Idioms. Defective Verbs. Points of Syntax
by Myles Dillon
ALESSON XXVII. Words for kinship in Irish do not always correspond to English words. There is no difficulty about "father", "mother", "brother", "sister"; but there are no Irish words for "nephew", "niece", "uncle", "aunt", and you have to specify the sister's son, brother's son, father's brother or sister, or mother's brother or sister. The English "uncle" and "aunt" (uncoil, aintin) are now sometimes used. Note the word cliamhain "son-in-law". We have seen that numbering is by scores in the spoken language, but old literary forms have recently been restored in the schools and are now generally understood: Mocha 30, ceathracha 40, caoga 50, seasca 60, seachto 70, ochto 80, nocha 90. With regard to the verbal system, remember that the preterite and perfect of English "I saw" and "I have seen" are not distinguished in Irish: an bhfacaisfos e? "have you seen him yet?"; an bhfacais an pdipear inne? "did you see the paper yesterday?" 1 But there are two extra tenses, or aspects, in Irish, one for action completed in the present: td se deanta agam "I have done (finished) it"; and one for an event that has just happened: tdim tar eis teacht isteach "I have just come in" (lit. "I am after coming in"). We have seen that the passive corresponding to active buaileann se "he strikes" is buailtear e (Lesson XIX). Corresponding to the actual present td se ag bualadh is the form td se da bhualadh "he is being beaten". The passive of casaim "I turn" is used to express meeting: castar orm e "I meet him." 1 Irish agrees in this with French and German. 151 152 IRISH Eirigh "rise" as an impersonal has the meaning "to succeed"; eirionn Horn "I succeed"; go n-eiri leat! "may you be successful!" Rel. a can mean "all that (which)" and then causes eclipsis and takes a dependent form of irreg. verbs even as nom.-acc. (cf. p. 59): caitheann se a dtuilleann se "he spends all he earns"; imeoidh a dtiocfaidh agus a dtdinig "all that will come and all that ever came will pass away"; an cailin is deise da bhfacais riamh "the prettiest girl that you ever saw" (lit. "of all that"). Note la da rabhas ann "one day when I was there", where da "when" is an old conjunction, quite distinct from da in the preceding example. An interesting use of the negative nd occurs in isfada nd faca thu "it is a long time since I saw you", where 6 chonac thu is also correct. Defective Verbs. One curious verb which has not yet been introduced must be mentioned, as it is in common use: nifheadar "I do (did) not know". It is peculiar in that it occurs only in the negative and interrogative: an bhfeadrais "do you know?" (The positive statement must be td ajhios agam, agat, etc.) And it las both present and past meaning. The forms are as follows: Sg. 1 feadar PL feadramair 2 feadrais feadrabhair 3 feadairse feadradar Tharla "it happened" is impersonal and takes a dependent clause: tharla go raibh se ann "he happened to be there". Ba dhobair "it almost happened" is followed by the condi- tional in a dependent clause: ba dhobair go ndearmhadfainn e "I almost forgot it (him)"; ba dhobair . . .go dtitfeadh an capall "the horse nearly fell", or by a verbal noun: ba dhobair dhom e a dhearmhad. Ar, arsa "said" is used only to quote direct speech, and follows the words quoted. The longer form arsa is used with LESSON XXVII 153 raise, tusa and a noun-subject; ar with seisean, sise. The emphatic forms of the pronoun are always used. Ach "but" is used much as in English, except that when it means "only" the verb in Irish is negative or interrogative: ai raibh aige ach stilling "he had but a