{"id":4737,"date":"2013-12-24T14:43:51","date_gmt":"2013-12-24T14:43:51","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/blogs.transparent.com\/irish\/?p=4737"},"modified":"2013-12-26T13:50:15","modified_gmt":"2013-12-26T13:50:15","slug":"nollaig-no-nollag-how-to-say-christmas-or-of-christmas-in-irish","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/blogs.transparent.com\/irish\/nollaig-no-nollag-how-to-say-christmas-or-of-christmas-in-irish\/","title":{"rendered":"Nollaig n\u00f3 Nollag (How To Say ‘Christmas’ or ‘of Christmas’ in Irish)"},"content":{"rendered":"

(le R\u00f3isl\u00edn)<\/strong><\/p>\n

As Christmas approaches, you might be wondering why there’s such a constant variation of whether to say “Nollaig<\/strong>” or “Nollag<\/strong>,” and in a similar vein, “An Nollaig<\/strong>” or “na Nollag<\/strong>.”<\/p>\n

\"'An<\/a>

‘An Nollaig’ as the title of an Eileen Ivers CD (http:\/\/www.eileenivers.com\/store.html)<\/p><\/div>\n

First, the basic answer, and then some examples. And before that, a pronunciation pointer.<\/span><\/p>\n

What is the difference in sound between “Nollaig<\/strong>” and “Nollag<\/strong>“? Well, it’s a bit subtle, but it does involve the difference of a “slender g” (“slender” because of the preceding “i”) and a “broad g” (“broad” because of the preceding “a”). “Nollaig<\/strong>” sounds more or less like “ik” at the end (the second syllable) and “Nollag<\/strong>” sounds more like “\u0259k” (as in “Timbuktu”) at the end.<\/p>\n

If we were talking about “Christmases” (Nollaig\u00ed<\/strong>), the “slender” quality of the “g” would be a little more prominent because of the following vowel (\u00cd). The “slender g” isn’t a sound that’s very prevalent in English but it does show up in “gules” (the heraldry term) and “ague” (the malady). If the “g” were at the beginning of the word, the difference would be a little easier to hear. Compare, for example, “geoidil<\/strong>” (yodel), with a slender “g,” with “g\u00f3d<\/strong>” (as in “g\u00f3d i bhfad<\/strong>,” a “chat” or “discussion”), with a broad “g.” The phrase “g\u00f3d i bhfad<\/strong>,” is, admittedly a bit obscure (i mo thaith\u00ed f\u00e9in, ar a laghad<\/strong>), but it’s a good example to contrast with the slender “g” of “geoidil<\/strong>.”<\/p>\n

At any rate, the “-aig” vs. the “-ag” in Nollaig \/ Nollag<\/strong> is in the unstressed syllable (the second syllable), which also makes the difference not quite so conspicuous sound-wise.<\/p>\n

And now, when do we say “Nollaig<\/strong>” and when do we say “An Nollaig<\/strong>“? It depends on what the rest of the phrase is going to be.<\/p>\n

Christmas as a term unto itself is “An Nollaig<\/strong>,” lit. “the Christmas.” You’d use that if you were listing holidays, for example, or printing a calendar with holidays indicated.
\n“An Nollaig<\/strong>” is also used in settings like the following:<\/p>\n

T\u00e1 an Nollaig ag teacht<\/strong>. (The) Christmas is coming. (as the subject of the sentence)<\/p>\n

Ceili\u00farann a l\u00e1n daoine an Nollaig<\/strong>. A lot of people celebrate (the) Christmas. (as the direct object of the sentence)<\/p>\n

don Nollaig<\/strong>, for (the) Christmas (in a prepositional phrase; here “do<\/strong>,” meaning “for,” combines with “an<\/strong>” to form “don<\/strong>“). Note, however, the phrase “faoi Nollaig<\/strong>” (at Christmas, over Christmas) as opposed to “faoin Nollaig<\/strong>,” the latter usually used for “about Christmas” (i.e. when “Christmas” is the topic of discussion or thought).<\/p>\n

\"'Nollaig<\/a>

‘Nollaig na mBan’ in a poster for Irish Women’s Network of BC [British Columbia] (http:\/\/www.irishwomenbc.net\/)<\/p><\/div>But sometimes the “an<\/strong>” is dropped, usually when another definite article is an inherent part of the phrase. Probably the most typical example of this is the phrase “Nollaig na mBan<\/strong>,” usually translated as “Women’s Christmas,” but literally (“the”) Christmas of the Women), with the first “the” implied.<\/p>\n

So that takes care of using “(an) Nollaig<\/strong>” as subject, direct object, or object of a preposition. And now let’s turn to the question of when do we just say “Nollag<\/strong>” and when to we say “na Nollag<\/strong>“?<\/p>\n

