GAELTALK: Scottish Gaelic News
By MAUREEN LYON
Scottish Gaelic events for the fall are listed below:
November 3 - Ceilidh at the Scottish Cultural Centre (upstairs)
December 1 - December Concert Scottish Cultural Centre (Main Hall)
There will be no ceilidh in January.
The Vancouver Gaelic Society has flourished in the city since 1908. Next year we celebrate 100 years of maintaining the culture, through language, song and dance. On May 3, 2008 an appropriate celebration will mark this special milestone at the Scottish Cultural Centre. Details will be advertised early in the New Year.
The Language
It is said to be difficult to learn and to pronounce. But heed not! Listen to some of the incredibly beautiful Gaelic melodies and find yourself entranced and ready to master the enchanting sounds of the Celtic world.
Sometimes you may need a native speaker to guide you, and you may find this type of assistance by joining the Vancouver Gaelic Choir, or by attending Gaelic lessons, all at the Scottish Cultural Centre.
Telephone contacts are Maureen Lyon (604) 536-1367 or John MacLeod (604) 432-9216.
Gaelic Lesson
In Scottish Gaelic the verb comes before the noun.
Phonetics
The boy is tired. Tha an gille sgith Ha in geelluh sgeeh
is the boy tired
The coat is black. Tha an cota dubh Ha in cawtuh dooh.
is the coat black
The old man is deaf. Tha am bodach bodhar Ha im bawdoch bowuhr.
is the old man deaf.
I am cold. Tha mi fuar a nis Ha mee foouhr uh neesh.
am I cold now
I mi meeh
You (sing.) thu ooh
She i eeh
He e eh
we sinn sheenh
you (pl) sibh sheev
they iad eead
I am coming. Tha mi a' tighinn. Ha meeh uh cheeheen.
You are silly. Tha thu gorach. Ha ooh orach
We are sad. Tha sinn bronach. Ha sheenh brawnach.
She is cold. Tha i fuar Ha eeh foouhr
You (pl.) are singing Tha sibh a' seinn. Ha sheev uh shueenh
They are happy. Tha iad sona. Ha eead sonuh.
It is best to listen to a native Gaelic speaker carefully, and create your own phonetic alternatives.
Pronounciation hint: To make an authentic Gaelic "d" or "t" sound, place the tongue behind the two front teeth, and push forward - dubh dooh; bodach bawdoch; cota cawtuh.
A Traditional fairy's love song chorus:
Tha mi sgith 's mi leam fhin, buain a' rainich, buain a' rainich,
I am tired all alone, cutting bracken, cutting bracken,
Tha mi sgith 's mi leam fhin, buain a' rainich daonnan.
I am tired all alone, cutting bracken always.
Cul an tomain, braigh an tomain, cul an tomain bhoidhich
Behind the hillock, on the breast of the hillock, behind the beautiful hillock,
Cul an tomain , braigh an tomain, h-uile la nam aonar.
Behind the hillock, on the breast of the hillock, every day alone.
Seanfhacal - A Proverb
Is math an sgathan suil caraide.
A friend's eye is a worthy looking glass.
The Dance
Dancers who feel the dance as part of their soul know that "music makes the dance." Hebridean music brings its own special quality into what is now known as Ceilidh Dancing, Scotttish Country Dancing and Step Dancing.
The tunes are alive, yet hauntingly beautiful. They appear on almost every dance label and most of these melodies started as Gaelic Puirt a Beul or Mouth Music, sung in olden times to replace unavailable instruments.
In the West Highlands accordion music led the dance, in the village hall, in a barn, or very often on the road at a bridge or cross roads.
Imagine a crisp clear moonlight night, a gathering of villagers dancing, accordion music accompanied by the torrent of water rolling under the bridge below - an experience indeed, but long gone through the passage of time!
Did you know that?
Hallowe'en celebrations echo through the centuries to Celtic origins. The last day of the Celtic year fell on October 31. In druidical times it was known as Samhain meaning end of summer.
Druids celebrated the Feast of the Dead, believing that people could return to earth as evil spirits. Ritual fires and incantations were commonly used to control the wandering spirits. To coincide with this date a Christian Festival on All Hallows (Saints) Day was arranged for November 1.
The mysterious aura around Hallowe'en led people to believe that children born on October 31 may inherit special supernatural gifts.
Gum bi gach beannachd maille riubh (Goom beeh gach beeannochk maeeelluh rueev).
May every blessing be yours.
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