shilling"; nior dhein se achfeachaint uirthi "he did but look at her"; ce thiocfadh isteach ach Sednl "who should come in but John!" Idiomatic uses of ach are the phrases ach chomh beag "either" after a negative; ach go hdirithe "at any rate": nior labhair Sean agus nior labhras-sa ach chomh beag "John did not speak and I did not speak either"; raghad-sa ann ach go hdirithe "I shall go there at any rate". Sara "before" has also the force of a final conjunction "lest, in order that not": chair se i bhfolach e sara bhfaighinn e "he hid it lest I should find it"; labhair go reidh sara a-aireofai thu "speak low lest they should hear you (you should be overheard)" see p. 110. Fe mar "as, as if :fe mar aduart leat "as I told you"; bhi se ag screadaighfe mar a bheadh piaa air "he was crying out as if he were in pain". You have learned to use is and td correctly (Lessons VIII and X). In sentences of mere description, where the predi- cate is a noun, a peculiar construction with td and the pre- position ar "on" is common: td se ar aa ngarsun isfearr sa rang "he is the best boy in the class" = is e aa garsun is fearr sa raag e; bhi se ar dhuiae desaa daoiae baleannta a bhi saa ait "he was one of the most learned men in the place" = duiae desaa daoiae ba leannta . . . dob ea e; td si ar chailia chomh deas agus a gheofd "she is as pretty a girl as you would find". VOCABULARY ach chomh beag either (after ait (at) queer, strange a negative) ar dtuis (er-dodsh) at first 154 IRISH bus m. bus feitheamh (fihav) le awaiting cathair (kahir) f. city fior-bheagan a very little ceile (keli) m. and f. com- laetheanta saoire (lahanta panion, partner; i dteannta seeri) holidays a cheile together sara fada before long cerbh i fein? who was she? slua (slooa) m. crowd comhra (ko-raa) m. con- taitneann se Horn (7 like it, versation him costas (kosdas) m. cost teacht ar cuairt (chun) to cuimhnim (kee-neem) / re- visit member tuath (tooa) f.: ar an dtuaith cuirim moill ar / delay in the county (trans.) uaigneas (ooaginas) m. loneli- deanach (deeanach) late ness fagaim slan (ag) I say good- bye (to) Exercise 61 1. Do chuas fein agus Seamas don Daingean inne agus casadh Liam 6 Murchadha orainn. 2. Mac drifear do Mhaire Ni Dhomhnaill is ea e. 3. "Conas taoi?" ar seisean. "Is fada na faca thu." 4. "Cad na thaobh", arsa raise leis, "na tagann tu ar cuairt chuinn?" 5. "Is annamh a theim go dti an baile mor, mar is fada Horn an turas nuair na bionn gno agam ann." 6. Do thosnaigh se ag cur ceisteanna orm fe mar na beadh aithne aige orm i n-aon chor. 7. Ar airis a leitheid riamh? Is ait an duine e. 8. Duirt se Horn go bhfuil tithe nua da ndeanamh ar Bhothar na Tragha agus gur doigh leis go bhfaighidh se ceann acu. 9. D'imios uaidh sara gcuirfeadh se fearg orm. 10. Nior dheineas ach fior-bheagan cainte leis. 11. Thanag abhaile ar an mbus, agus do bhios anso ar a se a chlog. 12. Ba dhobair go dtitfmn agus me ag teacht anuas den bhus, ach tharla go raibh mo dhearthair ag feitheamh Horn agus d'eirigh leis breith orm. Exercise 62 1. James Murphy and I were in Killarney on Thursday, and we met a niece (brother's daughter) of James's. 1 2. 1 did not ^eep. 79. LESSON XXVII 155 recognise her at first, and she did not recognise me either; but when she spoke to James, I knew who she was. 3. She lives (is living) in Cork now, and she comes to Killarney only to spend holidays there. 4. "I cannot come oftener," she said, "for I find the journey too long and the cost too great." 5. We spent the day together, and in the evening we went to the station with her. 6. "May God bring you safe home!" said James. 