{"id":6924,"date":"2015-07-08T14:25:34","date_gmt":"2015-07-08T14:25:34","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/blogs.transparent.com\/irish\/?p=6924"},"modified":"2016-07-05T11:16:13","modified_gmt":"2016-07-05T11:16:13","slug":"dha-fhocal-shuimiula-eile-on-leagan-gaeilge-den-star-spangled-banner","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/blogs.transparent.com\/irish\/dha-fhocal-shuimiula-eile-on-leagan-gaeilge-den-star-spangled-banner\/","title":{"rendered":"Dh\u00e1 fhocal shuimi\u00fala eile \u00f3n leagan Gaeilge den “Star-Spangled Banner”"},"content":{"rendered":"
\"c;lose-up<\/a>

close-up of the flag and ‘ceonna na dtonn’ from The Star-Spangled Banner, 1913, by Percy Moran (1862-1935), full painting reproduced below http:\/\/www.loc.gov\/pictures\/resource\/cph.3g14758\/)<\/em><\/p><\/div>\n

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

So far, we’ve looked a little closer at the Irish word for “spangle” and at when “sp\u00e9ir<\/strong>” (sky) becomes “sp\u00e9artha<\/strong>” (skies), based on \u201d\u00d3 Abair An L\u00e9ir Dhuit<\/em><\/strong>” (the Irish version of “The Star-Spangled Banner”).\u00a0 Before we leave the topic for this year, let’s take a closer look at a couple more “focail shuimi\u00fala<\/strong>” from the Irish text.<\/p>\n

1) m\u00edni\u00fa<\/strong>: In V\u00e9arsa 1<\/strong>, we see the phrase “Ag luascadh go huasal ‘s ag m\u00edni\u00fa \u00e1r gcro\u00edthe” <\/strong>which corresponds to, but doesn’t exactly translate: “O’er the ramparts we watched, were so gallantly streaming.”<\/p>\n

So how does “m\u00edni\u00fa<\/strong>” work here?\u00a0 Normally, it means “to explain,” as in, “An f\u00e9idir leat an fr\u00e1sa sin a mh\u00edni\u00fa?<\/strong>”\u00a0\u00a0 This doesn’t really work with “cro\u00edthe<\/strong>” (hearts) as we see in our song text.\u00a0 So let’s look at the core of the word, “m\u00edn<\/strong>.”\u00a0 It has a variety of meanings, most typically “smooth,” but also the following: polished, soft, delicate, fine (in texture, consistency), small, and gentle.\u00a0 \u00a0So the idea is apparently more like “making our hearts smooth,” which I interpret here as “relieved” or “comforted.”<\/p>\n

And how does any of this relate to the original English, which doesn’t mention the word “hearts” at all?\u00a0 I’d say that the “comforted hearts” are in response to the gallant way in which the “stars and stripes” were streaming (still flying).\u00a0 Poetic license of translation constantly applies.<\/p>\n

And now our “dara focal<\/strong>“:<\/p>\n

2) ceonna<\/strong>: In V\u00e9arsa 2<\/strong>, we see “c(h)eonna<\/strong>,”a relatively rarely used plural form, from “ceo<\/strong>” (mist, fog, haze), in the line “ Ar an tr\u00e1 thall, go doil\u00e9ir <\/strong>i l\u00e1r cheonna na dtonn” <\/strong>(On the shore dimly seen, through the mists of the deep).<\/em>\u00a0 <\/strong>\u00a0This is another concept, like sp\u00e9ir<\/strong>, where it’s hard so say what’s singular and what’s plural.\u00a0 At least, maybe with “mists” we can look at the word as meaning recurring mists, that come back again after they clear up.\u00a0 With “sp\u00e9ir \/ sp\u00e9artha<\/strong>,” though, it’s not divided into countable segments \u00a0and there’s never really a time when the sky goes away and comes back again (at least I hope not!).\u00a0 In this song, however, it’s not really various mists for various days, just the mists that appeared on one specific day (13-14 Me\u00e1n F\u00f3mhair 1814<\/strong>).\u00a0 So maybe the idea is just the various swirling patterns (patr\u00fain ghuairne\u00e1nacha<\/strong>) in the air.\u00a0 At any rate, the word “ceo<\/strong>” here shows up as plural (“ceonna<\/strong>“).<\/p>\n

