[Hugo]

Be my teacher – Bí mar mhúinteoir agam/Bí i do mhúinteoir agam. Ní shilim gur féidir “Bí i mo mhúinteoir” a rá.

[Hugo]

Uairibh, you have us all puzzled. I wonder how reliable your memory is about what yer man actually said.

1- I’m reading (the) books – Tá mé ag léamh (na) leabhar or Tá (na) leabhair á léamh agam.

2- The use of ag instead of a where the verbal noun is preceded by its direct object seems to be a common mistake at all levels from beginners to native speakers:

– Cad é atá tú ag déanamh? instead of Cad é atá tú a dhéanamh? (or …á dhéanamh agat).

– the books that I’m buying/reading – na leabhair atá mé ag ceannach/léamh instead of na leabhair atá mé a cheannach/léamh (or of course …atá á gceannach/léamh agam).

[Hugo]

Am I the only one who’s never heard of this “rule” your lecturer has given you. As far as I know the noun is always in the genitive whether it’s singular or plural, definite or indefinite, with or without the article – except if the noun (sing. or plural) is indefinite and qualified, in which case the nominative is used instead of the genitive.

– ‘ag léamh (an) leabhair/ (na) leabhar’ – genitive,

but ”ag léamh leabhar Gaeilge/leabhair Ghaeilge’ – nominative.

So. ‘ag léamh leabhair/ag tógáil báid’ can only mean ‘a book/a boat’.

As far as I know!

[Hugo]

Aontaím leat. De réir na rialacha bíonn an t-ainmfhocal sa tuiseal ginideach, bíodh sé ina ainmfhocal éiginnte nó ina ainmfhocal cinnte. Is cuma an t-alt ann nó as.

Cá bhfuair an léachtóir an “riail” sin?

(Éisceacht -mar is eol do chách: úsáidtear an t-ainmneach in ionad an ghinidigh nuair is ainmfhocal éiginnte cailíthe atá i gceist.).

[Hugo]

Féabar,
Héilics has saved me the trouble. 🙂 There seems to be a tendency among some/many Donegal speakers to use “fá choinne” in many contexts for English “for” – as if they were English-speaking learners thinking in English rather than native Irish speakers, who should not be thinking in English. It shows how much pressure Irish is under from English even in strongholds like Gaoth Dobhair (from where my examples are taken). Since you speak Spanish, “ag amharc fá choinne” instead of “ag cuartú” would be like saying “mirando por” instead of “buscando”.

(On the other hand there’s “amharc i ndiaidh”. Does anyone know if this just coincidentally mirrors the English “look after”, or if it came from English, albeit a good while ago?)

In Donegal “fá choinne” is used with verbs/verbal nouns also (as well as “le/chun”) , to express purpose. “Tá muid anseo fá choinne Gaeilge a fhoghlaim”; “Seo áit mhaith fá choinne iascaireachta”.

Lughaidh,
“Fá choinne (an) dinnéara”. The article is often omitted, and, when talking about going out for dinner to a restaurant or to someone else’s house, I think use of the article would sound strange.

[Hugo]

Actually, down south they would say “go raibh maith as do chineáltas” but perhaps “fá choinne” could be used in that way in Donegal (Lughaidh?)

It’s a shame we don’t spend more time discussing grammar and translation issues on here. I’d much rather spend my time helping people with those.

While “fá choinne” is used that way often enough in Donegal – out-and-out béarlachas, I’d think – “grma ar son ruda” is more usual. Other examples of Béarla -influenced misuse of “fá choinne” by Donegal native speakers I’ve heard recently on RnaG: 1- “”Tá muid ag gabháil go Londain fá choinne míosa,” 2- “Tá clú agus cáil ar an cheantar fá choinne na radharcanna ghalánta.” And just yesterday I heard “Bhí mé ag amharc fá choinne jaib.” In ainm Dé!.

[Hugo]

Mara mbeadh na Gaeltachtaí, gheobhadh an teanga bás

Am I missing something, or is this grammatically incorrect? Seems you’re missing a word.
“mara mbeadh na gaeltachtaí ____ (ann?) , gheobhadh an teanga bás”

No, there’s no missing word. See Ó Dónaill, Dinneen and GGBC for other examples.

