Nach do mhoithich sibh s' docha gur nas ainneaimhe is nas ainneaimhe a tha a' Ghaidhlig anns an colbh aig Eachann? Don't you notice perhaps that Gaelic is less and less frequent in Hector's column as published?
Mar a thuirt Eachann e-fhein. As Eachann himself says:
Saturday
... there is no Gaelic Art as such, since I stopped doing Friday in Gaelic....
Abair e!
Saturday, 23 January 2010
Tuesday, 19 January 2010
Ars' Eachann
... the word Arsa or shortened to Ars' is an old word for said. You will find it throughout Eachann's writing even in English. It is almost exactly like 'quoth' in English and adds a literary tone to writing. The subject of the verb 'arsa' almost always gets a emphatic ending. So Ars' esan where esan is the pronoun 'e' (he) with the '-san' added for emphasis. Likewise Ars' mise - with mi (me) extended to mise for emphasis.
Friday, 15 January 2010
Aimsir Eachainn, 19 April 1985
Thursday
I don't think anymore that I will get away. I can hardly believe that those words came from Findlay last week. Satan must have blinded the poor lad. If I get my feet out of the quagmire here one time more, I will never return. There is something un-natural about this island - as if it was that the people are half-running towards death, frightened completely out of their lives .
I don't think anymore that I will get away. I can hardly believe that those words came from Findlay last week. Satan must have blinded the poor lad. If I get my feet out of the quagmire here one time more, I will never return. There is something un-natural about this island - as if it was that the people are half-running towards death, frightened completely out of their lives .
Aimsir Eachainn, 21 September 1984
[just a few words of Gaidhlig - but worth it]
Tuesday
'...will never scribble as much as a note to the milk person in that cheap language.'
Seall seo, fichead mile not sa bhliadhna.
Look at this £20,000 a year.
'What do you think of that, then....'
And to help you towards such a tuarasdal (wage), remember that the Gaidhlig for sea urchin is crogan feannaig.
Tuesday
'...will never scribble as much as a note to the milk person in that cheap language.'
Seall seo, fichead mile not sa bhliadhna.
Look at this £20,000 a year.
'What do you think of that, then....'
And to help you towards such a tuarasdal (wage), remember that the Gaidhlig for sea urchin is crogan feannaig.
Monday, 11 January 2010
Aimsir Eachainn, 20 April 1984
Monday
For some time I have been considering making more use of the 8 acres of land that are between me and the shore which we call 'the croft' or "the lot". At one time I was half-thinking that perhaps I would get 2000 chickens, but I was afraid that Domhnall Beag Ceann Urnabhaigh would jump. But then the IDP [Indegrated Development Programme] came along and I thought to myself - here is my chance. I'll put, I said to myself, the entire croft under asparagus. And if Eachann Ruadh had not come to visit me a fortnight ago perhaps I would have started on it. You poor sad case, he said, giving [me] a blow to the back of the head, didn't your mother tell you anything? Did you hear about the first man who came home with a scythe with two handles to it. They turned out of every corner to make fun of him. The fool they cried, he will break his back, and they went off home to their old single-handed sickles that they had had from the time of Noah.
Who knows if they were not right. Perhaps asparagus will not grow in any case.
For some time I have been considering making more use of the 8 acres of land that are between me and the shore which we call 'the croft' or "the lot". At one time I was half-thinking that perhaps I would get 2000 chickens, but I was afraid that Domhnall Beag Ceann Urnabhaigh would jump. But then the IDP [Indegrated Development Programme] came along and I thought to myself - here is my chance. I'll put, I said to myself, the entire croft under asparagus. And if Eachann Ruadh had not come to visit me a fortnight ago perhaps I would have started on it. You poor sad case, he said, giving [me] a blow to the back of the head, didn't your mother tell you anything? Did you hear about the first man who came home with a scythe with two handles to it. They turned out of every corner to make fun of him. The fool they cried, he will break his back, and they went off home to their old single-handed sickles that they had had from the time of Noah.
Who knows if they were not right. Perhaps asparagus will not grow in any case.
Aimsir Eachainn, 15 July 1983
Friday
I heard a good one last night in Raebhat House. As you yourself know, the West Siders are terribly backwards. They do not do much in general society and so they do not learn. It appears that when the first croman [bent-handled hoe] came to Baravas, and it was not so long ago as all that, that there was great joy in the village. They came out of the black houses, young and old, so that they could see this amazing device. Then it happened that an old lad took a strong fancy to it and asked if he could have it for a short time. He got on with it so well that he hoed the entire village's potatoes. The man who the croman belonged to got mad. "Look at you there" he said, "going around the village making a big man of yourself with another man's croman. "
I heard a good one last night in Raebhat House. As you yourself know, the West Siders are terribly backwards. They do not do much in general society and so they do not learn. It appears that when the first croman [bent-handled hoe] came to Baravas, and it was not so long ago as all that, that there was great joy in the village. They came out of the black houses, young and old, so that they could see this amazing device. Then it happened that an old lad took a strong fancy to it and asked if he could have it for a short time. He got on with it so well that he hoed the entire village's potatoes. The man who the croman belonged to got mad. "Look at you there" he said, "going around the village making a big man of yourself with another man's croman. "
Sunday, 10 January 2010
Aimsir Eachainn, 15 October 1982
Walter Murdy...
