Tag Archives: Welsh
Seamus Heaney and the Irish Language (Cuid a Trí as Trí) Posted by róislín on Sep 22, 2013
(le Róislín) The previous two blogs in this “mionsraith” discussed Seamus Heaney’s use of Irish in writing poetry in English. We discussed the Irish titles of some of his poems (e.g. “Aisling,” “Maighdean Mara“) and the implied Irish in “The Backward Look,” where he incorporates folk expressions for “snipe” into the body of a poem…
Cén Áit? vs. Cén Fhad?: Two Different Questions That Sound Almost Alike Posted by róislín on Jul 31, 2013
(le Róislín) Lately I’ve been wondering if there’s a good Irish equivalent for the English expression, “to put your foot in your mouth.” The main ingredients are straight forward enough. The usual word for “foot” is “cos,” although that can also mean “leg,” which could suggest that one is even more of a “freangálaí” than…
Is Éan É! Is Eitleán É! Ní Hea — Dreige Atá Ann! (Sorry, Clark!) Posted by róislín on Feb 16, 2013
(le Róislín) Or should that be “dreigít“? Or “dreigeoideach“? Bhuel, all three really, I guess, depending on what stage of the event you’re talking about. I thought I had learned all that téarmaíocht réalteolaíoch, at least the buntéarmaí, years ago, but when the news reports start coming in about the Chelyabinsk event, I realized I…
Cineálacha Rothaí – Including the “Scottie Pinwheel” Posted by róislín on Jan 26, 2013
le Róislín When I first heard about the Scottie Pinwheel (‘sea, sé bhrocaire Albanacha ag siúl timpeall ar mhol, agus cad é atá sa mhol sin ach “babhla bainne gabhair,” a bowl of goat’s milk), I thought “Now there’s a great phrase to translate.” Perhaps you’ve seen the video? http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=vDa0z0gEvI4 But, of course, there are lots of…
Ón Searrach go dtí an Staigín — and my last excuse for “Slán Go Foal” Posted by róislín on Aug 25, 2012
(le Róislín) As promised in the last posting, this blog will discuss the terms for the life cycle and various types of horse. Most prominent, of course, is “capall,” but, as previous blaganna have hinted, there are téarmaí go leor to use according to comhthéacs (liteartha, srl.), aois and gnéas of the horse, and geographic…
Páirtghluais don Bhlag: Fáilte na Madraí roimh Lennox (2005-2012, RIP) Posted by róislín on Jul 15, 2012
(le Róislín) Here’s a little further background on some of the words used in “Fáilte na Madraí roimh Lennox” (https://blogs.transparent.com/irish/failte-na-madrai-roimh-lennox-the-dogs-welcome-to-lennox/). A full gluais and/or aistriúchán may be “ar an bhfeadh mhór” (in the offing). We’ll start with a key term in the blog, Droichead an Tuar Ceatha, which will actually give us three main words…
What’s So “Leap” about “Leap Year” and Is It “Leap” in Irish (Bliain Bhisigh)? Posted by róislín on Feb 26, 2012
(le Róislín) Looking at the terminology for “leap” in Irish got me thinking, why exactly do we call it “leap” year? Now don’t get me wrong, this isn’t going to be a discussion of the space-time continuum, if that’s even relevant, and it’s not going to be about how time really works (which I leave…