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Tag Archives: verb

Say ‘Pleeeeease’! (i nGaeilge) Posted by on May 6, 2014

(le Róislín) I recently came across an interesting web page discussing the English word “please” (nasc thíos).  It pointed out that “please” in English can be a verb, an adverb, and an interjection.  Or to insinuate a few Irish grammar terms into this blog: briathar, dobhriathar, agus intriacht.   It set me thinking (ní nach ionadh)…

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An tEarrach (The Spring): 20 Márta 2014 Posted by on Mar 22, 2014

 (le Róislín) By all accounts now, Spring has finally sprung, on March 20th for this year.  At least astronomically.  Maybe in the next blog we’ll look at two other traditional dates for “Spring”– February 1st and March 1st.  All three calendar systems have their validity. Meanwhile, how do we say “Spring” in Irish?  And just…

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How To Say ‘Tweet’ and ‘Twitter’ in Irish Posted by 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…

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Ag Caint faoi Thuí agus faoi Thuíodóireacht (Speaking of Thatching) Posted by on Apr 14, 2013

(le Róislín) Before moving away from tuíodóireacht to other topics, I thought it would be interesting to look at the tools used by a tuíodóir, and also to look briefly at the use of díonta tuí outside of Ireland and Britain. You might have just noticed the phrase “díonta tuí” (thatched roofs).  And you might…

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An Bliosán Gréine (Jerusalem Artichoke): Ainm Contráilte i mBéarla ach “Neamhchontráilte” i nGaeilge (An English Misnomer but Irish “Non-Misnomer”) Posted by on May 25, 2009

Tamaillín ó shin (a little while ago, May 6 to be specific), I hinted at a discussion of the term “Jerusalem artichoke” in Irish.  And why not?  It’s suimiúil (interesting) on several counts: “luibheolaíocht” (botany), “logainmníocht” (toponymy), “sanasaíocht” and “bréagshanasaíocht” (etymology and pseudo-etymology), “cócaireacht” (cooking), and “eolas contráilte”(misinformation), to name just a few.   You…

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