***
I could not get over [usually faigh leis - get away with, succeed] that fool Walter telling you about the journey of Eachann to Glasgow, but time will tell if we will live through the coming week.
***
I could not get over [usually faigh leis - get away with, succeed] that fool Walter telling you about the journey of Eachann to Glasgow, but time will tell if we will live through the coming week.
Tuesday, 5 January 2010
Aimsir Eachainn, 8 October 1982
Tuesday
Here's ...[beagan Bheurla eile]...
...As I have told you a hundred times, t'was a truly bad marriage that Calum Ruairidh Chaluim made [giving his lineage - Callum, son of Rory, son of Callum]. She nearly finally put him in the Poor house. She and the daughters did not leave a single chair inside the house unburned because of being too lazy to cut peat. One day Callum was speaking with 'Guru', Seonaidh Choinnich [Johnny, son of Kenneth]
"It's a sad day we are living in Seonaidh, but the mouth of a person is scarcely open before it speaks enough to put an end to itself. "
"You had better buy yourself a coffin now before they become too dear?" said Seonaidh .
" Don't you know that if I were to do that the 'dumplings' will burn it." [turraisg - dumpling, also colloquially a foolish woman]
Here's ...[beagan Bheurla eile]...
...As I have told you a hundred times, t'was a truly bad marriage that Calum Ruairidh Chaluim made [giving his lineage - Callum, son of Rory, son of Callum]. She nearly finally put him in the Poor house. She and the daughters did not leave a single chair inside the house unburned because of being too lazy to cut peat. One day Callum was speaking with 'Guru', Seonaidh Choinnich [Johnny, son of Kenneth]
"It's a sad day we are living in Seonaidh, but the mouth of a person is scarcely open before it speaks enough to put an end to itself. "
"You had better buy yourself a coffin now before they become too dear?" said Seonaidh .
" Don't you know that if I were to do that the 'dumplings' will burn it." [turraisg - dumpling, also colloquially a foolish woman]
Aimsir Eachainn, 19 February 1982
Monday
I remember one winter's night, shortly before Mussolini fell on the Abyssinians, going to visit Murdo the Soldier, as I often did. He was at his writing with his back to Peggy. "I am just now, my lad, writing a piece of poetry - me and the Wind in conversation. Sit down quietly and I will read a verse or two to you. Here now is me speaking to the Wind: "Who understands strength will not see the eye and will never be at rest, but he who often is mending sails would be playing football.
" Here then is the Wind replying ," said Murdo.
" It is that indeed," said Peggy, "and plenty of it."
... ...
Tuesday
"Are not men better than sheep?" (Matt., Verse 7). Notice, friends, that it was a question that the man who wrote those words was asking. It is clear that he was not sure which was better. Why else is there a question mark after the words? Perhaps on the other hand he was asking who is better OFF, men or sheep. In 1982 in this poor country which we live in, there is no doubt who is better off. There is a £6.50 subsidy on sheep but there is only £5.25 on children.
... ...
Wednesday
... ...
"When you were a painter, you were good at white-washing -
and many a lovely lad you spoiled with your splashing."
[the joke is partly having balach - boy, lad in the 'song' where here balla - wall would be more expected for white-washing.]
I remember one winter's night, shortly before Mussolini fell on the Abyssinians, going to visit Murdo the Soldier, as I often did. He was at his writing with his back to Peggy. "I am just now, my lad, writing a piece of poetry - me and the Wind in conversation. Sit down quietly and I will read a verse or two to you. Here now is me speaking to the Wind: "Who understands strength will not see the eye and will never be at rest, but he who often is mending sails would be playing football.
" Here then is the Wind replying ," said Murdo.
" It is that indeed," said Peggy, "and plenty of it."
... ...
Tuesday
"Are not men better than sheep?" (Matt., Verse 7). Notice, friends, that it was a question that the man who wrote those words was asking. It is clear that he was not sure which was better. Why else is there a question mark after the words? Perhaps on the other hand he was asking who is better OFF, men or sheep. In 1982 in this poor country which we live in, there is no doubt who is better off. There is a £6.50 subsidy on sheep but there is only £5.25 on children.