Well, I’m not going to argue with you, because I’ve seen how productive that is. But I think you’re wrong. It sounds to me like saying “tá na Gaeltachtaí”. I’ll look for examples that confirm this construction, but I’ve never seen it before.

Edit: it appears, there is one example in O’Donaill which supports this use: “mura mbeadh mise” = were it not for me. Personally I don’t understand this – from my understanding it would have had to be “murach mise”. The other seems like an incomplete clause to me.

I recently learned that “murach” itself is a contraction of “mura (muna) mbeadh”. “Mura mbeadh” here seems to function as a kind of conjunction(al phrase).

Mura mbeadh na Gaeltachtai = If it were not for/only for the Gaeltachts

but

Mura mbeadh na Gaeltachtai ann = If the Gaeltachts didn’t exist

[Hugo]

Cé leis thú – who owns you i.e. who are your parents

I think “Who do you belong to?” might be a better (literal) translation, “belong” having a wider meaning than “own”.

[Hugo]

Then there’s the deliberately bad, state-sponsored, mother and father of them all: Aer Lingus.

[Hugo]

Biodh agat/aige/aici etc. is a common rejoinder expressing disapproval of, but indifference (a shrug of the shoulders) to, the actions or words of the person(s) you’re talking to or about.

1 – A:”Ni chreidim i nDia”. B: “Biodh agat”. (=Well don’t [believe] then/Please yourself.

2 – A: “Maroidh siad thu ma fheiceann siad thu”. B: “Biodh acu” (=Let them [kill me].)

That’s how I understand it anyway. Kind of a DIY explanation, but best I can do in a hurry.
Translation obviously depends on context.

I suppose “Biodh acu siud” is just “Let those (think or do whatever they’re doing or thinking) instead of simple them.

[Hugo]

and the rest:

– An leath eile(?)
– ‘Nois, cudigh thusa le Vinci. Ní bheidh mise i bhfad! – Ach chan leatsa í! – Ar iasacht ata si. Test drive!

– …Fear a bhí ann a raibh grá aige dá thír agus grá aige dá theangaidh… – Ní raibh mórán grá aige do Cháit Shorcha! – Ní raibh. – .. A Thiarna dean trócaire air!… – Nach iontach go bhfaigheadh Cáit Shorcha agus Mícheál Ó Domhnaill bás ag an am ceanna? – .. A Thiarna dean trócaire air!… – .. A Thiarna dean trócaire air!… – Beirt nach raibh ag caint le chéile le ceathracha bliana!
– Amen.

– ___ Tabhair domh an gás , an gás! – ‘Bhfuilan t-adhmad leat, an t-adhmad! – Gabh anall! Gabh isteach! – Ta achan (?) rud againne ‘nois, nach bhfuil? – Tá, tá. – Ceol! Níl ceol againn! Bíonn ceol i gcónaí ag créamadh! Imigh suas chun tseomra, gabh isteach chun ti agus gheobhaidh tú record-player ann. Tabhair leat record fosta! – Tá muid díreach reidh le toiseacht. ‘Fanacht le ceol! B’fhéidir gur mhaith le duine agaibh fhéin amhrán beag a cheol? “Ní fheicfear níos mó thu, a mhuirnín”? – “Ó ní fheicfear níos mó thu a mhuirnín, tá do chaoinspiorad caite uainn go deo, …” – “… Ar shiúl faraor mar gach carad…” Shhht! Ciúnas! Bo- bomaite ciúnais do M(h)íchál Ó Domhnaill! – Cad é ‘tá ag dul ar aghaidh anseo? Ar oscail sibh garáiste no rud inteacht? – Ó, gará… Níor oscail. Fear óg a fuair bás. Tá siad ag iompair an chorp go teach an phobail! D’fhag siad na carranna uilig go leir anseo! Goitse, isteach anseo leat, isteach! Fán ansin bomaite! Suigh síos ansin! – Tá bille cánach… – Ó, cáin! ‘Sé Charlie a amharcann ina dhiaidh sin! Beidh sé anseo gan mhoill. Fán anseo is ná bog.

