{"id":97,"date":"2009-11-10T09:38:41","date_gmt":"2009-11-10T13:38:41","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/blogs.transparent.com\/irish\/?p=97"},"modified":"2009-11-10T09:38:41","modified_gmt":"2009-11-10T13:38:41","slug":"seanfhocail-fhrithraiteacha-an-beal-binn-vs-an-roth-dioscanach-and-what%e2%80%99s-so-bad-about-moss-anyway","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/blogs.transparent.com\/irish\/seanfhocail-fhrithraiteacha-an-beal-binn-vs-an-roth-dioscanach-and-what%e2%80%99s-so-bad-about-moss-anyway\/","title":{"rendered":"Seanfhocail Fhrithr\u00e1iteacha: An B\u00e9al Binn vs. An Roth D\u00edosc\u00e1nach, and What\u2019s So Bad about Moss Anyway?"},"content":{"rendered":"

We recently looked at the proverb \u201cIs binn b\u00e9al ina thost\u201d <\/strong>(It\u2019s sweet, a mouth in its silence).\u00a0 <\/span>As hinted at last time, there is also a proverb expressing the opposite sentiment, that is, the advantages of being a squeaky wheel, \u201cFaigheann an roth d\u00edosc\u00e1nach an ola<\/strong>.\u201d<\/span><\/span><\/p>\n

\u00a0<\/span><\/span><\/p>\n

So that\u00a0starts us off with a breakdown of proverbs that are \u201ci leith ci\u00fanais<\/strong>\u201d or at least favoring circumspection, or \u201cin \u00e9adan ci\u00fanais<\/strong>,\u201d that is, against silence \/ in favor of speaking up.\u00a0 <\/span><\/span><\/span><\/p>\n

\u00a0<\/span><\/span><\/p>\n

A. I leith ci\u00fanais <\/span><\/strong>(in addition to \u201cIs binn b\u00e9al ina thost\u201d<\/strong>):<\/span><\/span><\/p>\n

1. Is minic a bhris b\u00e9al duine a shr\u00f3n<\/span><\/strong>.\u00a0 <\/span>It\u2019s often a person\u2019s mouth broke his nose.<\/span><\/span><\/p>\n

2. Soitheach folamh is m\u00f3 torann<\/span><\/strong>.\u00a0 <\/span>\u00a0<\/span>An empty vessel makes the most noise.<\/span><\/span><\/p>\n

3. Is ci\u00fain iad na linnte l\u00e1na<\/span><\/strong>.\u00a0 <\/span>Still waters run deep.\u00a0 <\/span><\/span><\/span><\/p>\n

4. Is \u00e9 an dias is troime is \u00edsle a chromann a ceann.<\/span><\/strong>\u00a0 <\/span>The heaviest ear of corn bows its head the lowest (not explicitly about silence vs. talking, but expresses basically the same idea as \u201cStill waters run deep\u201d). <\/span><\/span><\/p>\n

5. M\u00e1s maith leat s\u00edoch\u00e1\u00edn, cairdeas, \u2018s moladh, — \u00e9ist, feic, agus fan balbh<\/span><\/strong>.\u00a0 <\/span>Rather hear than speak (lit. if you want peace, friendship and praise, then listen, see, and stay silent).<\/span><\/span><\/p>\n

6. N\u00ed dh\u00e9anfaidh an chaint an obair<\/span><\/strong>.\u00a0 <\/span>Talk won\u2019t get the work done.\u00a0 <\/span><\/span><\/span><\/p>\n

7. N\u00ed bheatha\u00edonn na briathra na br\u00e1ithre<\/span><\/strong>. Words don\u2019t fatten the monks.\u00a0 <\/span><\/span><\/span><\/p>\n

\u00a0<\/span><\/span><\/p>\n

B. In \u00e9adan ci\u00fanais <\/span><\/strong>(in addition to \u201cFaigheann an roth d\u00edosc\u00e1nach an ola\u201d<\/strong>): <\/strong><\/span><\/span><\/p>\n

