Irish Translation Forum

blixt wrote:

Tanis wrote:I am a tad confused on how a person can learn when it is spoken without translation anyhoo...but I suppose I just wont be included in OT threads if that is what the rules are

Níl aon duine ag déanamh riailacha nua. Ach ní thuigim conas is féidir leat rudaí nua a fhoglaim má tá gach rud as Béarla! Agus ar an taobh eile den scéal, tuigim go bhfuil sé deacair rudaí fada a léamh as Gaeilge. Mar sin, beidh mé ag iarraidh gach rud a scríobh le leagan gonta as Béarla.

Measaim gur mhodh seo céim ar an gcosán ceart... Is féidir liom, agus beidh mé ag usáid an modh fréisin. Agus, b'fhéidir, t'éis tamaill beidhimid saortha ó na slabhraí Bhéarla!!!

I consider that this method is a a step on the right path. I'm able, and I will be using this method too. And, maybe, after a while we will be free of the shackles of English!!!

-jp

jamesnp wrote:Measaim gur mhodh seo céim ar an gcosán ceart

Was I right to use the copula there... or would go bhfuil have been correct?

-jp

Sílim gurbh fhearr - Measaim gur chéim ar an gcosán ceart é an modh seo

maybelline wrote:Well, I'll try to slip in a little Irish, but I guess as much more correction will be needed then

Ach is rud maith sin! Is é cuid mhór an bealaigh foghlama!

(But that's a good thing! It's a large part of the learning process!)

Redwolf

P.S. Corrections to my attempt, as always, welcome and invited.

Going entirely to English here, because my Irish isn't strong enough to convey what I want to say:

Don't be afraid of making mistakes, Maybelline...especially if we're just chatting rather than offering translations. I have always contended that one of the reasons children learn languages so much more easily than adults is that children aren't afraid of being wrong, so they use what they know. When my daughter started learning Spanish in second grade, she would happily use her "cúpla focal" on anyone who would listen, which pleased Spanish speakers to no end. To this day, there is a waiter here in Santa Cruz who will ONLY speak to Johanna in Spanish (even though he has excellent English) because he wants to help her learn.

If a funny story will help: my very first translation attempt here was an utter disaster. Someone was looking for the phrase "burning oak." I figured that would be an easy one, so I looked up the word for "oak" in my dictionary: Dair. Then I looked up "burning." Now, there are a couple of words and phrases that mean "burning," and I chose the first one without thinking about it. Unfortunately, the word I chose, "loiscneach" refers more to a burning, scorching or stinging SENSATION...not to the act of being on fire! I still speak ruefully about giving that poor poster "poison oak"! Fortunately someone else came along and gave a more correct translation.

(To those unfamiliar with it, poison oak is a plant native to the Western U.S. that causes a painfully itchy, burning, weeping rash on something like 80% of the people who come in physical contact with it).

Redwolf

Ach is é deacair do tosaitheoir. (guess, that's wrong?)

But it's difficult for a beginner

Redwolf wrote:Don't be afraid of making mistakes, Maybelline...especially if we're just chatting rather than offering translations. I have always contended that one of the reasons children learn languages so much more easily than adults is that children aren't afraid of being wrong, so they use what they know. When my daughter started learning Spanish in second grade, she would happily use her "cúpla focal" on anyone who would listen, which pleased Spanish speakers to no end. To this day, there is a waiter here in Santa Cruz who will ONLY speak to Johanna in Spanish (even though he has excellent English) because he wants to help her learn.

You're right, Redwolf. I guess children are much more unconcerned with their mistakes. But I still try to avoid bugging you. Even if you say, I don't get on your nerves, I think "urgh - another stupid question" And sometimes I have to think over the English explanations, too. Perhaps I just shouldn't bother my head about it that much

maybelline wrote:Ach is é deacair do tosaitheoir. (guess, that's wrong?)

But it's difficult for a beginner

Is ea. Tá a fhios agam. Ach foghlaimeoidh tú i bhfad níos fearr ar an gcaoi seo.


(It is. I know. But you will learn far better in this way. And I'm sure that's full of mistakes too. )

Redwolf

I don't know if I've said this already, but most of the gaelic I know are endearments. won't serve very well in conversation.

abigail wrote:I don't know if I've said this already, but most of the gaelic I know are endearments. won't serve very well in conversation.

Well, just learn some basics