That’s that. Má tá suim ag duine ar bith, thosaigh mé leis an dara pairt, leis an eipeasóid a chríochnú 🙂

[Hugo]

Is breá liom an sraithdhráma CU Burn…

“Que Sera, Sera” pairt 1

– ‘Vincie, chodlaigh (=chodail) tú istigh ! – Níor chodlaigh. Tá me ar ordú dochtúra a luí ar feadh seachtaine – Tá mé ‘teacht!
– Cad é ‘tá teacht ort? – Chuir Mairead anios mé! Tá móin le bogadh! – Móin? Ó a Dhia, an créamadh! – Bheinn anseo níos luaithe, bhris an t-eallach amach. Tá an bhó bhreac sin ar dair inniu arís! – Fuist, dean neamhiontas den bhó bhreac! Tá daoine ‘teacht anseo fá cheann uaire agus tá an créamadh le deanamh againn! Goitse…

– ‘Charlie! Tabhair freagra air sin! ‘Charlie!
– A Dhia, caithfidh tú níos mó na sin a thabairt sa bhara/bharrow, nó ni bheidh sé uilig thall criochnaithe (?) agat! – No problem
– Hallo, Vincie Burn. – Nora Shorcha anseo. Tá Cáit bhocht marbh. – Ó, tá mé buartha fá do thrioblóid. Cáit bhocht!
– An iarrfá ar Charlie amharc i ndiaidh achan rud domh? – Fan agus cuirfidh mé ceist air fhéin. Bómaite amháin!

– Tá Cáit Shorcha as X (logainm?) marbh. – Ó a Dhia, a’ bhfuil? – Ba mhaith leo dá rachfá sios chun tí le conair (=conra) – Abair leo go rachaidh/mbeidh mé sios ar ball. Beidh mé ar ais roimh a haon dhéag! – Tá cónraidh agat? – Ó a Dhia, níl. Ach tá adhmad istigh ansin. Ar ndoigh dheanfadh muid ceann. – Ab e síos ar rothar fosta ‘tá tú ‘gabháil a tabhairt , nó ‘bhfuil tú ‘fáil taxi? – Ó a Dhia, níl eileatram ar bith agam! Tá(?) sí sa loch. Amharc ar an pháipear go bhfeice tú an bhfuil ceann ann le díol! – Maith go leor. – Ná fiú amhain smaointigh air! – Abair leo go mbeidh mé síos comh gasta agus a thig liom!

– ‘Phádraig, tabhair domh lámh leis an chónra seo! – Ach cad é fán mhóin? – Fág a’ mhóin! – Coinnigh suas sin sa __ sin. Beir ar an rud! Coinnigh greim ar an chlár!
– A haon, dó…
– Cas thart é! – Ta an chonair (?) seo mór… – Tá sí ‘gabhaíl a bheith deas nuair a bheidh sí críochnaithe! – ‘Charlie! ‘Charlie!
– Coinnigh thusa an tairne agus buailfidh mise í!
– Caithfidh sé duine a fháil(?) le hamharc i ndiaidh an fóin seo! ___ amach is isteach. Tá mo dhroim dona go leor. Hallo? – Seo Nora Shorcha aríst. An bhfuil Charlie Burn ag gabháil a theacht anuas anseo nó nach bhfuil? – Ó. Nach bhfuil sé ansin go fóill? Fán go bhfeice mé… Tá sé anseo go fóill, __ duirt sé go mbeidh sé síos anois go díreach. – Bhuel má tá fhéin, tá an t-am aige

