Muriel's Days of the Week

Description of what this is Muriel Fisher

Diluain: Dachaidh:

Diluain:	Dachaidh
Monday:	home

1.

Ged	is	ann	as	na	h-eileanan	againn	fhìn	a	tha	mi,	's
although	cop1	indeed	from	the	islands.dat	at.1s2	self	that	be.pres	I	cop

ann	ann	an Ameireaga	ann	an Arizona	anns	an	fhàsach	a	tha
indeed	in	America.dat	in	Arizona.dat	in	the	desert.dat	that	be.pres

mi	air	a	bhith	fuireach	airson	iomadach	bliadhna	a-nis.
I	on	to	being	living	for	many	years.gen	now

Although I am actually from the islands, I have actually been living in America in Arizona in the desert for many years now.

Note: 1.Cop is present tense unless otherwise stated. 2.This is of interest since “againn” supposedly means “at.1p,” while “agam” is “at.1s,” but here “againn” clearly used in the sense of “at.1s.” This could be simply a phonological phenomenon, a variation between /m/ and /n/.

2.

‘S	àbhaist	dhomh
cop	habit	to.1s

tilleadh	dhachaidh	cho	tric	's	urrainn	dhomh.
returning	to.home	so	often	cop	ability	to.1s

It is my custom to return home as often as I can.

3.

Air	an	t-slighe	nuas	bho
on	the	way.dat	down	from

Ghlaschu,	nuair	a	thòisicheas	na	beinn	ag	èiridh	(nuair	a	gheibh	mi
Glasgow	when	that	begin.rel	the	mountains	at	rising	when	that	get.fut	I

a'

chiad

sealladh

dheth

na

beinn )

agus

na

h-uillt

a

sruthadh

air

gach

the

first

sight

of

the\

mountains.dat

and

the

streams

to

flow

on

each

taobh	dhen	rathad,	bithidh	mi	a'	faireachdainn	mo	chridhe	a	lìonadh	agus
side.dat	of.the	road.dat	be.fut	I	at	feeling	my	heart	to	fill	and

beòthachadh	a'	tighinn	annam.
a.reanimating	at	coming	in.1s

On the way down from Glasgow when the mountains begin to rise, (when I get the first sight of the mountains,) and the streams [begin] to flow on each side of the raod, I feel my heart fill and a re-awakening coming over me.

4.

Tha	mi	a'	faireachdainn	cho	fìor
be.pres	I	at	feeling	so	very

fhortanach	a	bhith	air	mo	thogail	ann	an	àite	cho	spioradail,	cho
fortunate	to	being	on	my	ascending.dat	in	place.dat	so	spiritual,	so

àluinn,	cho	glan.
lovely	so	pure/clean

I am feeling so very fortunate to be on my way up to such a spiritual place, so lovely, so pure/clean.

5.

An	cuan	a	bhitheas	a'	toirt	dhuinn	a	leithid	agus	a'
the	sea	that	be.rel	at	giving	to.1p	so.much	and	at

toirt	bhuainn	a	leithid	cuideachd.
taking	from.1p	so.much	also

The sea that gives so much to us and takes so much from us also.

6.

Nuair	a	shuidheas	mi	air	creig	ri
When	that	sit.rel	I	on	rock.dat	with

taobh3

na

mara

tha

mi

a'

faireachdainn

mar

nach

do

dh'

fhàg

mi

riamh.

the.side.dat

the

sea.gen

be.pres

I

at

feeling

like

leave.past.neg

I

ever

When I sit on a rock with the sea on one side I feel like I didn’t ever leave.

Note: 3.“The” is implied here, as the definite article is always dropped from the possessed noun in a genetive construction.

7.

Tha	bun-stèidh	a’	dhìth	oirnn	uile.
be.pres	root-foundation	the	layer	on.1p	all

Our roots are a part of us all.

8.

Cha	dhìochuimhnich	thu
forget.past.neg	you.s

far	an	deach	do	neartachadh	agus	do	bhrosnachadh.
where	go.past.inter	your.s	strengthening	and	your.s	encouragement

You don’t [lit: didn’t] forget where your strength and encouragement come from [lit: went].

