Archive for 'Irish Language'
Logainmneacha Ceilteacha agus Náisiúntachtaí a Trí: Celtic Place Names and Nationalities – Wales and the Welsh Posted by róislín on May 3, 2009
We’ve recently discussed the place names Albain (Scotland) and Éire (Ireland). Now we’ll turn to ”An Bhreatain Bheag” (Wales). Since “Breatain” is a feminine noun, the adjective that modifies it, “beag” (little) becomes “bheag.” And since this country name includes the definite article “an” (the), it also causes “Breatain” to change to “Bhreatain,” pronounced with…
Bealtaine, Beltain, Beltene, or Beltane for May 1st? YES! Ba’al tine – NOT! Posted by róislín on May 1, 2009
Bealtaine, Beltain, Beltene, or Beltane for May 1st? YES! Ba’al tine – NOT! May 1st is the first day of summer in the traditional Celtic calendar, and if our current heat wave (ceithre chéim is nócha Fahrenheit ar an 26ú lá d’Aibreán, 94°F on April 26th) is any indication, it will feel like an…
Karros, Carrus, and Today’s “Carr” Posted by róislín on Apr 27, 2009
(le Róislín) You might have noticed “carr” as a recent Word of the Day at blogs.transparent.com. It could be easy to assume that this is a recent borrowing from English, dating to the era of, well, motor-cars. Ach a mhalairt, a chara! (but the opposite, my friend). The word “carr” was in use in…
Logainmneacha Ceilteacha agus Náisiúntachtaí a Dó: Celtic Place Names and Nationalities – Ireland and the Irish Posted by róislín on Apr 24, 2009
We recently discussed the place name “Albain” (Scotland) and now will turn to ”Éire” (Ireland).. Here are some examples of the nationality, the place name, and related phrases: Éireannach, an Irishman or person. This can be made feminine, “Éireannach mná,” but, the same as my experience with “Albanach mná,” most people…
Terms for Grandchildren “as Gaeilge” (in Irish): Garmhac, Gariníon and Other Compounds with “Gar” Posted by róislín on Apr 21, 2009
(le Róislín) Unlike English, where the prefix “grand-“ is used with “mother,” “father,” “parent,” “son,” “daughter,” and “child,” in Irish, there is a major shift in the qualifier used for “grandchildren.” As you may recall from the previous blog on grandparents, there are three widely used options: seanathair / seanmháthair, athair mór / máthair…
The Many Meanings of “Oireachtas” Posted by róislín on Apr 18, 2009
(le Róislín) For the week of April 5 to 12, 2009, many Philadelphians probably saw more samples of the Irish language in the media than ever before in the city’s history. Why? This year, Philadelphia hosted the first Oireachtas Rince na Cruinne (World Irish Dance Championship) to be held outside Ireland or the U.K. Over 6000…
Logainmneacha Ceilteacha agus Náisiúntachtaí a hAon: Celtic Place Names and Nationalities – Scotland and the Scots Posted by róislín on Apr 15, 2009
We recently saw “Albain” (Scotland) as one of Transparent Language’s Word of the Day features. This is based on the word “Alba,” which is what the Scots call their country in their own Celtic language, Gàidhlig. Why not a word that sounds something like “Scotland” (like Italian “Scòzia” or French “Ecosse” or German “Schottland”)? …