– Tá muintir Cáit Shorcha ag iarraidh fáil amach an bhfuil tú gabháill sios nó nach bhfuil! – Tá. Buail sin! – Seo í? Seo an chónair ‘Sea, cad é ‘tá contráilte leithe? ‘Bhfuair tú chead pleanáile fán a coinne? – ‘Bhfuil a fhios agat nach bhfuil an teaghlach uilig marbh! – Seo. Abair leofa go mbeidh mé síos ar ball. Imigh, imigh, imigh, imigh… – Nár thog sibh an mhóin sin amach as sin go fóill? – Níl orm ach an dá laimh. Aa! Ní bheidh lamha ar bith orm muna mbainfinn/mbainfeadh (?) an casur do anseo(??) – Bhuel is fearr daoibh rud a dheanamh go gasta! Tá cuairteoirí againn. – A Dhia ‘bhfuil siad anseo? Ó, an créamadh! ‘Pháidraig, tog sin go gasta amach ansin/as sin Tóg thuas i ___
– An ndéinfidh sé deifir!?? ( “Would you hurry up! = An ndeanfadh sibh deifre! But it doesn’t sound like “deifre” to my inexperienced ear. Nil ionam ach foghlaimeoir gan fadas.) Phádraig, tog an bara sin amach – Fáilte mhór romhaibh, ar an ocáid bhrónach seo. – Tá mise ag gabháil a luí anois! – Ní thig leat gabháil a luí anois, tá creamadh againn le déanamh! – Ach tá mé ar ordú dochtúra a luí ar feadh seachtáine! – Thig leat a luí ar feadh míosa, ach fán go mbeidh seo thart! Goitse. – Tá muid reidh le é a chur fríd anois! – Ba mhaith linne seirbhís beag ar dtús. – Cinnte, cinnte. Seirbhís beag gairid, tá rudaí beaga le déanamh againne ar dtús fósta. – Níl móin fhéin againn, cad é ‘tá muid ag gabháil a dhó? – Gheobhaidh mise an mhóin! – Nil tus na deireadh air seo. – Ta rudai/achan rud ag gabhail i gcéart. Coinnigh do chloigeann. Cá bhfuil a’ block and tackle? Cá tuige bhfuil do bhlock-and-tackle… – Fuist, gheobhaidh tu amach luath go leor, beir ar seo. – A bhraithre. Tá muid cruinnithe anseo inniu le slán a fhágail ag an bleachtaire Mícheál Ó Domhnaill. Fear cothrom…, díreach a bhí i Mícheál Ó Domhnaill. ___fhocal fíor. Agus as an tsaol gairid a bhí aige rinne sé a chuid oibre go duchrachtach i gcónai. Fear ionraic é… – Caith uait an mhóin sin agus tabhair lámh domh leis an chónra seo! – … agus bhrisfeadh sé a léine ona dhroim duit Tá a fhios againn uilig é mar chairde… agus tá a fhios againn uilig é mar dhuine a bhí sásta cuidiú… – Tog an lamh sin le e a thogail suas anseo (?)__ – D’ith(f)eadh/d’ith se sin a chuid Cad é ‘tá muid ‘dul a dhéanamh, níl tine fein againn! – Ligigí oraibh go bhfuil sibh ag gabhail a dhó. Sound effects, a dhath ar bith ar chor ar bith , ach tabhairigí leathuair domhsa. ‘Nois, caithfidh mise an chónra sin a fhail amach as seo. Ach cad é mar atá mé ag dul á fáil amach? – … agus ní raibh gadaí sa tír sábháilte a fhad is a bhí Mícheál i mbun a chuid oibre

[Hugo]

The main page of daltai.com has “Lá Fhéile Pádraig SHONA duit”. This should be “sona” not “shona” because “lá” is a masculine noun. This is a common error learners make. Another example is “Lá breithe shona duit”. Lá is masculine and therefore there is no need for lenition, so “lá breithe sona duit” is correct. Learners seem to think that it is “breith” and not “lá” that one is wishing. It may well be an example of hypercorrection; “I’ll put a h in anyway . . . just in case”.

By analogy with “Nollaig Shona” presumably. And not just learners. I was “corrected” just last year by two young native speakers for writing “la breithe sona” instead of “shona”

[Hugo]

.
Gealach dhorcha, sin gealach (nach bhfeictear ach tá sí ann mar sin féin 🙂 )

well it looks like this is the best translation?

No. See An Carmanach’s 2nd last text and my previous one. And please put the phrase in context.

[Hugo]

De reir ‘Cora Cainte as Tir Chonaill’: Re dhorcha – an t-am a thig idir deireadh agus tus gealai.
Beidh se de dhith oraibh lampa a thabhairt libh anocht no ta an re dhorcha ann

(Ta mo chuid fadas ar shiul)

[Author]

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