For “of Christmas,” sometimes we just say “Nollag<\/strong>” (the form with no letter “i” at the end). Other times, we say “na Nollag<\/strong>,” (lit. “of the Christmas”). I’ve never seen formally stated guidelines for this distinction, but I’ve formulated some of my own, which work for most examples. Of course, there’s a correisceacht<\/strong> which simply “makes the rule.”<\/p>\n

For most general purposes, where “Christmas” is more of a modifier than the actual holiday, it’s usually just “Nollag<\/strong>” (no “na<\/strong>“). Generally these situations would pertain to millions of people and households where Christmas is celebrated. Examples include:
\nbronntanas Nollag, c\u00e1rta Nollag, crann Nollag, magairl\u00edn Nollag<\/strong> (and yes, that’s a flower, not an anatomical reference!), m\u00e1r\u00f3g Nollag, pl\u00e9asc\u00f3g Nollag<\/strong><\/p>\n

But when we’re talking about the holiday as a unique entity, the definite article is usually included:<\/p>\n

Athair na Nollag, Daid\u00ed na Nollag, beannachta\u00ed na Nollag<\/strong>, and the somewhat lengthy phrase, “feachtas na Nollag in aghaidh tiom\u00e1na faoi thionchar d\u00ed<\/strong>” (Christmas Anti-Drink Driving Campaign — remember, in Ireland people say “drink driving,” not “drunk driving” as is said in the U.S.). Literally, that last one translates to “(the) campaign of (the) Christmas against driving under (the) influence of drink.”<\/p>\n

“M\u00ed na Nollag<\/strong>” (“December,” lit. the month of the Christmas) also uses the definite article in the phrase. To say “December” in Irish, it’s important to include the word “m\u00ed<\/strong>” (month), since otherwise you’d just be referring to Christmas as such.
\nReferences to Christmas Island are also definite: Oile\u00e1n na Nollag, frig\u00e9ad Oile\u00e1n na Nollag, ulchabh\u00e1n seabhaic Oile\u00e1n na Nollag<\/strong>.<\/p>\n

The main example that has always struck me as exceptional is “O\u00edche Nollag<\/strong>” (Christmas Eve, lit. “Eve of Christmas”). There’s only one Christmas Eve, all around the world, albeit in different time zones, so I’ve always wondered how this phrase got formulated.<\/p>\n

By the way, the word “o\u00edche<\/strong>” (night) does double duty here, since it can mean “night” as well (and usually does). Basically we know it’s “eve” here (the night before the holiday) by tradition and analogy (like “O\u00edche Shamhna<\/strong>,” Hallowe’en, lit. “Eve of Samhain<\/strong>“). If you want to specifically say the “night of Christmas Day,” you have to specify, “o\u00edche L\u00e1 Nollag<\/strong>“). And if you want to specify the “daytime of Christmas Eve,” it would be “l\u00e1 O\u00edche Nollag<\/strong>.” I don’t think the latter phrase gets used nearly as much as “O\u00edche Nollag<\/strong>” itself, but I did find a few examples (and only a few) online, such as the following bilingual announcement, which I have written out interlinearly. Note that the English just says “Christmas Eve” and gives the time (6 p.m.) but the Irish says “day of the Eve of Christmas,” probably to emphasize that the event is relatively early in the evening. In general, the English text is slightly longer, giving a few details not in the Irish.<\/p>\n

Aifreann Clainne i S\u00e9ip\u00e9al Eoin Baiste, An Charraig Dhubh<\/strong>\u00a0\/ Family Mass in St John the Baptist Church, Blackrock
\nL\u00e1 O\u00edche Nollag Luan 24 Nollaig at 6.00 in. [sic]<\/strong>\u00a0\/ Christmas Eve \u2013 Monday 24th December 2012 at 6.00pm.
\nL\u00e9ireofar Sc\u00e9al na Nollag i rith an aifr\u00ednn<\/strong>. During this Mass the Nativity is performed by children from our parish.
\nF\u00e1ilte roimh ph\u00e1ist\u00ed \u00f3ga (suas go Rang 2) teacht gl\u00e9asta mar aoir\u00ed n\u00f3 aingil chun p\u00e1irt a ghlacadh.<\/strong> All the small boys and girls (up to and including 2nd class) who would like to participate are welcome to do so by coming to Mass dressed as an Angel or a Shepherd.
\nB\u00ed ann roimh 5.45 m\u00e1 t\u00e1 p\u00e1iste agat a bheidh ag glacadh p\u00e1irte<\/strong> Please arrive no later that 5:45pm and present yourself at the top of the Church to a co-ordinator.
\n(nasc<\/strong>: http:\/\/www.scoillorcain.ie\/index.php\/nuacht-a-imeachtaaiacute-news-aevents\/news\/129-nuachtlitir-na-nollag)<\/p>\n

