, 3/3) Posted by róislín on Dec 21, 2011
(le Róislín) Cé leis an tsrón seo? An le fia í? An le réinfhia í? An le Rúdolf í? An le hainmhí eile í, madra mar shampla? Here’s the last installment of the expanded version of Rudolph questionnaire, first posted in 2009 at https://blogs.transparent.com/irish/ceistiuchan-faoi-rudolf-an-reinfhia/. Today’s blog deals with the original question 12, and now, lo and behold, it takes…