1. Is minic ci\u00fain ciontach<\/span><\/strong>.\u00a0 <\/span>Often the silent one is guilty.<\/span><\/span><\/p>\n

2. Is ionann toil \u2018s \u00e9isteacht<\/span><\/strong>.\u00a0 <\/span>Silence can indicate agreement, whether intended or not.\u00a0 <\/span><\/span><\/span><\/p>\n

Neither of these last two are actually strong advocates for being outspoken; they\u2019re really just saying that silence can be misunderstood, so if you want to clarify things, disagree, or prove your innocence, you may need to speak up.\u00a0 <\/span>Consequences if you don\u2019t?\u00a0 <\/span>Well, just consider the outcome of one of my favorite songs, \u201cThe Long Black Veil.\u201d\u00a0 <\/span>Do you remember the consequences of silence for that song\u2019s protagonist?\u00a0 <\/span>Of course, there was a special agenda there (bean an chara a b\u2019fhearr a bh\u00ed ag an fhear<\/strong>), but even when the judge asked \u201cSon, what is your alibi?\u201d the innocent protagonist remained \u201cina thost<\/strong>\u201d though he knew it meant his life.\u00a0 <\/span>\u00a0\u00a0<\/span><\/span><\/span><\/p>\n

\u00a0<\/span><\/span><\/p>\n

As regards the \u201croth d\u00edosc\u00e1nach<\/strong>,\u201d<\/span> this proverb doesn\u2019t <\/span>necessarily recommend that someone should be a \u201cscaothaire\u201d<\/strong> just for the sake of it.\u00a0 <\/span>But rather, that if you have something that needs to be said, go ahead and say it.\u00a0 <\/span>Or maybe not.\u00a0 <\/span>Maybe being a \u201croth d\u00edosc\u00e1nach<\/strong>\u201d is, in some people\u2019s opinions, just being a \u201cpian sa t\u00f3in<\/strong>,\u201d claiming disproportionate privileges, perhaps trying to have one\u2019s cake and eat it too, or as might be said in Irish, having \u201can craiceann agus a luach<\/strong>.\u201d\u00a0 <\/span><\/span><\/span><\/p>\n

\u00a0<\/span>\u00a0<\/span><\/span><\/span><\/p>\n

Hmm, I think it\u2019s not completely coincidental that we have ocht seanfhocal i leith ci\u00fanais<\/strong> and only tr\u00ed sheanfhocal ina \u00e9adan.<\/strong>\u00a0 <\/span>While this by no means an exhaustive survey, I will note that the first eight came readily to mind, while the second batch of three took some hunting.\u00a0 <\/span>Most of these are internationally known proverbs, so I won\u2019t say that any of them express Irish \u201cnational characteristics\u201d as such, but it does seem far easier to find Irish proverbs advocating silence than to find ones that promote cabaireacht<\/strong> (talkativeness).\u00a0 <\/span><\/span><\/span><\/p>\n

\u00a0<\/span><\/span><\/strong><\/p>\n

It\u2019s not unusual, though, to be presented with contradictory wisdom in proverbs (cooks vs. heads being yet another example).\u00a0 <\/span>Then there is \u201cN\u00ed thagann caonach ar chloch reatha<\/strong>,\u201d which is famously athbhr\u00edoch <\/strong>(ambiguous). <\/span>\u00a0<\/span><\/span><\/strong>As far as the rolling stone (cloch reatha<\/strong>) dilemma goes, some people will think that acquiring moss (caonach<\/strong>) is desirable and some think it is undesirable.\u00a0 <\/span>If moss is undesirable (a sign of stagnation and decay), then it\u2019s good to roll, move about, work hard, and stay moss-free.\u00a0 <\/span>That\u2019s the interpretation I grew up with.\u00a0 <\/span>But later I learned that the moss could represent acquisitions and worldly goods, and in that case, it\u2019s good not to roll around too much, dilly-dallying here and there and shilly-shallying over life\u2019s decisions.\u00a0 <\/span>Rather, one should work steadily in one place, be resolved, and at least get something, even if it\u2019s only moss.\u00a0 <\/span><\/span><\/span><\/p>\n