... ...
Wednesday
... ...
"When you were a painter, you were good at white-washing -
and many a lovely lad you spoiled with your splashing."
[the joke is partly having balach - boy, lad in the 'song' where here balla - wall would be more expected for white-washing.]
Monday, 4 January 2010
Aimsir Eachainn, 18th December 1981
Saturday
If we are still alive next week I must give you some advice about the shorter days that are coming on. It would not be any use doing a sermon in English as it is not the fashion amongst English Speakers to open up about things in the way that Gaelic speakers do. Remember the proverb: D = (UG)2, where D = the state of a man on Hogmanay, U = whisky, G = all the words of Gaelic which that man knows. Try to be equally sensible, friends.
If we are still alive next week I must give you some advice about the shorter days that are coming on. It would not be any use doing a sermon in English as it is not the fashion amongst English Speakers to open up about things in the way that Gaelic speakers do. Remember the proverb: D = (UG)2, where D = the state of a man on Hogmanay, U = whisky, G = all the words of Gaelic which that man knows. Try to be equally sensible, friends.
Aimsir Eachainn, 27th November 1981
Friday
Who should I meet yesterday but the Man from Aird Tong "Aristotle" Jock Macnamarra. There is nothing in the world that this lad does not know about. He started to tell me how the English got their 'stiff upper lip'. I had always supposed that it was their accent that froze [glas - to lock] their upper lip but apparently it wasn't that. According to Aristotle it was the weight of their pith-helmets that they wore overseas that left them like they are. They had to make conversation with only the smallest movement of their lower jar. That's how the accent was born. Anything that you don't understand, just ask Macnamarra.
Who should I meet yesterday but the Man from Aird Tong "Aristotle" Jock Macnamarra. There is nothing in the world that this lad does not know about. He started to tell me how the English got their 'stiff upper lip'. I had always supposed that it was their accent that froze [glas - to lock] their upper lip but apparently it wasn't that. According to Aristotle it was the weight of their pith-helmets that they wore overseas that left them like they are. They had to make conversation with only the smallest movement of their lower jar. That's how the accent was born. Anything that you don't understand, just ask Macnamarra.
Sunday, 3 January 2010
Aimsir Eachainn, 28th August 1981
Thursday
One cold night in deepest winter over 150 years ago Kenneth of the Bull was coming from a woman at Gravir. He was in the out in the crags [in fact anns na cnuic does not necessarily imply mountainous rocks and is just island Gaelic shorthand for on the moor outside the village ] above Calbost without any notion that there was anyone on the earth but himself. Although his sight was good (he would read the Bible by the light of the aurora) Satan and lust had blinded him so much that he did not see the bull until he was on top of it. They did not have shorthorns in those days at all, but lean grey bulls that would not be shamed at Aintree. It is not recorded how many miles Kenneth ran up, down, and around, rocks with the bull at his heels. It is possible if the ground had not been level that he would have not kept his feet and remember that the bull had two more legs than him. At last Kenneth managed to turn and meet it face-to-face. Apparently there has never been any battle on the far side of the Loch the like of that one. We will leave out mention of the first dozen rounds just now, but at the last Kenneth knocked away one of the bull's front legs. And remember that I am a great-great grandchild of Kenneth of the Bull.
One cold night in deepest winter over 150 years ago Kenneth of the Bull was coming from a woman at Gravir. He was in the out in the crags [in fact anns na cnuic does not necessarily imply mountainous rocks and is just island Gaelic shorthand for on the moor outside the village ] above Calbost without any notion that there was anyone on the earth but himself. Although his sight was good (he would read the Bible by the light of the aurora) Satan and lust had blinded him so much that he did not see the bull until he was on top of it. They did not have shorthorns in those days at all, but lean grey bulls that would not be shamed at Aintree. It is not recorded how many miles Kenneth ran up, down, and around, rocks with the bull at his heels. It is possible if the ground had not been level that he would have not kept his feet and remember that the bull had two more legs than him. At last Kenneth managed to turn and meet it face-to-face. Apparently there has never been any battle on the far side of the Loch the like of that one. We will leave out mention of the first dozen rounds just now, but at the last Kenneth knocked away one of the bull's front legs. And remember that I am a great-great grandchild of Kenneth of the Bull.