9.

Bithidh	an
be.fut	the

duine

agam

ag

ràdh

rium

"Nuair

a

thèid

thu

dh'

Alba

carson

a

man

at.1s

at

saying

with.1s

when

that

go.fut

you.s

to

Scotland

why

that

bhitheas	tu	ag	ràdh	gu	bheil	thu	a'	dol	dhachaidh?
be.rel	you.s	at	saying	that	are	you.s	at	going	to.home

My husband says [repeatedly] to me, “When you go to Scotland why do you say that you are going home?

10.

Bha	dùil	agam
be.past	belief	at.1s

gun	robh	do	dhachaidh	còmhla	rium	fhìn."
that	be.past	your.s	home	along	with.1s	self

I believed that your home was along with me [emphasis].

11.

Tha,	ceart	gu	leòr,	mo
be.pres	right	to	enough	my

dhachaidh	ri	thaobh4	fhèin	ge	bri	càit'	am	bi	e	ach
home	with	his.side.dat	self	wherever	be.fut.inter	him	but

bhos	an	seo
on.this.side	here

's

e

an

dachaidh

far

a

bheil

mi

nas

fhaisge

air

an

spiorad,

far

an

tig

is

he

the

home

where

be.inter

I

most

near

on

the

spirit.dat

where

come.fut

ùrnaidh

thugam

agus

far

am

bheil

mi

a'

faireachdainn

nas

fhaisge

air

a'

prayer

to.1s

and

where

that

am

I

at

feeling

most

near

on

the

Chruthaighear.

Creator.dat

My home is, of course, at his [emphasis] side wherever he, is but over here is the home where I am closest to my spirit, where prayer comes to me and where I feel most near to the Creator.

Note: 4.To be grammatically correct, this should read, “ri a thaobh,” “with his side,” but often the possessive article “a” is dropped and the possession is expressed, as in this case, simply with the lenition of the following word (for the masculine possessive) or lack thereof (for feminine.)

12.

Càite	bheil	an	dachaidh	agaibh	fhèin -	Dè	an	t-àite
where.inter	be.inter	the	home	at.2p	self	what.inter	the	place

a	bhitheas	sibhse	smaoineachadh	mu	dhèidhinn	nuair	a	chluinneas
that	be.rel	you.p	thinking	about	when	that	hear.rel

sibh	am	facal	"dachaidh"?
you.p	the	word	home

Where is your own home – what is the place that you think of when you hear the word “home”?

Dimàirt: Iongnadh mu dhèidhinn creideamhan eile:

14.

Dimàirt	Iongnadh	mu	dhèidhinn	creideamhan	eile:
Tuesday	wondering	about	beliefs	other

Wondering about other beliefs

15.

Aon	Earrach	o	chionn	bhliadhnaichean	bha	mi	a'	fuireach	ann	an
one	Spring	from	occasion.dat	years.gen	be.past	I	at	staying	in.a

Arizona	mu	thuath	a-measg	na	h-Innseanaich	Hopi
Arizona.dat	about	north.dat	amongst	the	Indians	Hopi

(nan	Innseanach	Hopi).5
the	Indians.gen	Hopi

One spring three years ago I was staying in Northern Arizona among the Hopi Indians. (the Hopi Indians).

Note: 5.Presumably a correction of the speech error which the previous form of the phrase constitutes.

16.

Thachair	gun	tug	iad	cuireadh	dhomh	a	dhol	gu	tè	dheth
happen.past	that	gave	they	invitation	to.1s	to	go	to	one.dat	of

na	h-àiteachan	adhraidh	aca.
the	places	of.worship.dat	at.3p

It happened that they invited me to go to one of their places of worship.

17.

Bha	sinn	air	mullach	beinn	mhòr	coltach	ri	Healabhal
be.past	we	on	summit.dat	mountain.gen	big	similar	with	Healabhal.dat

anns	an
in	the

Eilean

Sgitheanach

no

Dùn-caan

ann

a

Ratharsair

ris

a

chanas

Island.dat

Skye

or

Dun-caan.dat

in

Rathersay

with

that

say.rel

iad	Mesa.
they	mesa

We were on the summit of a big mountain, similar to Healabhal on the Island of Skye or Dun-cann in Rathersay, which they call a mesa.

