Úsáid an fhocail “Eircode” i gcomhthéacs Gaeilge Posted by róislín on Jul 24, 2015
(le Róislín) So we’ve all been inundated lately with news of “lainseáil an chórais Eircode,” which could also be called “seoladh an chórais Eircode.” Both phrases mean “the launching of the Eircode system.” But, as happened with the launching of the “euro,” umpteen years ago, one of my first thoughts was, how do we use…
Cóid Phoist – faoi dheireadh ach cén costas don teanga? (The New Irish Postal Codes) Posted by róislín on Jul 22, 2015
(le Róislín) Learners of Irish outside of Ireland often show surprise at the way addresses (seoltaí) are typically taught in Irish language textbooks, especially ones that primarily depict rural life (an saol faoin tuath). Typically, there will be the addressee’s name, a house name (Radharc na Farraige, mar shampla), a townland name (An Cnoc, mar…
Pronouncing “taoschnó” and other “-chn-,” “-chr-,” and “-chl-” combinations in Irish Posted by róislín on Jul 17, 2015
(le Róislín) In the last blog we looked at the recent “scannal lite na dtaoschnónna,” as reported in the media concerning Ariana Grande in the Dunkin’ Donuts shop. And I have to admit that even though I’ve been familiar with the words “taos,” “cnó,” and “taoschnó” for years, I still notice an “eye-boggling” effect, where …
An ‘-gate’ is déanaí–Ariana agus na taoschnónna Posted by róislín on Jul 13, 2015
(le Róislín) So, yet another “-gate” has graced the English-language media, thanks to Ariana Grande, an popamhránaí. Not “uisce” or “buimí” or “mamónna” or “brocairí” or “cluichirí” or “droichid” or “portráidí” or any of the 100+ other “-gate” terms listed by Wikipedia (nasc thíos). This time it’s “doughnutgate” (aka “donutgate”). As I mentioned previously (nasc…
Dhá fhocal shuimiúla eile ón leagan Gaeilge den “Star-Spangled Banner” Posted by róislín on Jul 8, 2015
(le Róislín) So far, we’ve looked a little closer at the Irish word for “spangle” and at when “spéir” (sky) becomes “spéartha” (skies), based on ”Ó Abair An Léir Dhuit” (the Irish version of “The Star-Spangled Banner”). Before we leave the topic for this year, let’s take a closer look at a couple more “focail…
From ‘Spaglainní’ to ‘Spéartha’: More Irish Vocab from ‘The Star-Spangled Banner’ Posted by róislín on Jul 4, 2015
(le Róislín) In the last blog post, we looked at the word “spaglainneach” (spangled), noticeable for its absence in the Irish translation of “The Star-Spangled Banner.” Anyone remember what phrase is used for “star-spangled” in the Irish version instead? Freagra thíos. For all four verses of the American national anthem in Irish, you might…
Speaking of Spangles, Irish, and the American National Anthem Posted by róislín on Jun 30, 2015
(le Róislín) For several years now, I’ve been posting the Irish-language version of “The Star-Spangled Banner” around the American July 4th celebration. Last year’s July 4th blog post included all four verses in Irish, with pronunciation and vocabulary notes. It was, needless to say, “an-fhada” mar bhlagmhír. (Nasc thíos). This year, I thought I’d look…