But why “ch” at the beginning (cheonna<\/strong>), and not just “c” (ceonna<\/strong>)?\u00a0 In other words, why “lenition”?\u00a0 The full phrase is “i l\u00e1r cheonna na dtonn<\/strong>” (lit. “in the middle of the fogs of the wave”).\u00a0 This type of phrase is known as the “double genitive,” since we have “middle of” and then “fogs of.”\u00a0 Typically, the first noun in the “double” genitive is simply lenited, not actually genitive, so a basic example would be “hata fhear an t\u00ed<\/strong>” (the hat of the man of the house).\u00a0 The “hat of the man,” with no “of the house,” would be “hata an fhir<\/strong>,” with the “-ir” ending (genitive case).\u00a0 \u00a0\u00a0Another example would be “hata bhean an t\u00ed<\/strong>” (the hat of the woman of the house), while “the woman’s hat” (with no “of the house”) would be “hata na mn\u00e1<\/strong>.”\u00a0 The further intricacies of the genitive case will have to wait for blagmh\u00edreanna eile<\/strong>, but for now and for this specific phrase, suffice it to say, “cheonna<\/strong>” [Hy<\/sup>OH-nuh], not “ceonna<\/strong>” [Ky<\/sup>OH-nuh].<\/p>\n

Before we leave the word “mists,” let’s look at one of the most popular expressions using “mists” in English and see what it would be in Irish (since the Irish uses neither\u00a0“ceo<\/strong>” nor “ceonna<\/strong>“).\u00a0 Here are two possibilities for the Irish, with the specific number of blank letters to be filled in (freagra\u00ed th\u00edos<\/strong>):<\/p>\n

a.) i b __f a __ \u00f3\u00a0 s__in<\/strong><\/p>\n

b.) fad __ fad__<\/strong> (same letter each time for this example).<\/p>\n

One thing that’s clear is that neither example can accommodate the word “ceonna<\/strong>,” or even “ceo<\/strong>.”\u00a0 So these phrases use a completely different set of words to convey the idea.\u00a0 And what idea is that?\u00a0 Hint: the first one can also be translated as “a long time ago” and the second one as “a long long time ago.”<\/p>\n

So what are the actual Irish phrases and what comparable English phrase includes the word “mists”?\u00a0 Freagra th\u00edos<\/strong>, as I noted above.<\/p>\n

\"<\/a>

The Star-Spangled Banner, 1913, by Percy Moran (1862-1935) http:\/\/www.loc.gov\/pictures\/resource\/cph.3g14758\/)<\/p><\/div>\n

Well, this gluais<\/strong> to the existing gluaiseanna<\/strong> \u00a0(naisc th\u00edos<\/strong>) could go on much longer (i bhfad n\u00edos faide<\/strong>), but this seems a good time to pause, at least until next year’s Flag Day and July 4th season.\u00a0 Maybe in 2016, we’ll tackle such timely words as “swag” and “bunting.”\u00a0 And no, that’s not the Australian “swag” (a ditty-bag) and not the “bunting” bird.\u00a0 So what are the Irish words for “swag” and “bunting” in the context of decorations?\u00a0 Can you wait about 11 1\/2 months\u00a0 — see you then with the answers.\u00a0 But, of course, see you “roimhe sin<\/strong>” with a lot more interesting topics.\u00a0 Right now, I’d say something to do with “taoschn\u00f3nna<\/strong>” and “geata\u00ed<\/strong>” is brewing.\u00a0 SGF — R\u00f3isl\u00edn<\/strong><\/p>\n

Freagra\u00ed: <\/strong>(for the English phrase with “mists,” in the plural)<\/p>\n

    \n
  1. a) i bhfad \u00f3 shin<\/strong>, back in the mists of time, a long time ago<\/li>\n
  2. b) fad\u00f3 fad\u00f3<\/strong>, back in the mists of time, a long long time ago<\/li>\n<\/ol>\n

    And what difference is there, really, between “a long time ago” and “a long long time ago”?\u00a0 Diabhal a fhios agam<\/strong>.\u00a0 Maybe we should ask George Lucas how he wants “A long time ago in a galaxy far, far away” to be translated into Irish.\u00a0 Or if it has already been, what was chosen for the subtitling?\u00a0 Anyone know?<\/p>\n

