Irish Translation Forum

Could someone tell me what "Failure is the first step toward success" is in Gaelic, or at least a similar translation? Thanks.

Perhaps:

Is cliseadh an chéad céim chun éifeachta.
Failure is the first step toward success

But...
I'm not sure if I have chosen the best word for success. Another choice would be ráth, but that might imply wealth more than success at an endeavour.
I'm not sure if I have chosen the best word for failure either.
I suspect I should use the article with both failure and success, since they seem to be abstract here.

All in all, I think it best if we consider this post a failure... but one that is the first step toward getting you a successful translation.

bump

Thanks a lot for the help.

Things are slow on weekends here, but you'll probably get some more responses tomorrow.

lovely rendering Wombat.

Would you put in the "é"....Is é cliseadh an chéad chéim chun éifeachta

rossai wrote:lovely rendering Wombat.

Ooh! Thank you!

rossai wrote:Would you put in the "é"....Is é cliseadh an chéad chéim chun éifeachta

According to the WUCT, you'd need an é as a buffer between the copula and the definite article:

Is é an cliseadh...

But if you don't have the article, no é is needed.

Is cliseadh...

But as someone said, a wombat's WUCT is never done, so if you think I'm wrong, let me know.

mhwombat wrote:

rossai wrote:lovely rendering Wombat.

Ooh! Thank you!

rossai wrote:Would you put in the "é"....Is é cliseadh an chéad chéim chun éifeachta

According to the WUCT, you'd need an é as a buffer between the copula and the definite article:

Is é an cliseadh...

But if you don't have the article, no é is needed.

Is cliseadh...

But as someone said, a wombat's WUCT is never done, so if you think I'm wrong, let me know.

Why is a "buffer" needed?

Tenebre wrote:Why is a "buffer" needed?

The aul' copula is kinda prickly; he doesn't get along well with some folks.

http://www.irishgaelictranslator.com/tr ... hilit=wuct

Thanks wombat. I never heard of the idea and I'm constantly curious about the copula as it behaves like no verb in English. I know "to be" is similar but "Is" (Irish)has a distinctive syntax around it which I find difficult to construct completely as it doesn't exist in English. I find your "Is é an cliseadh...Is cliseadh" explanation interesting. What is the relationship in this instance between the pronoun and the article that they co-exist and co-unexist. They affect each other in a way I can't examine in English as I don't really know the rules of its grammar being a native speaker of English.

Is fear Seán

Is é fear, Seán.

Is fear é Seán

Is é an fear Seán...Seán is THE man

but you can't say ....Is an fear seán. It's the relationship between the article and copula For give me I'm rambling a little but you've set me thinking. I'm also a little stoned so that's helps....eh maybe
My understanding is that you are saying that...

Is cliseadh an chéad chéim...
Is é an cliseadh an...
Is é cliseadh an

are all right.? but Is an Cliseadh is not allowed to exist?