Aimsir Eachainn, 26th June 1981
Friday
I happened to meet a man from Aird Tong a little while ago and we got talking about the dangers involved in bringing women back from the city. They are difficult to control and are truly dangerous at peat-cutting time if they get above you in the ditch - a man has to be quick of movement [dorgh - handline] if he is going to keep his fingers. I was telling him about the accidents that happen in the Lochs connected with the tairsgeir [peat-cutting iron]. Apparently, if it is indeed true, a man from the far side of the Loch lost an ear. The Aird Tong lad said that things are just as bad in their village but that they have a new way to control women who don't understand the Gaelic - a yellow card for a small cut and a red card if you lose a digit. Anyway, it must have been a brother [actually Eachann writes bruadar - dream, vision] of him that I was speaking to that I got a letter from: "Hector, the idea has been circulating that the following got their injuries cutting the peats in the Lochs - Van Gogh, Dave Allen, and Moshe Dayan. Is there any substance to these rumours? Alec."
I am sure that there is, Alec.
I happened to meet a man from Aird Tong a little while ago and we got talking about the dangers involved in bringing women back from the city. They are difficult to control and are truly dangerous at peat-cutting time if they get above you in the ditch - a man has to be quick of movement [dorgh - handline] if he is going to keep his fingers. I was telling him about the accidents that happen in the Lochs connected with the tairsgeir [peat-cutting iron]. Apparently, if it is indeed true, a man from the far side of the Loch lost an ear. The Aird Tong lad said that things are just as bad in their village but that they have a new way to control women who don't understand the Gaelic - a yellow card for a small cut and a red card if you lose a digit. Anyway, it must have been a brother [actually Eachann writes bruadar - dream, vision] of him that I was speaking to that I got a letter from: "Hector, the idea has been circulating that the following got their injuries cutting the peats in the Lochs - Van Gogh, Dave Allen, and Moshe Dayan. Is there any substance to these rumours? Alec."
I am sure that there is, Alec.
Carson fo shealladh?
Carson a tha mi a' deanamh na th' ann an sheo? Nach eil cus eadar-theangachaidh ann co dhiu? Agus s' docha nach ghabh an sgriobhaidh Gaidhlig Eachainn eadar-theangachadh gu Beurla idir.
Why am I making these pages? Is n't there too much translation from Gaidhlig? And it will stop people learning if they can get everything served up in English. And surely Eachann's Gaidhlig writing is too idiomatic to be translated usefully?
Well, a' charaid, partly I think people will be more drawn in if they don't have to just skip over the Gaidhlig. And although I can read Gaidhlig I find it hard going compared with listening to the spoken word - and I imagine that is the case with other people. I know I am not doing Eachann's prose any favours - but I hope he would not mind. I really just wanted to show non-speakers how the Gaidhlig sections fit right into the wonderful world of his writing. Tha sinn fortanach gu bheil a leithid ann.
Why am I making these pages? Is n't there too much translation from Gaidhlig? And it will stop people learning if they can get everything served up in English. And surely Eachann's Gaidhlig writing is too idiomatic to be translated usefully?
Well, a' charaid, partly I think people will be more drawn in if they don't have to just skip over the Gaidhlig. And although I can read Gaidhlig I find it hard going compared with listening to the spoken word - and I imagine that is the case with other people. I know I am not doing Eachann's prose any favours - but I hope he would not mind. I really just wanted to show non-speakers how the Gaidhlig sections fit right into the wonderful world of his writing. Tha sinn fortanach gu bheil a leithid ann.
Saturday, 2 January 2010
Aimsir Eachainn, 5th June 1981.
Friday
At the marriage union it must have been that the Old Lad turned a shy eye on one of the women from the far side of the Loch. Apparently he asked Alan MacDonald if he would advertise for a wife for him on the radio. A man is taking a big chance [cunnartach - dangerous] taking a pig in a poke [poc - a bag, pocket] like that. A man from Crossbost got a truly bad bargain in Peterhead. He laid eye on her when he was full of the hard stuff. As he himself said, "she would dance on an awl", but it appears that that was that was all she would do [awl, all - very neat]. Anyway, he married her on a big share [?seota] of herring and many was the day that he regretted it [ghabh e aithreachas - regret ]. Better for you, lad, to find her for yourself and watch out for ones from Glasgow otherwise you will live, if you live at all, on fish-fingers and chips.
At the marriage union it must have been that the Old Lad turned a shy eye on one of the women from the far side of the Loch. Apparently he asked Alan MacDonald if he would advertise for a wife for him on the radio. A man is taking a big chance [cunnartach - dangerous] taking a pig in a poke [poc - a bag, pocket] like that. A man from Crossbost got a truly bad bargain in Peterhead. He laid eye on her when he was full of the hard stuff. As he himself said, "she would dance on an awl", but it appears that that was that was all she would do [awl, all - very neat]. Anyway, he married her on a big share [?seota] of herring and many was the day that he regretted it [ghabh e aithreachas - regret ]. Better for you, lad, to find her for yourself and watch out for ones from Glasgow otherwise you will live, if you live at all, on fish-fingers and chips.
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