Irish Translation Forum

Hi everybody!

Newbie here and first big request *g*
Hope you won't eat me.

OK, my question would be that I'm looking for volunteers to help me build a language for an RPG (role playing game) based in Irish Gaelic.
I don't want to go on tolkienesque ways to re-build a complete thing, just a few basics like simple dictionary, grammar etc. Some words already exist, stitched together from ideas and other influences.

I'ld very much appreciate some help in this sector. I'm not that into languages and Latin and English besides German doesn't help much with something from the Gaelic border.

Besides, I have a few questions concerning simple translations

Kim

Well, Gaelic grammar is rather complex, the best thing is if you post the phrases you need translated here and we'll translate them as best you can.

For you to construct a language based on Gaelic you would really need to be fluent in Gaelic, I would think.

I was more thinking about giving some gaelic-influenced examples für this speculative language.
I'll have to dig up my old notes to see what I already built some years ago.
This would take some time.

For now, I've got a more common question.
I read about the vocative usage of names and am a bit conused. That sounds right with names like Liam and such.
But what do you do with foreign names if you want to address a person.
The one example I have in mind is the romani name Tsagoi. I have no idea what do do with this one and I'ld like to have a translation for the sentence 'Dont' worry about this right now, Tsagoi.'

And what happens to nicknames in Gaelic?

Kim

Arki wrote: 'Dont' worry about this right now, Tsagoi.'

Ná bí imníoch faoi seo faoi láthair, a Tsagoi.


Mostly, foreign names are not changed in the vocative, only Irish ones.

Thanks, Ailil!

Mostly? What are the other cases?
Sorry if I'm asking that much, but if i'm getting on your nerves, tell me what to read first before I should come back

Kim

Sorry, ALL foreign names!

Hallo, Arki ... und Wilkommen !

I've a question, if you don't mind. Will this be a role play "game" ... or is this for a role play "chatroom" ? The reason I ask, is that there are some role playing chatrooms based on Ireland of Old, so to speak --- that many call a "game".

For phrases, there are a few links to the left of the screen ... "Sayings" and "Freq translations" are where you can find some things you may be able to use. If you are looking to translate one word here and there in a sentence (ie: Failte ! It is good to have you home again, a ghrá !) ... there is a link to various online "Dictionaries" as well. As Ailill said, grammar is rather complex and one can not translate word for word ... not too unlike taking a sentence in German and translating it word for word in another language. Words will get switched around, as you well know ... not to mention, depending on the surrounding words, can lose complete meaning.

I wish you much luck in this endeavor, mein Schatz, you've not taken on an easy task ... ... and no, you are not unnerving anyone. Questions are wonderful and is how one learns.

Bis bald -
Cristí

Moin, Cristí!

Well, if anyone wants to take a look, it's a paper& Pen rpg called Kinthara and you can find it here:
http://www.kinthara.de
It's all in german, so it'll be a bit hard for most of you to understand what's going on.
So I'll try to explain a little.

The language in question is called Dhakan and is supposed to be the native tongue of an elven-like people. I say elven-like, because they're loosely based on classic elves but are not quite alike. I hate clichees, so I didn't want to produce another Tolkien-colne.
I already created a little word-by-word dictionary. What's still missing are examples for the grammar. As the words I put together were derivated of some gaelic dialects and online dictionaries I found on the web, there isn't much consistency and no one will bother if grammar and syntax look the same way. The samples should only deliver a feeling for the language, for the flow of it, nothing more.

The problem is, that Dhakan stems from a much older language, the Vedhakan which is said to be the first language to be spoken - at least according to the creation myth of the people. In truth, many words of Dhakan are shortened and mangled versions of Vedhakan. But I mixed other influences into both languages as well.
It's been quite some time I worked on anything about the rpg besides pictures, so I propably don't remember correctly right now.

I studied linguistics for a semester or so, had latin classes at school and used this knowledge of basic grammar and so on for some squabbling over the whole stuff.
But that doesn't substitute real knowledge of a real language based on the same principles in any case.
I had a japanese-based language in that world, too, and that's weird, too. Difficult as hell, but I always do that kind of research for my projects.
I think it gives a more substantial feel to worl, setting and plots in any case.

I hope I didn't confuse you too much *g*
And for Cristí and this project:
'S´gôht hald blos breggallesweis' - I'm used to taking my time
And that was german as well, but an obscure dialect. Do you know that one? *lol*

Kim

did I see a MOIN? yay, another Fischkopp

Kim, the best site about Irish grammar in German is www.braesicke.de/gramadac.htm
A lot of us refer to Lars when sticky questions come up.

A paper and pen RPG sounds cool!

'S´gôht hald blos breggallesweis' ??
is
gôht=geht
hald=halt
blos=bloss

Is that MHD or AHD? *sigh* I wish I had stuck it out and hung on to studying Germanistik till the end. I'm in Oldenburg now but lived 3 years in Kiel

@Méabh: Ha noi, des isch wie d'r Schwob schwätzt... Und das war jetzt wahrscheinlich auch nicht ganz korrekt. Breggalasweis = bröckchenweise. Und ein Fischkopp bin ich eigentlich auch nicht sondern waschechte Hessin - sogar in Frankrurt geboren *g*
Das 'moin' stammt von meinem Cheffe an der Uni und der ist... Ostfriese *ggg*

Thanks for the link, will check it out when I've got some time left.
And time's something I don't have a lot these days o_O

I developed two P&P-RPGs and am actually testing them to death via Boardplay. So, if anyone is interested, I might as well try them in english. The other project is called Psittacora and loosely linked to Kinthara. But that RPG is about playing an intelligent... bird *ggg*

Kim