\u00a0<\/span><\/span><\/strong><\/p>\n

As for bun agus barr an sc\u00e9il <\/strong>(the be all and end all) in meaning of proverbs in general, I\u2019ll leave that to the \u201cseanfhocaleolaithe\u201d <\/strong>(paremiologists), since it\u2019s really their \u201cb\u00e1ill\u00edocht.\u201d\u00a0 <\/span><\/strong>Full disclaimer, I just improvised the Irish term for \u201cparemiologists\u201d since I couldn\u2019t find it in any dictionary, n\u00ed nach ionadh<\/strong>.\u00a0 <\/span>There are plenty of precedents though, in terms like \u201ceolaithe\u201d <\/strong>(scientists in general, or, if you will, \u201dologists\u201d), bitheolaithe, eipid\u00e9imeolaithe, srl. <\/strong>\u00a0<\/span>I suppose one could go for the root of the word and try something like \u201cpar\u00e9imeolaithe<\/strong>\u201d but that seems a little beyond beyond. \u00a0<\/span>If anyone has a better suggestion for \u201cparemiologists\u201d or knows an official Irish equivalent, please send it in to the \u201ccomments\u201d at <\/span>blogs.transparent.com\/irish\/<\/span><\/a>. \u00a0<\/span>Go raibh maith agat!<\/span><\/span><\/p>\n

\u00a0<\/span><\/span><\/p>\n

N\u00f3ta\u00ed: Frithr\u00e1iteach<\/span><\/strong>, contradictory; \u00e9adan<\/strong>, forehead, opposition; linnte<\/strong>, pl. of linn, <\/strong>pool; l\u00e1na, <\/strong>pl. of l\u00e1n<\/strong> (not \u201cl\u00e1na,\u201d a lane); is troime<\/strong>, superlative of trom<\/strong>, heavy; is \u00edsle <\/strong>[iss EESH-leh], superlative of \u00edseal<\/strong>, low; beathaigh<\/strong>, feed (vb); briathar<\/strong> [BREE-uh-hur], verb or word; br\u00e1thair<\/strong> [BRAW-hirzh] brother (religious); scaothaire<\/strong> = gaotaire =<\/strong> windbag (you remembered that from last time, right?).\u00a0 <\/span><\/span><\/span><\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"

We recently looked at the proverb \u201cIs binn b\u00e9al ina thost\u201d (It\u2019s sweet, a mouth in its silence).\u00a0 As hinted at last time, there is also a proverb expressing the opposite sentiment, that is, the advantages of being a squeaky wheel, \u201cFaigheann an roth d\u00edosc\u00e1nach an ola.\u201d \u00a0 So that\u00a0starts us off with a breakdown…<\/p>\n

Continue Reading<\/a><\/p>","protected":false},"author":36,"featured_media":0,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"open","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"content-type":""},"categories":[3898],"tags":[4547,4660,4690,4701,5330,6701,6740],"class_list":["post-97","post","type-post","status-publish","hentry","category-irish-language","tag-caonach","tag-chloch-reatha","tag-ciunas","tag-cloch-reatha","tag-gaotaire","tag-scaothaire","tag-seanfhocail"],"aioseo_notices":[],"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/blogs.transparent.com\/irish\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/97","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/blogs.transparent.com\/irish\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/blogs.transparent.com\/irish\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/blogs.transparent.com\/irish\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/36"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/blogs.transparent.com\/irish\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=97"}],"version-history":[{"count":0,"href":"https:\/\/blogs.transparent.com\/irish\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/97\/revisions"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/blogs.transparent.com\/irish\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=97"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/blogs.transparent.com\/irish\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=97"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/blogs.transparent.com\/irish\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=97"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}