18.

Bha	còig	eaglaisean	anns	a'	bhaile	bheag	seo	agus	bha	sgioba
be.past	five	churches6	in	the	town.dat	small	here	and	be.past	crew

dhannsairean	aig	gach	eaglais,	oir	bidh	iadsan	a'	dannsa	anns	an
dancers.gen	at	each	church.dat	for	be.fut	they.emph	at	dancing	in	the

adhradh	aca.	(mar	phàirt	den	adhradh	aca)
worship	at.3p	like	part	of.the	worship	at.3p

There were five places of worship in this small town and there was a full complement of dancers at each place of worship, for they dance (habitually) in their [rite of] worship. (as a part of their [rite of] worship)

Note: 6.Used here in the sense of “places-of-worship,” but I believe this is a usage more or less unique to the speaker.

19.

Tha	na	h-eaglaisean	sin	fon	an	talamh	agus	's	e	'Kiva'
be.pres	the	churches	there	below	the	earth.dat	and	cop	he	kiva

an	t-ainm	a	th'	ac'	orra.
the	name	that	be.pres	at.3p	on.3p

The places of worship there are below the ground and they are called ‘kivas. (lit. “the name that is on them is ‘kiva.’”)

20.

Bithidh	tu	a'	dol	sìos	a	dh'adhradh	agus	a’	suidhe	timcheall	na
be.fut	you.s	at	going	down	the	field.dat	and	at	sitting	around	the

ballaichean.	Thig	na	"Kachina	Dancers"	nuas	air	àradh	agus
walls.gen	come.gen	the	Kachina	Dancers	down7	on	ladder.dat	and

nì	iad	an	dannsa	agus	an	ùrnaidh	‘n	a8	d'	aghaidh.
Make.fut	they	the	dance	and	the	prayer	in	your.s	face

You go down the field and sit around the walls. The Kachina Dancers come down on a ladder and they do the dance and the prayer in front of you.

Note: 7.But here used in the sense of “up.” 8.Short form of “ann an.”

21.

'N

uair

sin

fàgaidh

iad

agus

thig

sgioba

eile

nuas

agus

mar

sin

air

adhart.

the

hour

that

leave.fut

they

and

come.fut

crew

other

down

and

like

that

on

advance.dat

Then they leave and another group comes down, and so on like that [it continues].

22.

Bha	mi	na	mo	sheasamh	air	mullach	a	Mhesa	seo,	a'	gheallach
be.past	I	in	my	sitting	on	top.dat	the	mesa.gen	here	the	moon

mhòr	bhuidhe	ag	èiridh	agus	bha	na	h-Innseanaich	a'	ruith	eadar	na
big	yellow	at	rising	and	be.past	the	Indians	at	running	between	the

Kivas.

kivas

I was sitting on top of this mesa, the big yellow moon was rising and the Indians were running between the kivas.

23.

Chluinneadh	tu	an	gliongadh	aig	na	'costumes'	aca,	agus	bha	iad
hear.cond	you.s	the	ringing	at	the	costumes	at.3p	and	be.past	they

a'	coimhead	cho	fiadhaich,	bha	mi	a'	faireachdainn	cho	fada	bhon	taigh.
at	looking	so	fierce	be.past	I	at	feeling	so	long	from	house

You would hear the ringing of their costumes and they were looking so fierce, I was feeling so far from home.

24.

Smaoinich	mi	air	na	h-eaglaisean	againn	fhìn	agus	an	rud	a	bhuail
think.past	I	on	the	churches	at.1p	self	and	the	thing	that	strike.past

mi

's

e

gu

robh

iadsan

anns

an

dòigh

aca

fhèin

air

rathad

I

cop

he

that

be.past

they.emph

in

the

method

at.3p

self

on

road

spioradail	agus	nach	robh	iad	idir	cho	fìor	eadar-dhealaichte
spiritual	and	that	be.past.ng	they	at.all	so	very	separated

bhuainn	fhìn.
from.1p	self

I thought about our churches and the thing that I struck is this, that they in their own way were on the spiritual road and that they were not so very different at all from us.