7. "Don't forget to visit us before long." 8. "I thought she spoke as though she did not like the city", said I, when she had gone. 9. "Perhaps she is lonely," said James. 10. "I am glad that I live in the country." 11. We were almost late for the bus, but it happened that there was a big crowd waiting for it, and that delayed it. Passages of Irish Prose and Verse (o The most successful writer of the Munster dialect is Canon Peter O'Leary (1839-1920), and the learner will do well to begin his reading with O'Leary's works. Here is the begin- ning of the story of Seadna, generally considered his best book: Bhi fear ann fado agus is e ainm a bhi air na Seadna. Gresai ab ea e. Bhi tigh beag deas cluthar aige ag bun cnoic, ar thaobh na fothana. Bhi cathaoir shugain aige do dhein se fein do fein, agus ba ghnath leis sui inti um thrath- nona, nuair a bhiodh obair an lae criochnaithe, agus nuair a shuiodh se inti bhiodh se ar a shastacht. Bhi mealbhog mine aige ar crochadh i n-aice na tine, agus anois agus aris chuireadh se a lamh inti agus thogadh se lan a dhoirn den mhin, agus bhiodh se a chogaint ar a shuaimhneas. Bhi crann ull ag fas ar an dtaobh amuigh de dhoras aige, agus nuair a bhiodh tart air 6 bheith ag cogaint na mine, chuir- eadh se lamh sa chrann san agus thogadh se ceann desna hullaibh, agus d'itheadh se e. La da raibh se ag deanamh brog, thug se fe ndeara na raibh a thuilleadh leathair aige, na a thuilleadh snatha, na a thuilleadh cearach. Bhi an taoibhin deanach thuas agus 156 IRISH an greim deanach curtha, agus nior bh'fholair do dul agus abhar do sholathar sara bhfeadfadh se a thuilleadh brog a dheanamh. Do ghluais se ar maidin, agus bhi tri scillinge ina phoca, agus ni raibh se ach mile on dtigh nuair a bhuail duine bocht uime, a d'iarraidh dearca. "Tabhair dhom deirc ar son an tSlanaitheora agus le hana- man do mharbh, agus tar cheann do shlainte," arsan duine bocht. Thug Seadna scilling do, agus ansan ni raibh aige ach dha scilling. Duirt se leis fein go mb'fheidir go ndeanfadh an da setting a ghno. Ni raibh se ach mile eile 6 bhaile nuair a bhuail bean bhocht uime agus i cos-nochtaithe. "Tabhair dhom cunamh eigin," ar sise, "ar son an tSlanaitheora, agus le hanaman do mharbh, agus tar cheann do shlainte." Do ghlac trua dhi e, agus thug se scilling di, agus d'imigh si. Do bhi aon scilling amhain ansan aige, ach do chomain se leis, ag brath air go mbuailfeadh seans eigin uime a chuirfeadh ar a chumas a ghno a dheanamh. Nior bh'fhada gur casadh air leanbh agus e ag gol le macht agus le hocras. "Ar son an tSlanaitheora," arsan leanbh, "tabhair dhom rud eigin le n-ithe." Bhi tigh osta i ngar doibh, agus do chuaigh Seadna isteach ann, agus cheannaigh se brie arain agus thug se chun an linbh e. Nuair fuair an leanbh an t-aran d'athraigh a dhealbh. D'fhas se suas i n-aoirde, agus do las solas ion- tach 'na shuilibh agus 'na cheannaithibh, i dtreo go dtainig scanradh ar Sheadna. Chomh luath agus d'fhead se labhairt, duirt se: "Cad e an saghas duine thusa?" Agus is e freagra a fuair se: "A Shedna, ta Dia buioch diot. Aingeal is ea mise. Is me an triu haingeal gur thugais deirc do inniu ar son an tSlanaitheora. Agus anois ta tri ghui agat le fail 6 Dhia na gloire. Iarr ar Dhia aon tri ghui is toil Teat, agus gheobhair iad. Ach ta aon chomhairle amhain agam-sa le tabhairt duit— na dearmhad an trocaire." LESSON XXVII 157 "Agus an ndeirir Horn go bhfaighead mo ghuf?" arsa Seadna. "Deirim, gan amhras," arsan t-aingeal. "Ta go maith," arsa Seadna. "Ta cathaoir bheag dheas shugain agam sa bhaile, agus an uile dhailtin a thagann isteach, ni folair leis sui inti. An chead duine eile a shuifidh inti, ach me fein, go gceangla se