Re: Any Gaelic speakers? Yes Highlander this means YOU!


"Chicmac" <charles.mcgregor@xxxxxxxxxxxx> wrote in message
news:1185525090.934023.214510@xxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxx
On 26 Jul, 04:38, The Highlander <mich...@xxxxxxx> wrote:
On Wed, 25 Jul 2007 11:05:50 -0700, Chicmac

<charles.mcgre...@xxxxxxxxxxxx> wrote:
Hi,

I was contacted by a guy who runs an online fanfic anthology site. He
is looking for someone who can convert lines in English from a
character who is SUPPOSED to be speaking ancient Gaelic, into
something which can convey that but still be understood by English
speakers.

No kidding! That would be tough, considering that neither language
bears any relationship to each other.

I work a fulltime job, you know, running a business as well as writing
advertising on occasion because it pays handsomely. I've taken a few
days off because I have a poisoned leg and just spent most of today
explaining Gaelic pronunciation to a lady up thread - check out the
thread headed "Re: Leodhasach & Hearasch - Gaelic help please".







I suggested using literal translations from how it would be said in
Gaelic but preserving the Gaelic word order eg's "It's the day
beautiful today!" plus a smattering of common Gaelic expressions that
are commonly used e.g. 'idir, idir', 'Alba gu brath', etc. These
could be translated for the reader once then used.

He liked that idea but I said I would post his request here as I a
not a writer.

He got my name from someone on a comic forum from a suggested story
line I posted once but on which I am a member through being an artist.

Unfortunately I do not think any of the writers there have the gaelic.

Cue s.c.s. and a chance to get authentic Gaelic syntax out there on
the web.

I just did!



A wee fun project.

Better than another 'Och aye the noo Jimmy' or Scotty from Startrek
effort eh?

Unfortunately, aside from not being a writer we are also in the
process of getting the house ready to sell as we are moving back to
the East Coast. (Angus).

It will just entail him giving you the character's lines and you
converting them into appropriately Gaelicised English.

How much will he pay?

He would do better getting a copy of "The Vital Spark" by Neil Munro
and using Para Handy's dialogue, or failing that. a copy of "Whisky
Galore" by Compton Mackenzie, which also contains a glossary of common
Gaelic phrases. Both should be in his local library.

It's a sort of 19th century idea, when Lowlanders enjoyed mocking
Highland and Irish English and portrayed Highlanders and Irishmen as
ignorant peasants. I'm incredibly unthrilled by the concept. I can't
imagine what sort of audience it would attract.

The Highlander
Tilgibh smucaid air do làmhan,
togaibh a' bhratach dhubh agus
toisichibh a' geàrradh na sgòrnanan!- Hide quoted text -

- Show quoted text -

The idea is to avoid the self-deprecating coonery which Scots have
been brainwashed into, and attempt to come up with a version fit for a
hero to speak.

I didn't give him examples of comedic usage of Lowland or Highland
Scots, but those are two, along with Rab C, Francie & Josie, Scotland
the Whit? etc.

The point is virtually the ONLY time Scots of either type is used is
to for self-deprecation or social voyerism by others.

Gettng a version which a superhero can use without it being comedic,
is a real challenge, and perhaps not possible.

You are, of course, talking arrant nonsense. The Scottish languages are
spoken by Scots, throughout Scotland, every hour of every day. They are the
languages of everything. The only places that they are not in common
everyday use are the class room and the media. You need to get out more. I
could quote you so many instances it would make your eyes water. I worked in
the Royal Dockyard and Scots was the language used. I worked as an
electrical fitter and for part of the time was in the section called, "Yard
Machinery", which was the installation of all kinds of electrical supply
from ship to shore electrical connection to the lighting and power of office
buildings. I thus witnessed all sorts of people while they, if they noticed
me at all treated me like part of the furniture. I often heard office
workers speaking Scots between themselves then picking up a ringing phone
and speaking English to the caller on line. I heard the canteen staff
speaking Scots to each other but adopting English to serve the, "Hecht heid
ains", in the officers section. The head of the Management Training section
was an apprentice just six months before my intake and he lives in the same
Scots speaking village as myself - he speaks Scots. The people who crewed
the small craft around the yard were Scots speakers and some were Gaelic
speakers.

Just because the only time YOU hear Scots spoken is on TV and Radio shows
says a lot about you and your lifestyle.
I believe a certain poster on these forums refers to your type as,
"Britclones". He does so with some justification.

Would you like me to translate all that into Scots for you?
In point of fact the vocabulary of Scottish words far exceeds that of
English for over and above the entire English vocabulary having a direct
Scottish equivalent there are a great many Scots words that have no direct
English translation.
For example could you give a one word English translation of Stushie?
I tried and could only come up with -
fuss;commotion;hubbub;uproar;quarrel;row;turbulence;tumult - yet none of
these really describes a, "Stushie", and it differs a bit from, "Strooshie",
(squabble), but is quite close in meaning.
What of Harr? It is neither a fog nor a mist but a Scot knows exactly what
it is.
Then we have the commonly used, "Driech", there just is no single English
word that will fit that bill either.
As you are obviously confused as to what constitutes Lowland Scots there is
no point in quoting some of the less well used words in Scottish Standard
English which is what you seem to consider the language to be.
As I said - you need to get out a bit more into the real World.
--

Robert Peffers,
Kelty,
Fife,
Scotland, (UK).


.

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