25.

Tha	sinn	uile	a'	coimhead	airson	sìth	agus	airson	spiorad	a	tha
be	us	all	at	looking	for	peace.gen	and	for	spirit.gen	that	be

nas	motha	na	tha	sinn	fhìn.
greater	than	be	us	self

We are all looking for peace and for a spirit that is greater than we ourselves.

26.

Nach	bitheadh	e	math	nam	bitheamaid	a'	smaoineachadh	barrachd	mu
be.cond.neg	he	good	if	be.cond.1p	at	thinking	more	about

dhèidhinn	na	rudan	a	tha	‘g	ar	ceangal	ri	chèile	an	àite
around	the	things.gen	that	be	at	our	bonds	with	other.dat	the	place.dat

a

bhith

a'

coimhead

air

na

rudan

a

tha

‘g

ar

cumail

bho

that

being

at

looking

on

the

things.dat

that

be

at

our

withholding

from

chèile.

other

Wouldn’t it be good if we would be thinking more about the things that are our ties to each other in place of looking at the things that are keeping us from each other.

Gaol

27.

Gaol

Love

love

28.

Chan	eil	a'	mhìorbhaill	ach	an	gaol	dhuinn
be.neg	the	miracle	but	the	love.dat	to.1p

To us there is no miracle but in love

29.

Reic	Anama
sale	spirit.gen

The sale of spirit” or “Sell a spirit

30.

Chunnaic	mi	na	faclan	sin	sgrìobhte	an	latha	roimhe -	faclan	Shomhairle	MhicGilleathain.
see.past	I	the	words	there	written	the	day	before	words	Sorley.gen	MacLean.gen

I saw the words written there the other day – Sorley MacLean’s words.

30.

Thòisich	mi	fhìn	a'	smaoineachadh	mu	dhèidhinn	gaol.
begin.past	I	self	at	thinking	about	around	love

I myself began thinking about love.

32.

'S	iomadh	seòrsa	gaoil	a	th'	anns	an	t-saoghal	againn.
cop	many	types	love.gen	that	be	in	the	world.dat	at.1p

We have many types of love that are in the world.

33.

Tha	an	gaol	a	tha	sinn	a'	faireachdainn	airson	ar	màthair	agus
be	the	love	that	be	we	at	feeling	for	our	mother.gen	and

ar	h-athair,	far	am	bi	sinn	a'	faireachdainn	sàbhailte –	fhad's	a	tha
our	father.gen	where	that	be.fut	we	at	feeling	safe	while	that	be

sinn	beag	co-dhiù!
we	small	anyway

There is the love that we feel for our mother and our father, where we are feeling safe – while we are little, anyway.

34.

Tha	an	gaol	eadar	piuthar	agus	bràthair,	gaol	nach	robh	agam
be	the	love	between	sister	and	brother	love	that	be.past.neg	at.1s

fhìn a-riamh,	as	aonais	peathraichean	agus	bràithrean	mar	a	tha	mi.
self	ever	out.of	one.dat	sisters.gen	and	brothers.gen	as	that	be	I

There is the love between a sister and brother, love that I never had, as I am the only one out of sisters and brothers [i.e., I am the only child in my family].

35.

Tha	gaol	airson	do	leannan,	airson	do	bhean,	airson	an	duine	agad.
be	love	for	your.s	b/gfriend.gen	for	your.s	wife.gen	for	the	man.gent	at.2s

There is [the kind of] love [that is] for your boy/girlfriend, for you wife, for your husband.

36.

Tha	an	gaol	airson	pàisde	beag,	na	peataichean	againn,	's	iomadh	duine
be	the	love	for	baby.gen	small	the	pets	at.1p	cop	many	man

a

bhios

a'

fuireach

‘n

an

aonar

agus

's

e

na

peataichean

a

that

be.rel

at

living

in

their

alone

and

cop

he

the

pets

that

bhios	‘g	an	cumail	slàn,	gaol	airson	dùthaich,	airson	eaglais,
be.rel	at	their	keeping	healthy	love	for	country.gen	for	church.gen

airson	Crìosda	agus	mar	sin	air	adhart.
for	Christ.gen	and	like	that	on	forward

There is the love [you have] for a small baby, [for] our pets—many people that live alone and it’s their pets that keep them healthy—love for [one’s] country, for church, for Christ, and so on.