inti!" "Faire, faire, a Sheadna!" arsan t-aingeal; "sin gui bhrea imithe gan tairbhe. Ta dha cheann eile agat, agus na dearmhad an trocaire." "Ta," arsa Seadna, "mealbhoigin mine agam sa bhaile, agus an uile dhailtin a thagann isteach, ni folair leis a dhorn a sha inti. An chead duine eile a chuirfidh lamh sa mheal- bhoig sin, ach me fein, go gceangla se inti, feach!" "6, a Sheadna, a Sheadna, nil fasc agat!" arsan t-aingeal. "Nil agat anois ach aon ghui amhain eile. Iarr trocaire De dot'^anam." "6, is fior dhuit," arsa Seadna, "ba dhobair dom e dhearmhad. Ta crann beag ull agam i leataoibh mo dhorais, agus an uile dhailtin a thagann an treo, ni folair leis a lamh do chur i n-airde agus ull do stathadh agus do bhreith leis. An chead duine eile, ach me fein, a chuirfidh lamh sa chrann san, go gceangla se ann!— O! a dhaoine," ar seisean, ag sceartadh ar ghairi, "nach agam a bheidh an sport orthul" Nuair a thainig se as na trithibh, d'fheach se suas agus bhi an t-aingeal imithe. Dhein se a mhachnamh air fein ar feadh tamaill mhaith. Fe dheireadh thiar thall, duirt se leis fein: "Feach anois, nil aon amadan i n-Eirinn is mo na me! Da mbeadh triur ceangailte agam um an dtaca so, duine sa chathaoir, duine sa mhealbhoig, agus duine sa chrann, cad e an mhaith a dheanfadh san domh-sa agus me i bhfad 6 bhaile, gan bhia, gan deoch, gan airgead?" Ni tuisce a bhi an meid sin cainte raite aige na thug se fe ndeara os a chomhair amach, san ait ina raibh an t- aingeal, fear fada caol dubh, agus e ag glinniuint air, agus tine chreasa ag teacht as a dha shuil ina sprechaibh nimhe. 158 IRISH Bhi dha adhairc air mar a bheadh ar phocan gabhair, agus meigeall fada liath-ghorm garbh air; eireaball mar a bheadh ar mhada rua, agus crub ar chois leis mar chrub thairbh. Do leath a bheal agus a dha shuil ar Sheadna, agus do stad a chaint. I gcionn tamaill do labhair an Fear Dubh. "A Sheadna," ar seisean "ni ga dhuit aon eagla do bheith ort romhamsa. Nilim ar ti do dhiobhala. Ba mhian Horn tairbhe eigin a dhenamh duit, da nglactha mo chomhairle. Do chloiseas thu anois beag a ra go rabhais gan bhia, gan deoch, gan airgead. Thabharfainn-se airgead do dhothain duit ar aon choinnioll bheag amhain." "Agus greadadh tri lar do scart!" arsa Seadna, agus thainig a chaint do; "na feadfa an meid sin do ra gan duine do mhilleadh led' chuid glinniuna, pe he thu fein?" "Is cuma dhuit ce he me, ach bhearfad an oiread airgid duit anois agus cheannoidh an oiread leathair agus choi- meadfaidh ag obair thu go ceann tri mblian ndeag, ar an gcoinnioll so— go dtiocfair Horn an uair sin." "Agus ma reitim leat, ca raghaimid an uair sin?" "Ca beag duit an cheist sin do chur nuair a bheidh an leathar idithe agus bheimid ag gluaiseacht?" "Biodh ina mhargadh!" arsa Seadna. "Gan teip?"- arsan Fear Dubh. "Gan teip," arsa Seadna. "Dar bhri na mionn?" arsan Fear Dubh. "Dar bhri na mionn." arsa Seadna. (ii) One of the finest poets of the moderm period is Eoghan Rua 6 Suilleabhain (1748-1784). This lullaby is chosen for its simplicity. The metres of his songs are a matter for separate study. They are based on an elaborate system of rhymes. The metrical analysis of the second verse here is as follows: ~ X ~ u - u - 6 ~ X ~ u - u - 6 ~ X ~ a - a - 6 ~ X ^ 1 - 1 - 6 LESSON XXVII 159 It will be noticed that the final rhyme in -6 is maintained throughout the poem. Seotho, a thoil, nd goil go foill. Seotho, a thoill na goil go foill. Do gheobhair gan dearmad taisce gach seoid Do bhi ag do shinsear rioga romhat I n-Eirinn iath-ghlais Choinn is Eoghain. Seotho, a thoil! na goil go foill. Seotho, a linbh, a chumainn 's a stor, Mo chuig cead cumha go dubhach faoi