    And yes, this “fad\u00f3<\/strong>” is the same word we see in the name of the restaurant chain that started in Atlanta in 1996 (http:\/\/www.fadoirishpub.com\/atlanta\/).\u00a0 Presumably they chose the name because it evokes tradition and “long ago” foodways — and it’s a lot easier to market than a phrase like “i bhfad \u00f3 shin<\/strong>.”\u00a0 By the way, I’ve always enjoy my “b\u00e9il\u00ed<\/strong>” there.\u00a0 And as for their boxty offerings, n\u00ed hiad bocstaithe do sheanmh\u00e1thar iad<\/strong>!<\/p>\n

    By the way, we can double up the “i bhfad-anna<\/strong>” if we want to really emphasize the amount of time in a phrase for “long ago”.\u00a0 So example “a)” could become “i bhfad i bhfad \u00f3 shin<\/strong>” (a long long time ago).\u00a0 Which simply gives us more options.<\/p>\n

    An bhfuil t\u00fa ag \u00e9isteacht, a Sheoirse Mhic L\u00fac\u00e1is? <\/strong><\/p>\n

    SGF,<\/strong><\/p>\n

    R\u00f3isl\u00edn<\/strong><\/p>\n

    Naisc:<\/strong> The links for the other blog posts in this series are:<\/p>\n

    V\u00e9arsa 1<\/strong>: https:\/\/blogs.transparent.com\/irish\/o-abair-an-leir-dhuit-oh-say-can-you-see-amhran-naisiunta-na-stat-aontaithe\/<\/a><\/p>\n

    V\u00e9arsa 2<\/strong>: https:\/\/blogs.transparent.com\/irish\/o-abair-an-leir-dhuit-oh-say-can-you-see-2nd-verse-amhran-naisiunta-na-stat-aontaithe-vearsa-2\/<\/a><\/p>\n

    V\u00e9arsa 3<\/strong>: https:\/\/blogs.transparent.com\/irish\/o-abair-an-leir-dhuit-vearsa-3-oh-say-can-you-see-3nd-verse-amhran-naisiunta-na-stat-aontaithe\/<\/a><\/p>\n

    V\u00e9arsa 4<\/strong>: https:\/\/blogs.transparent.com\/irish\/o-abair-an-leir-dhuit-vearsa-4-oh-say-can-you-see-4th-and-final-verse-amhran-naisiunta-na-stat-aontaithe\/<\/p>\n

    Na V\u00e9arsa\u00ed go l\u00e9ir (V\u00e9arsa 1 go V\u00e9arsa 4)<\/strong>: https:\/\/blogs.transparent.com\/irish\/amhran-naisiunta-na-stat-aontaithe-all-four-verses-of-the-star-spangled-banner-in-irish-with-a-glossary-literal-translation-and-pronunciation-guide\/<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"\"\"

    (le R\u00f3isl\u00edn) So far, we’ve looked a little closer at the Irish word for “spangle” and at when “sp\u00e9ir” (sky) becomes “sp\u00e9artha” (skies), based on \u201d\u00d3 Abair An L\u00e9ir Dhuit” (the Irish version of “The Star-Spangled Banner”).\u00a0 Before we leave the topic for this year, let’s take a closer look at a couple more “focail…<\/p>\n

    Continue Reading<\/a><\/p>","protected":false},"author":36,"featured_media":6931,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"open","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"content-type":""},"categories":[3898],"tags":[289927,384399,207504,365324,1938,384397,384396,290010,384374,384375,384376,111214,172914,4930,384395,384398,384388,9467,384379,384380,384383,384389,5395,384382,303501,172912,5776,384387,384386,371240,289937,384377,384378,2327,384384,384385,384393,384391,289970,384390,384394],"class_list":["post-6924","post","type-post","status-publish","has-post-thumbnail","hentry","category-irish-language","tag-abair","tag-atlanta","tag-australia","tag-banner","tag-bird","tag-bocstaithe","tag-boxty","tag-bunting","tag-ceo","tag-ceonna","tag-cheonna","tag-croi","tag-croithe","tag-decoration","tag-ditty-bag","tag-fado","tag-far-far-away","tag-flag-day","tag-fog","tag-fogs","tag-george-lucas","tag-gffa","tag-gluais","tag-gluaiseanna","tag-haze","tag-heart","tag-july-4th","tag-long-time-ago","tag-mhic-lucais","tag-min","tag-miniu","tag-mist","tag-mists","tag-national-anthem","tag-seoirse-mac-lucais","tag-sheoirse","tag-smooth","tag-soften","tag-star-spangled","tag-subtitle","tag-swag"],"aioseo_notices":[],"aioseo_head":"\n\t\t\n\t\n\t\n\t\n\t\n\t\n\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t