37.

Shaoileadh

tu

gun

robh

gu

leòr

air

a

sgrìobhadh

agus

air

a

ràdh

think.cond

you.s

that

be.past

to

plenty

on

its

writing

and

on

its

saying

mu	dhèidhinn	an	gaol	mar	thà9
about	around	the	love	like	?

You would think that there was plenty written and said about love like that.

Note: 9.Meaning of this word is unknown. It could concievably be the preposition “thar,” which means “yonder” or “beyond,” carrying an idiomatic meaning similar “like all that we’ve already discussed.” But this is really just a guess.

39.

Ach	gabh	mionaid	agus	faighnich	dhiot	fhèin	ma	tha	an	cothrom	againn
but	take	minute	and	ask	of.2s	self	if	be	the	ability	at.1p

airson	leithid	a	ghaol	anns	an	t-saoghal	seo,	carson	a	tha	leithid
for	so.much	to	love	in	the	world	here	why	that	be	like

a	thrioblad10	againn?
to	trouble	at.1p

But take a minute and ask yourself, if we have the ability for so much to love in this world, why do we have something like trouble?

Note: 10.This originally said “thrioblaid” but after listening to the recording several times I am confident she says “thrioblad.” This is confusing, first of all because the root form of the word according to Dwelly is “trioblaid”—there should be no un-slenderized form. 11.

40.

Tha	teaghlaich	a'	sabaid11	measg	a’	chèile,	tha	nàbaidhean	a'	sabaid
be	families	at	fighting	among	the	other.gen	be	neighbors	at	fighting

ri	chèile,	tha	eaglaisean	a'	sabaid	ri	chèile,	tha	dùthaichean
with	other.dat	be	churches	at	fighting	with	other.dat	be	countries

a'	sabaid	ri	chèile.
at	fighting	with	other.dat

Families are fighting amongst each other, neighbors are fighting with each other, churches are fighting with each other, countries are fighting with each other.

Note: 11.Originally reads “a’ sabaid a” but I cannot hear the “a” nor does it make sense to read it that way.

41.

Shaoilinn	fhìn	gum	bu	chòir	dhuinn	a	bhith	smaoineachadh
imagine.cond.1s	self	that	cop.past	decent	to.1p	to	being	thinking

barrachd	mu	dhèidhinn	gaoil12	agus	dè	tha	e	ciallachadh	‘n
more.gen	about	around	love.gen	and	what	be	he	meaning	in

ar	beatha	fhìn.
our	life.dat	self

I myself would imagine that we ought to be thinking more about love and what is means in the lives of us ourselves.

Note: 12.Originally reads “gaol” but I’m pretty sure it should be “gaoil” here because “mu dheidhinn” governs the genitive case.

42.

Nam	biodh	sinn13	uile	coibhneil	agus	gasda	ris	a	h-uile	neach	ris
if	be.cond	we	all	courteous	and	generous	with	the	all	person.dat	with

an	coinnich	sinn	‘n	ar	beatha	làitheil,	's	dòcha	gun	dèanamaid
that	meet.fut	we	in	our	life.dat	daily	cop	probable	that	do.cond.1p

atharrachadh	beag	anns	an	t-saoghal	draghail	a	tha	againn	's	an
change	small	in	the	world.dat	vexatious	that	be	at.1p	in	the

lath'	'n-diugh.
day	today

If we would all be courteous and generous to all the people that we meet with in our daily lives, it’s likely that we would make a small change in the vexatious world that is with us today.

Note: 13.Normally the conditional of “be” in the first person plural conjugates: “bitheamaid.” I can only assume the presence of “nam” beforehand prevents it from doing so here.

43.

Carson	nach	tòisich	sinn	an-diugh	fhèin?
why	not	begin	we	today	self

Why don’t we ourselves begin today?

