Irish Translation Forum

The replica coffin ship the Jeannie Johnston is I believe still moored at Fenit harbour Ciarrai just 35 mins drive form where I used to live. The siginficance of Jeannie was that she wasthe only famine ship to arrive on the US coast with every passenger alive. The replica idea was a great thing they even had protestant and catholic kids come down from the north to work on i. Unfortunately the company respnsible for its construction went into liquidation, the boat is some sort of collateral until creditors are paid. And there are a lot of local businesses who have been left seriously out of pocket. Shame really.

I came across an old paper written by Umberto Eco, The Search For The Perfect Language. Eco is a linguist and his views are interesting.

Although this has nothing to do specifically with Irish, it does show that at times, translations just do not work. Specifically, he discusses the need to relay an expression in Language A into the same expression in Language B. Here's a little excerpt:

"...There must, it is argued, exist a tertium comparationis which might allow us to shift from an expression in language A to an expression in language B by deciding that both are equivalent to an expression of a metalaguage C. If such a tertium really existed, it would be a perfect language..."

The entire paper can be viewed here:
http://www.aymara.org/biblio/dream4.html

There's a discussion on Gaeilge B at the moment about another of Eco's essays where he talks about ancient irish monks and their claims that Adan and Eve spoke Irish.

now then, if Adam & Eve spoke Gaeilge, and the language that they spoke was a gift to them from God, then does it not follow that Gaeilge is indeed the perfect language - as God would not give an imperfect gift?

Works for me.

He might be just messing with our heads. Wouldn't God be imperfect if he lacked a sense of humour???

That would explain why women innately think Irish is sexy?

Yes, there is that "certain something" that is inexplicable about hearing someone speak Irish, that we women do, indeed, like.... a lot.

But, still in the Gaelic thread of things....I could sit an listen to Sean Connery discuss things as banal the theories behind why concrete sets up at different rates...all day and then start the same topic over again...

He wouldn't even have to say "Bond... James, Bond"

Deb,

AMEN to that! His new movie "League of Gentleman" opens today. Can't wait to see it.

I don't know about God not giving an imperfect gift. That would make an interesting theological discussion. And whilest we are on the subject of monks--Let's talk about what happened to Easter. I find that when I was reading about when the Irish wanted to celebrate Easter, it was due to the fact that the last week in April, there was more light due to the full moon, giving more "light" by which to celebrate by. I got confused in that at the Snyod, it was determined to celebrate it earlier as it conflicted w/a Jewish holy day. My question is why would they change it so as to allow no coflict with the Jewish holy day, when the Jews didn't believe that Christ was the messiah anyhow, and isn't Easter the celebration of his ressurection?

I have probably screwed this all up, but if anyone has some website or books (remember those-free from the library!) I would greatyly appreciate the chance to read further.

Thanks,
C-

Hi Corvus,

I'm no expert on it but this was the Paschal controversy between the early Celtic church and Rome. Christianity in Ireland, Scotland and Northern England differed strongly from the official Papal forms for many centuries from the 500s to 1100s. There was a tendency towards asceticism and the cult of the hermit (Skellig), there was a strong element of Pantheism - God revealed in Nature - as well as a fusion with earlier Pagan beliefs.

Look up 'Paschal Controversy' on Google and you should find tuilleadh eolais.

It all finished with Nicholas Breakspear (Pope Adrian IV), an Englishman, giving the overlordship of Ireland to Henry II.

A-

Will do! Thanks!

C-