bhron Tu ag sileadh na sul 's do chom gan Ion! Do gheobhair ar dtuis an t-ull id' dhoid Do bhi ag an dtriur i gcluid id' chomhair, An staf bhi ag Pan— ba ghreanta an tseoid— 'S an tslat bhi ag Maois ghniodh dion do 's treoir. Seotho, a thoil! etc. Do gheobhair 'na bhfochair sin lomra an 6ir Thug Iason trean don Ghreig ar bord, 'S an trean-each cuthaigh mear cumasach 6g Do bhi ag Coin Chulainn, ceann urraidh na slo. Seotho, a thoil! etc. Do gheobhair slea Aicill ba chalma i ngleo, Is craoiseach Fhinn gan mhoill id' dhoid, Eide Chonaill dob ursa le treoin, Is sciath gheal Naois 6 Chraoibh na slo. Seotho, a thoil! etc. Do gheobhair saill uaim, fion is beoir, Is eadach greanta ba mhaise do threoin; Ach 6 chim do bhuime chum sa rod Ni gheallfad uaim duit duais nios mo. Seotho, a thoil! etc. i6o IRISH Hush, darling! Don't cry just yet! You shall get without fail possession of every treasure That your royal ancestors had before you In green-clad Ireland of Conn and Eoghan. Hush, darling! Don't cry just yet! Hush, baby, my love and my treasure! My five hundred sorrows, as I lament That you are crying your eyes out on an empty stomach! You shall get first into your hand the apple Which the Three Maidens put aside for you, The staff of Pan— it was a handsome treasure— And the rod of Moses which protected and guided him. Hush, darling! You shall get with them the Golden Fleece Which brave Jason brought in a ship from Greece, And the mettlesome swift horse, young and sturdy Of Cu Chulainn, the leader of the hosts. Hush, darling! You shall get the spear of Achilles who was valiant in battle And the javelin of Finn into your hand without delay, The amour of Conall who stood with the brave, And the bright shield of Naoise from the Branch of the Hosts! 1 Hush, darling! You shall have bacon from me, wine and beer, And handsome clothes that would do honour to warriors; But I see your nurse coming along the road, So I will promise you no more rewards. Hush, darling! 1 The banquet-hall at Emain Macha. LESSON XXVII 161 Conclusion. For farther reading we recommend Hyde's old books Beside the Fire and The Love-Songs of Connacht, if the reader can get hold of them. Both have an English translation opposite to the Irish text. They are written in the Connacht dialect, but the reader who has mastered the lessons given here should have no great difficulty with them, apart from the old spelling. It was of the Love-Songs that Yeats said: "the prose parts of this book were the coming of a new power into language." He meant, of course, Hyde's English trans- lation, but one of the claims of Modern Irish upon the English-speaking world is that it is the source of that power. Failing these, for they are out of print and could only be found in public libraries, O'Leary's Seadna, Bricriu and An Craos-Deamhan are good books to begin with. There is a complete vocabulary to Seadna, sold separately, which is useful for all his books, but Dinneen's Irish Dictionary is indispensable. O'Leary's autobiography, Mo Sgeal Fein, may also be recommended. The next step will be to tackle the famous autobiography of Tomas 6 Criomhthain, An tOilednach, of which there is a translation by Robin Flower, The Islandman; and then two other books from Corca Dhuibhne, Fiche Blian ag Fas, by Muiris 6 Suilleabhain 1 and Peig by Peg Sayers. By that time the reader will be choosing for himself, and beginning to feel his way into the Munster poetry of the seventeenth and eighteenth centuries, and perhaps even the lyric and bardic poetry of an earlier time. 1 Twenty Years A-Growing, translated by Moya Llywelyn Davies and George Thomson, London, 1933, .