Re: Leodhasach & Hearasch - Gaelic help please

On Sat, 21 Jul 2007 12:04:11 GMT, Karen McDonald <karen1215@xxxxxxxxx>
wrote:

On Fri, 20 Jul 2007 21:39:29 GMT, The Highlander <micheil@xxxxxxx>
wrote:

It is - mea culpa - I was concentrating on the singular form and
misunderstood that you were giving both forms....

Leòdhasaich is the plural and genitive form of Leòdhasach.

Similarly, Hearaich is the plural and genitive form of Hearach..

The word Tearach (and Tearaich) is also heard for Hearach.

-aich is a common genitive and plural ending, thus:
Sgitheanach (person from Skye)
a Eilean Sgitheanach - from Skye
Sgiathanach (-aich, aich) a local spelling variation.

Hiortach is someone from St, Kilda and is also called Tiortach,
Hirteach and Tirteach.

an t-Eilean Rùm - the Isle of Rum
a Eilean Rùim - from the Isle of Rum
a Rùma - from Rum
Rùmach - a person from Rum
Rùmaich - people from Rum

Somewhat irregular because Rum is a pre-Gaelic name.

Eigg (masc.) is also irregular -
Eigeach - someone from Eigg
Eigich - people from or pertaining to Eigg.

Here is a pronunciation for you:

http://tinyurl.com/2suhdx

Great to hear it from the horse's mouth

Better than from the horse's other end, that's for sure!

Thank you very much gentlemen for your invaluable help.

I need this information because I am writing a brief account of a
meeting I had in April 1970 with a friend who had just spent the
Easter holidays with her granny in Stornoway. She was comparing life
on Lewis and Harris with that in Glasgow. So, one of my sentences
might read,

'It was interesting to note how, at this time, the lives of (LEWISERS)
and (HARRISERS) compared to those of us domiciled on the mainland.'

This is why I wanted to know the correct plural formats and whether
they could be used when referring to everyone - males and females. I
should also like to indicate in the text how the words Leòdhasaich and
Hearaich are pronounced phonetically in English. The quoted URL gives
fine indications for the singular forms, but now I am wondering about
the plurals. I am obliged to be accurate, because how annoying must it
be to native Gaelic speakers when writers in English don't take proper
care of the language.

Just change the last sound to - eech (ch as in och) and you have it.

Go here http://www.ambaile.com/en/search/subject_id?id=428 and you can
listen to traditional story tellers. My favourites are "A' Ghobhar
Ghlas agus na Trì Minn" (The Grey Goat and the Three Kids) and
"Pàdraig na Beinne" (Peter of the Hill.) Both speakers have beautiful
voices and speak with the accents of the Isle of Lewis.

If you follow the written English version, you will find that the
endings are missing. I can supply them.

You might also go to http://www.bbc.co.uk/scotland/alba/

where you can listen to Gaelic live (Click "Èisd beò" (Listen live) or
select from past programs by clicking on "Èisd a-rithist (Listen
again).

I'm a great fan of "A' mire ri Mòir" (Merriment with Mòrag) who is a
dear elderly lady from the Isle of Barra and plays traditional Gaelic
music on her show and is, as they say in Hollywood; a legend in her
own lifetime!

You might also check out "An Litir Bheag" (the little letter) and
"Litir do Luchd-Ionnsachaidh" (Letter to learners) by Ruairidh
MacIlleathain (Roddy Maclean) who writes a weekly series of
stories and observations, along with detailed explanations of the
Gaelic used in each letter.

It's actually a very large site and includes a long list of Gaelic
words and their translations. There are/were audio pronunciations, but
I was unable to find them today. The site is being fixed for some
major problem, so hopefully they will reappear soon.

Use the A-U index to navigate and examine what the site offers.

I am also keen to verify the accuracy of specific comments my friend
made that afternoon about life on Lewis and Harris circa 1970. Thus I
should very much welcome your expert opinions on this too.

I should tell you that I'm no expert - I've been living in Canada for
nearly forty years and so my memories are from WW2. Sad to say, there
are only seven or eight of us still alive here who can speak Gaelic.
However, there are many Gaelic sites on line and here is a listing of
some of them, courtesy of Rampant Scotland.

http://www.rampantscotland.com/gaelic.htm

If you are thinking seriously abour learning Gaelic, here are (in my
opinion) the two best sites on the Net.

http://www.akerbeltz.org/

and

http://www.taic.btinternet.co.uk/

I have started another thread entitled: 'Lewis and Harris in 1970'.

Once again I am extremely obliged for your input. Many thanks indeed.

Karen

Is e do bheatha - You're welcome! (lit. He is thy life - a reference
to God.)

As Jock Thomson said to his bairns, "Aye keep cawin' awa!"

The Highlander
Tilgibh smucaid air do làmhan,
togaibh a' bhratach dhubh agus
toisichibh a' geàrradh na sgòrnanan!
.