BS: I need help with Irish Gaelic spellings

Subject: BS: I need help with Irish Gaelic spellings
From: Chip2447
Date: 18 Nov 02 - 11:36 PM

Hi folks,
    I'm currently working on a novel and I'd like to use a few Gaelic terms in a few places. I'm wondering if any of you multi talented individuals here at the Cat would assist me.

    What I'm looking for is the actual spelling, and phonetic pronouncication for the following;

    Whiskey, water of life, Ishqawahla? (forgive my butchering job.)

    A long time ago I heard a saying that means neither collar or crown; Bonya na croin? (Again, forgive me)

    Finally, I'd like the spelling and phonetic for Barbarian, if indeed there is such a word.

    Thanks in advance for your assistance.

Chip2447

Subject: RE: BS: I need help with Irish Gaelic spellings
From: GUEST,Mickey191
Date: 19 Nov 02 - 02:15 AM

Hi Chip, Can help with one only- whiskey-UISGEBAUGH . Taken from a Little Jug of the stuff- It's 40 yrs. old--Don't know if it's still good! Good Luck with the book. Slainte Maithe--Good Health. Mickey

Subject: RE: BS: I need help with Irish Gaelic spellings
From: daithi
Date: 19 Nov 02 - 04:37 AM

Hi Chip - the uisgebaugh - and similar spellings - are anglicisations of the original Irish. "Uisce beatha" means water of life - hence whiskey! In modern Irish it is pronounced "Ishka-bar"
Hope this helps

Subject: RE: BS: I need help with Irish Gaelic spellings
From: Declan
Date: 19 Nov 02 - 05:55 AM

Pronounciation depends on the region you come from but its more like Ishke bah-ha.

Bo(/)na na(/) Choro(/)in. ((/) to indicate an accent on the previous vowel) would be collar nor crown.

Bóna ná Choróin
Script with fadas added by Mud leprechuan

Gall is a general Irish word for foreigner and could have a similar meaning as the romans had for barbarian. I've never heard a noun that meant Barbarian as suc but there is an adjective barbartha so duine barbartha (dih-neh bor-bar-tha) would be a barbarian person or cine (kin-neh) barbartha would nbe a barbarian race. Barbarthach (bar-ber-hoch) or plural Barbarthaigh (bar-ber-hee) would be the form a noun from this adjective would take, but I don't think I've ever heard the words used.

Subject: RE: BS: I need help with Irish Gaelic spellings
From: daithi
Date: 19 Nov 02 - 06:42 AM

Hi Declan - yes, pronunciation and phonetic spellings are always difficult! My irish is a mixture of Donegal, Standard and ggod knows what!
BTW didn't I hear somewhere that the word "bearla" has its origins in or is connected with an irish word for barbarian? Figures ;¬)
Daithí

Subject: RE: BS: I need help with Irish Gaelic spellings
From: Chip2447
Date: 19 Nov 02 - 12:52 PM

Many, many thanks good people. I knew that my fellow Catters would be able to help. Tremendous bunch of people we've got here...
Thanks again...

Chip2447

Subject: RE: BS: I need help with Irish Gaelic spellings
From: Mrrzy
Date: 19 Nov 02 - 01:36 PM

hee hee - who doesn't? Wonder what their incidence of dyslexia is, it's higher in English and French (non-phonetic) than Spanish or Italian (phonetic)...

Subject: RE: BS: I need help with Irish Gaelic spellings
From: GUEST,Bill Kennedy
Date: 19 Nov 02 - 02:24 PM

barbarian would depend on what you mean by Barbarian

-could be literally, 'hairy' or 'gruagach', maybe even 'bearded' which might be created as 'féasógach' from 'féasóg', though having a beard or hair does not necessarily have the same implications it once did! though the pejorative 'long-hair' as a synonym for 'hippy', 'dirty', etc., from the 60s might apply

-could be 'Sasanach', somewhat perjorative for 'Englishman', and in some contexts 'uncivilized', etc.

-could be 'un-Christian', or 'ní Críostaí'

-could be 'ruthless', or 'neamhthruacánta'

-could be 'uncivil', or 'ní sibhialta'

-could be 'stupid', or 'amaideach'

-could be 'ignorant', or 'aineolach'

....