Tag Archives: New World
Arbhar (Indiach): Toradh, Glasra, nó Grán — or all three? Posted by róislín on Oct 31, 2013
(le Róislín) We’ve just been discussing whether pumpkins and other edible plants are fruits or vegetables. Another seasonal item is “arbhar Indiach,” as it is referred to in Irish, or simply “corn” in American English. Let’s look first at the term “arbhar Indiach,” which literally means “Indian corn.” But “Indian corn” means different things in…
Deireadh Fómhair agus Mí na Samhna: Séasúr na bPuimcíní (Pumpkin Season) Posted by róislín on Oct 15, 2013
(le Róislín) In some previous blogs, we’ve counted pumpkins (puimcín amháin go fiche puimcín, srl.) and talked about smashing them (for which I finally decided on “smidiríní a dhéanamh de phuimcín“); tá cúpla nasc thíos. In this blog we’ll look a little further into different forms of the word “puimcín,” glance at its history (i…
How To Say ‘Tweet’ and ‘Twitter’ in Irish Posted by róislín on Sep 30, 2013
(le Róislín) Remember when “tweets” and “twittering” mostly referred to birds, especially the “spideog” or the “smólach imirce“? Or perhaps the sound of “caint eachtardhomhandach” (the speech of extra-terrestrials) as in H. G. Wells’ insect-like Selenites? You might recall that they made “a slight elusive twittering,” as observed by Messrs. Bedford and Cavor (The First…