(le Róislín)

Turkey Season is definitely upon us and offers us a good excuse to “talk turkey” (literally) and to revisit the previous “Turlaicín” blog in this series (https://blogs.transparent.com/irish/cad-is-turlaicin-ann/, 18 Mí na Samhna 2011).
First, a quick reminder of the word “turkey” itself:

an turcaí [un TUR-kee], the turkey, pronounced pretty much like English although there is a slight flap of the “r,” which can be a little tricky before a consonant.  To practice the Irish “flapped r” sound, it’s probably easier to try words like “Nóra” or “móra,” where the flapped “r” is between two vowels.  The “flap” is like the beginning of a trill, as in the Spanish or Welsh “r,” but cut off almost as soon as the trilling starts.

There’s no change for the possessive form in the singular:

ceann an turcaí, the head of the turkey

na turcaithe, the turkeys

And eclipsis (t becomes dt, only the “d” is pronounced) for the possessive plural form:

sprochaillí na dturcaithe [SPROKH-il-yee nuh DUR-kih-huh], the wattles of the turkeys

In an earlier blog we practiced counting turkeys, and adjusting the word “turkey” after the numbers (https://blogs.transparent.com/irish/ag-comhaireamh-turcaithe-counting-turkeys-in-irish/, 3 Mí na Samhna 2011).  Here ‘s a sampler, and, if I do say so myself, these are fun to pronounce, in a ‘herky-jerky’ way:

turcaí amháin [TUR-kee uh-WAW-in], one turkey

sé thurcaí [shay HUR-kee, the “t” is silent due to lenition], six turkeys; this form (thurcaí) is used after the numbers 2 through 6

naoi dturcaí [nee DUR-kee], nine turkeys; this form (dturcaí) is used after the numbers 7 through 10

When we get to multiples of ten, the word simply stays as “turcaí”

fiche turcaí [FIH-huh TUR-kee], 20 turkeys

céad turcaí [kyayd TUR-kee], 100 turkeys

milliún turcaí [mil-yoon TUR-kee], 1,000,000 turkeys (just a drop in the bucket of the number sold in the U.S. this year for Lá an Altaithe, which is about 250,000,000)

No doubt the tófurcaithe (https://blogs.transparent.com/irish/cad-is-tofurcai-ann/ ) have made some inroads into this market, since I believe I’ve read for previous years it was closer to 300,000,000 turkeys sold.  But I doubt that the craze for tófurcaí accounts for the smaller number.  Perhaps more families are joining together, sharing their turkey instead of having separate Thanksgiving dinners.

Of course, we’re not even quite at séasúr na Nollag yet, which is when turkey consumption will no doubt increase in Ireland and Britain.  In my experience, American families are more likely to have liamhás (ham) for Christmas, perhaps because they’re all turkeyed out, after fuílleach Lá Altaithe (Thanksgiving leftovers), which include ceapairí turcaí, anraith turcaí, Turcaí Tetrazzini, enchiladas (enchiladaí?) turcaí, turcaí à la king, “pióga pota” turcaí (rud nach bhfuair mé riamh in Éirinn), agus casaróil thurcaí ina measc.

And by the way, a “Turk” (the person) is “Turcach,” plural “Turcaigh.”

Next, let’s check out the word “turlaicín” itself.  This word, following the “TUR-key DUCK chick-EN” pattern, is a combination of the following:

turcaí (ní nach ionadh), turkey

lacha [LAHKH-uh], duck

sicín [SHIK-een], chicken

Más amhlaidh gur bhain tú sult as an mblag seo, tá mé cinnte go mbainfidh tú sult as na pictiúirí, íomhánna, agus cartúin ag an suíomh seo: https://www.pinterest.com/turduckeninc/fun-turducken-images/.  Comhrá greannmhar le coileach, lacha, agus turcaí i gcuid acu.

Agus creid é nó ná creid é, tá “turlaicín na farraige” i bpictiúr amháin ar an suíomh sin.  Siorc a d’ith siorc eile atá ann agus feiceann tú béal an tsiorca is lú istigh i mbéal an tsiorca is mó.   Smaoineamh nua do Spielberg?  Gialla a Trí?  Gialla Comhlárnacha?

Tuilleadh eolais faoi “thurlaicín na farraige” ag http://www.natureworldnews.com/articles/3579/20130820/turducken-sea-incredible-photo-shows-shark-eating.htm

Chomh maith leis sin, tá t-léine thurlaicín le feiceáil ar an suíomh pinterest sin, agus tá sé ar fáil anseo: http://www.spreadshirt.com/gold-the-turducken-circle-t-shirts-C3376A5314271 .  “The Turducken Circle T-Shirt” atá uirthi.  Éin chomhlárnacha i gciorcail chomhlárnacha.  Wonders never cease!

Pé ar bith éan (nó ” *veigéan ” déanta de thófú nó rud éigin mar sin) a itheann tú ar Lá an Altaithe sna Stáit Aontaithe agus i gCeanada nó ar Lá na Nollag go ginearálta, tá súil agam go bhfuil sé súmhar blasta.  SGF–Róislín

Gluaisín: béal, mouth; comhlárnach, concentric; Gialla a Trí, Jaws 3 (mar dhea); na farraige, of the sea; siorc, shark; súmhar, juicy; veigeán, vegan (an gnáthlitriú ach rinne mé athrú beag bídeach le haghaidh an bhlag seo–an bhfaca tú é?)