Another interesting example from the same newsletter is:
\n“Nollaig \u00c9ireannach, Ceolchoirm le Moya N\u00ed Bhraon\u00e1in, D\u00e9ardaoin 20 Nollaig 7.30 in S\u00e9ip\u00e9al Bhaile na Manach, Arna eagr\u00fa ag Craobh Phiarais U\u00ed Ghr\u00e9ag\u00e1in CC\u00c9, Tic\u00e9id\u00ed \u20ac15\/10<\/strong>
\n“An Irish Christmas, Moya Brennan, Monkstown Church, Thursday 20th December 7.30 pm, Tickets available from Hewitts or Oifig Scoil Lorc\u00e1in.”<\/p>\n

Note that none of these translations are 100% literal — translations rarely are. In the “Nollaig \u00c9ireannach<\/strong>” example, the “an<\/strong>” is dropped to convey the sense of a general “Irish Christmas” Irish doesn’t have an “indefinite article” the way English, French, Spanish, and German do (a book, un livre<\/em>, etc.), so we can’t get the implication of a general Irish Christmas by manipulating the article. It’s interesting also that the English doesn’t include the word “concert,” to translate the Irish “ceolchoirm<\/strong>.” D’aon turas<\/strong>? Not necessary because the phrase “An Irish Christmas” with Moya Brennan, implies a musical presentation? But then those reading the Irish version would be aware of that as well.<\/p>\n

Speaking very generally, as for why the definite article is used for “the Christmas” in Irish in the first place, I doubt there’s a real specific answer. But I imagine that it’s because the word really refers to “the birth,” related to Latin “natus<\/em>” and various other English words besides “nativity,” such as “pre-natal,” “ante-natal,” “neo-natal,” etc. Scottish Gaelic has the same basic pattern of sometimes using the word “the” and other times not. Examples include “Bodach na Nollaige<\/em>” Santa Claus, lit. “(the) old man of “the” Christmas,” but “Oidhche Nollaige<\/em>,” Eve of Christmas).<\/p>\n

Welsh also uses the definite article in most examples I can find online that refer to the holiday itself (<\/span>am y Nadolig<\/em>, “for ‘the’ Christmas;” <\/span>dros y Nadolig<\/em>, “over the Christmas,” <\/span>a.y.y.b<\/em>.). One prominent exception, however, seems to be Lowri Evans’ song “<\/span>Ti am Nadolig<\/em>” (lit. “You for Christmas”), which you can find at http:\/\/www.lowrievansofficial.co.uk\/apps\/webstore\/products\/show\/3547848 . And you get <\/span>c\u00fapla soicind<\/strong> of the song for free at http:\/\/www.amazon.co.uk\/Ti-Am-Nadolig\/dp\/B00AEJNFZY.<\/span><\/p>\n

\"Lowri<\/a>

Lowri Evans’ CD entitled “Ti am Nadolig,” the Welsh for “You for Christmas” http:\/\/www.lowrievansofficial.co.uk\/apps\/webstore\/<\/p><\/div>\n

Lowri Evans is a Welsh Indie\/Blues\/Folk\/Country singer songwriter who records (exquisitely) both in English and in Welsh. The tone of the song is hinted at by the use of “ti<\/em>” (2nd-person singular, i.e. familiar) as opposed to “chi<\/em>” (2nd-person plural, also used to show formal respect to one person, to one’s elder, etc.). Other uses in Welsh show the same pattern of sometimes using the definite article, sometimes not:<\/p>\n

without “the”: carden Nadolig, carol Nadolig, coeden Nadolig, Noswyl Nadolig, pa<\/em>rti Nadolig<\/em><\/p>\n

with “the” (“y<\/em>” or ” ‘r<\/em> ” in Welsh): arferion\u00a0<\/span><\/em>y Nadolig, g\u0175yl y Nadolig,<\/em> and the verbal phrase “bwrw’r Nadolig<\/em>” (to spend Christmas, lit. “to spend the Christmas,” with “the” shown by the ending attached to “bwrw” (‘r)<\/em>.<\/span><\/p>\n

In closing, I’ll simply note that “Happy” or “Merry” Christmas doesn’t include the word “the”: Nollaig Shona dhuit<\/strong>” or “Nollaig Shona dhaoibh<\/strong>.” – Sl\u00e1n go f\u00f3ill – R\u00f3isl\u00edn<\/strong><\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"\"\"

(le R\u00f3isl\u00edn) As Christmas approaches, you might be wondering why there’s such a constant variation of whether to say “Nollaig” or “Nollag,” and in a similar vein, “An Nollaig” or “na Nollag.” First, the basic answer, and then some examples. And before that, a pronunciation pointer. What is the difference in sound between “Nollaig” and…<\/p>\n

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