Irish Translation Forum

Ailill wrote:

oisin718 wrote:
Why? Is this a repeated/habitual thing?

I think so. Something tested and renewed every day.

That's very odd. If it's tested and renewed each day, then it's not eternal. I don't think you can use the habitual in that kind of way.

oisin718 wrote:
That's very odd. If it's tested and renewed each day, then it's not eternal. I don't think you can use the habitual in that kind of way.

You Jesuit.

It just sounds better to me that way.

Ailill wrote:

oisin718 wrote:
That's very odd. If it's tested and renewed each day, then it's not eternal. I don't think you can use the habitual in that kind of way.

You Jesuit.[/quit]


Yes, casuistry is one thing they did teach me well!

It just sounds better to me that way.

Whatever creams your Twinkee!

How about:

"Is buan grá deirféar"

Thank you all for replying so promptly. Although I've never studied Gaelic, I'm very interested in languages, linguistics in general really, and have studied five others. Would anyone mind telling me what my original phrase actually said, and the meanings of the various changes? I'd be fascinated to know, and would very much appreciate it.

Well, the original "ta ghra deirfear siorai" wasn't grammatically correct, but with appropriate accents inserted it probably would have been more or less something like "love of sister is eternal" All the different changes were just people trying to make the appropriate grammar corrections.

Personally I would vote for
Tá grá na deirféar síoraí
or perhaps
Bíonn grá na deirféar síoraí
but keep waiting to see if we can agree on something.

David

wdsci wrote:Personally I would vote for
Tá grá na deirféar síoraí
or perhaps
Bíonn grá na deirféar síoraí

If you look up sisterly in De Bhaldraithe, he gives:

sisterly, a. (Cion, etc) deirféar

So I don't think the article is required.

blixt wrote:Am I missing something or is this completely incorrect?

Partly incorrect. I was trying to follow what the person originally posted and, as sometimes happens to all of us, didn't think it through properly.

As far as you missing something. that's only for you to figure out.

Or no, maybe I can help you see what you are missing: TACT. For example, I look at one of your photographs and say,

"Am I missing something or is this photograph (fill in your favorite negative adjective here.)"

Tactless, right? There are better ways to criticise a person and point out mistakes. All it takes it a little imagination and a kind word or two.

I must say, I'm very impressed. Gaelic seems completely incomprehensible to me, having only studied Latin-derived Romance languages myself. Everyone who has answered my post seems quite knowledgeable, and more important, willing to share their knowledge. Watching the discussion over the finer points of grammar is fascinating. (I do hope that someone will eventually tell me what is correct, though!) Thanks again to everyone who has contributed; this is great!

erigena wrote:

wdsci wrote:Personally I would vote for
Tá grá na deirféar síoraí
or perhaps
Bíonn grá na deirféar síoraí

If you look up sisterly in De Bhaldraithe, he gives:

sisterly, a. (Cion, etc) deirféar

So I don't think the article is required.

Oooh, sneaky though to be honest, I'm not totally convinced by that

Let's see if we can get some confirmation on something from a couple more people. Not to worry, jaycie, we should get to the bottom of this before long. (It may wind up that there are several options to choose from).

David