Na h-Ealain

44.

Na	h-Ealain
the	learning.gen14

on knowledge

Note: 14.Case unknown. The article form “na –h” indicates the noun, which is feminine, should be either plural nominative or genitive singular, but the noun form itself is singular nominative. Later on in the passage, the same noun and same form are used after a compound preposition, which requires a genitive. Gaelic nouns may change gender from dialect to dialect, but even if this noun were used as a masculine, the construction would not make sense.

45.

Ciamar	a	tha	sibh	an-diugh?
how	that	be	you.p	today

How are you all today?

46.

Dè	seòrsa	rudan	a	bhitheas	daoine	a'	dèanamh	airson	an	toirt
what	sort15	things	that	be.rel	people	at	doing	for	the	importance.gen16

air	falbh	bho	dhragh	air	choireigin	agus?????
on	leaving.dat	from	trouble.dat	on	offences.dat17	and

What sort of things will people do for the chance [lit. value] of escaping the trouble of small offenses and….

Note: 15.Seems to be part of a compound interrogative with “dè.” “Rudan” otherwise should be a genitive, but it is a simple nominative plural. 16.This should be genitive because it follows “airson,” but its form is that of a genitive. 17.Not sure if this is translated correctly. Dwelly has no “coireig” or “coireag,” but gives “coire” as “fault, charge, offence, tresspass.” The ending –e/ag is frequently used as a diminutive, so this could be mean “small offenses.” In any case, its form fits that of a dative for either a masculine or feminine noun, which is what ought to follow a simple preposition such as “air.”

47.

Uill,	dh'	fhaodadh	tu	tòiseachadh	le	cupa	tì	fhèin!
well	may.cond	you.s	beginning	with	cup.dat	tea.gen	self

Well, you yourself could begin with a cup of tea!

48.

Ach	bha	mise	[a’]	smaoineachadh18	mu	dhèidhinn	na	h-ealain	agus
but	be.past	I.emph	at	thinking	about	around	the	learnings.gen	and

mar	is	urrainn	dhaibh19	ar	faireachdainnean	atharrachadh.
like	cop	capable	to.3p	our	feelings20	altering

But I myself was thinking about learning, and how it can alter our feelings.

Note: 18.This should be “a’ smaoineachadh,” “at thinking,” but the isolated sound [a] is often swallowed in Gaelic. 19.Refers to “na h-ealain,” indicating that “na h-ealain” is plural, which would make sense except that we have also seen that it is genitive, and plural genitive takes a different form. 20.This might be genitive—the direct object of a progressive verb should always be genitive—although the form appears to be nominative.

49.

Co	mheud	uair	a	bha	sibh	a'	coimhead	air	dealbh	brèagha
how	largenesses.gen	hour	that	be.past	you.pl	at	looking	on	picture.dat	pretty

agus	a'	tòiseachadh	a	faireachdainn	beagan	na’s	socraithe,	na’s	sìtheil?
and	at	beginning	to	feeling	little21	than	settled	than	peaceful

How many hours were (all of) you looking at a pretty picture and beginning to feel a little more settled, more peaceful?

Note: 21.This is a noun.

50.

Ceart

gu

leòr

tha

dà

thaobh

dhe’n

(air)

an

sgillinn

agus

dh'fhaodadh

correct

to

plenty

be

two

side

of

the

on

the

shilling.dat

and

may.cond

dealbh	do	dhèanamh	mi-chomhurtail	no	an-fhoiseil.
picture	your	making	ill-advised	or	ignorant22

To be sure, there are two sides to every coin (lit. “there are two sides on the shilling”) and the picture may make you misguided or ignorant.

Note: 22.These two both seem to be variants on “mi-chomhairlich“ (miscounsel) and “an-fhiosrach” (ignorant.) Neither of the two actual words above, in their exact form, may be found in Dwelly.

51.

