Archive for 'Irish Language'
Seanfhocail Fhrithráiteacha: An Béal Binn vs. An Roth Díoscánach, and What’s So Bad about Moss Anyway? Posted by róislín on Nov 10, 2009
We recently looked at the proverb “Is binn béal ina thost” (It’s sweet, a mouth in its silence). As hinted at last time, there is also a proverb expressing the opposite sentiment, that is, the advantages of being a squeaky wheel, “Faigheann an roth díoscánach an ola.” So that starts us off with a breakdown…
“Fuist,” “Whisht,” “Éist,” and “Is Binn Béal ina Thost” Posted by róislín on Nov 6, 2009
As you may have figured out, based on the one English spelling above, these are all ways to either firmly request or circuitously insinuate that someone should be silent. We see yet another variation, “whist,” in our Gaelic resource de la semaine, Mary Pat Kelly’s Galway Bay. In one spelling or another, the word shows…
An Ghaeilge sa Leabhar _Galway Bay_: “Guilpín,” “Grá” agus Go Leor Eile Posted by róislín on Nov 2, 2009
Oíche Fhéile Eoin, an 23ú lá de Mhí an Mheithimh, 1839, i mBearna, Co. na Gaillimhe. We’ve been talking quite a bit lately about Samhain, but now we’ll jump 2.5 seasons forward, and discuss some of the Irish phrases used in the highly praised novel, Galway Bay, by Mary Pat Kelly. The author is currently…
Bia Fáistineachta um Shamhain: Bairín Breac (Barmbrack) agus Cál Ceannann (Colcannon) Posted by róislín on Oct 31, 2009
One could fill a volume on nósanna Oíche Shamhna (Halloween customs), and indeed, it has been done. But I’ll wrap-up this year’s season with a discussion of some of the ways that ordinary foods can be used for divination. If it’s been a bit of a tuile (flood) of Halloween lore lately, what can I…
Tuilleadh Téarmaí Oíche Shamhna (More Halloween Terms) Posted by róislín on Oct 31, 2009
(le Róislín) An bhfuil culaith Oíche Shamhna agat? Do you have a Halloween costume? Má tá, cén sórt culaithe atá ann? An mbeidh tú i do vaimpír? [un may too ih duh VAM-peerzh?] Beidh [bay] / Ní bheidh [nee vay] For these questions, note that you’re literally saying something like, “Will you be in your vampire?”…
Lá Náisiúnta Arbhar Candaí i S.A.M. = an 30ú Deireadh Fómhair (October 30th) Posted by róislín on Oct 29, 2009
(le Róislín) Although there don’t seem to be any taifid ó Chomhdháil na Stát Aontaithe or forógraí uachtaráin for this holiday, it has some popularity in what I’ll call the penchant for Laethe Náisiúnta Mhic Uí Rudaí (National Days of Thingamajigs), sna Stáit Aontaith , ar a laghad. And these days, we have more and more…
Bob nó Bia – Trick or Treat Posted by róislín on Oct 24, 2009
(le Róislín) Sorry, all you Bobs in the Bob Club (www.thebobclub.com). This blog (“Bob nó Bia“) is not specifically about you, though I hope you’ll find it of interest if you’ve made it this far through cibearspás [KIB-yar-SPAWSS],. “Bob” is an Irish word that means “a trick” or “a target” (in games). Pronunciation is…