Air

mo

thaobh

fhìn

tha

gu

leòr

trioblaid

anns

an

t-saoghal

againn,

's

fheàrr

on

my

side.dat

self

be

to

plenty

trouble

in

the

world.dat

at.1p

cop

better

leam	s'	a	bhith	a'	lorg	am23	bòidheachd	anns	na	cùisean	sin.
to.1s	and	at	being	at	looking.for	the	beauty.gen	in	the	circumstances.dat	that

As far as I myself am concerned (on my myself’s side) there is plenty of trouble in the our world, I prefer and to be looking for the beauty in those circumstances.

Note: 23.This is another difficult case—according to standard rules, “boidheachd” should be genitive, but the form of the article here, “am,” is nominative.

52.

Agus	dè	mu	dhèidhinn	ceòl?
and	what.inter	about	around	music.dat

And what about music?

53.

Ged	a	tha	cuid	mhòr	dheth	na	h-òrain	againne	trom	le	bròn,
although	that	be	part	big	of	the	songs.dat	at.1p.emph	heavy	with	grief

nach	bi	sibh	ag	èisdeachd	ri	ceòl	uaireannan	agus
be.fut.neg.inter	you.pl	at	listening	with	music.dat	hours	and

nach	bi	sonas	a'	fàs	‘n	ar	cridhe?
be.fut.neg.inter	happiness	at	growing	in	our	heart.dat

Although a large part of our songs are heavy with grief, don’t you all listen to music for hours and doesn’t happiness grow in our heart?

54.

Tha	feadhainn	againn	nach	bi	coimhead	air	dealbhan	no
be	people	at.1p	be.fut.neg.inter	looking	on	pictures.dat	or

ag	èisdeachd	ri	ceòl	idir	ach	bidh	sinn	a'	leughadh.
at	listening	with	music.dat	at.all	but	be.fit	we	at	reading

We have people (who) won’t be looking at pictures or listening to music, but we read (lit. we will be reading.)

55.

'S	iomadh	uair	a	thèid	seachad	gun	mhothochadh	nuair
cop	every	hour	that	go.fut	onward	without	act.of.perceiving	when

a	bhitheas	tu	‘na	‘d	shuidhe	leughadh	leabhar24	math.
that	be.fut.rel	you.s	in	your.s	sitting	reading	book.gen	good

Every hour will go by without awareness when you are sitting reading a good book.

Note: 24.Another case where, according to every grammar I’ve ever read, this word ought to be the genitive “leabhair.” It’s possible it was misspelled.

56.

Bheir	e	d'	inntinn	dheth	d'	obair,	dhe	‘n	teaghlach,
take.fut	he	your.s	mind	from	your.s	work.dat	from	the	family.dat

dheth	na	'bills'	agus	a	h-uile	càil	eile	a	bhitheas	a'	ruith
from	the	bills	and	to	each	condition.dat	other	that	be.rel.fut	at	running

timcheall	‘n	ar	n'	inntinn.
around	in	our	the	mind.dat

It will take your mind off your work, off the family, off the bills and every other condition that is running around in our mind.

57.

Saoil	a	bheil	na	peantairean,	na	luchd-ciùil,	na	sgrìobhadairean	fhèin
imagine	that	be.inter	the	painters	the	musicians	the	writers	self

a'	faighinn	an	aon	togail	inntinn25	's	a	bhitheas	sinne	faighinn
at	finding	the	one	act-of-building.gen	mind	and	that	be.rel.fut	we.emph	finding

bho	‘n	obair	aca?
from	the	work.dat	at.3p

Imagine that the painters, the musicians, the writers themselves are finding the one way of building the mind, and that we will be finding (it) from their work?

Note: 25.Could this be “intinne,” the genitive? It’s hard to make sense of this sentence otherwise.

58.

Dè	rud	as	fheàrr	leibhse	a	dhèanamh?
what.inter	thing	cop.rel	better	with.2p	to	doing

What is the best thing for you (all) to do?

59.

Carson

nach

cuir

sibh

seachad

ùine

bheag

a

h-uile

latha

airson

rud

beag

why

neg

put

you.p

forward

while

small

to

each

day

for

thing

small

spòrsail	a	dhèanamh	dhuibh	fhèin.
fun	to	doing	to.2p	self

Why don’t you all set aside for you yourselves a short while each day in order to do a small, fun thing?

Uisge

60.

Uisge

water

Water

61.

A	bheil	sinn	taingeil	gu	leòr	airson	na	tha	againn?
be.inter	we	thankful	to	plenty	for	the	be	at.1p

Are we thankful enough for that which we have?

62.

A	bheil	sinn	mothachadh	dè	tha	againn?
be.inter	we	percieving	what	be	at.1p

Are we aware of what we have?

63.

An

latha

roimhe

bha

mi

a'

ceannachd

botal

uisge26

agus

cha

b'

urrainn

the

day

before

be.past

I

at

buying

bottle

water

and

neg

cop.past

capable

dhomh	cuideachadh	(gun)	smaoineachadh	air	m'	athair	agus	dè	bheachd
to.1s	helping	without	thinking	on	my	father.dat	and	what	attention

a

bhitheadh

aige

air

an

t-uisge

fhèin

a

cheannach

ann

am

bùth

leis

that

be.cond

at.3s

on

thewater.dat

self

that

buy.past

in

store.dat

with.3s

na	'messages'.
the	messages

The day before I was buying a bottle of water and I couldn’t help but think about my father and what attention he would have towards the water itself that he bought in a store with the ‘messages.’

Note: 26.Both of these should be genitive.

64.

Cha	robh	uisge	againn	anns	an	taigh	nuair	a	bha	mi	òg.
neg	be.past	water	at.1p	in	the	house.dat	when	that	be.past	I	young

We had no water in the house when I was young.

65.

Bha	tobar	bheag	ri	taobh	an	taighe	ach	an	dèidh	dhà
be.past	well	small	with	side	the	house.gen	but	the	after	two

na27	trì	lathaichean	thioramaicheadh	e	'n	àrd	agus	bha	againn	ri
the	three	days.dat	dry.cond	he	the	height	and	be.past	at.1p	with

coiseachd	mu	chairteal	mìle	gu	tobair	eile,
walking	about	quarter.dat	mile	to	well.dat	other

(tobar	na	sgoilearaidh,28	mar	a	bha	againn	air),	's	ann	ormsa
well	the	school.gen	as	that	be.past	at.1p	on	cop	in	on.1s.emph

a	thuit	an	obair	sin.
that	befall.past	the	work	there

There was a small well at the side of the house but after two or three days it would dry up and we had to walk about a quarter-mile to another well. (the school’s well, as we had it on,) and it was to me that that work fell.

Note: 27.I believe this should be “no,” meaning “or,” and I have translated it as such in the third line. 28.Dwelly gives “sgoilear” as “scholar,” but no “sgoilearadh,” so I have hesitantly translated it as “school” despite this normally being “sgoil.”

66.

Cha	do	dh'	òl	sinn	a-riamh	às	an	allt.
neg	past	drink	we	ever	from	the	stream

We never drank from the stream.

67.

Bha

fios

aig

a

h-uile

duine

far

an

robh

na

tobraichean

fo

shean.

be.past

knowledge

at

to

each

man

where

be.past

the

wells

good

old

Everyone knew where the good, old wells were.

68.

Agus

cha

robh

leithid

a

rud

ann

mar

uisge

ann

am

botal

plastic.

and

neg

be.past

equal

to

thing

in

like

water

in

bottle.dat

plastic

And there was nothing there the equal to water in a plastic bottle.

69.

Far

a

bheil

mi

(a’)

fuireach

anns

an

fhàsach

a’

chuid

as

motha

where

be.past.inter

I

at

living

in

the

desert.dat

the

part

greater

dhe	‘n	bhliadhna,	chan	eil	boinne	uisge	anns	na	h-aibhnichean	fhèin,
of	the	year.dat	be.neg	drop	water.gen	in	the	rivers.dat	self

chan	eil	annta	ach	gainmheach.
be.neg	in.3p	but	sand

Where I am living in the desert the greater part of the year, there isn’t a drop of water in the rivers themselves, there is nothing in them but sand.

70.

Tha

an

t-uisge

a'

tighinn

bhon

an

talamh

gu

domhainn

(tha

an

t-uisge

a'

be

the

water

at

coming

from

the

earth

to

deep

be

the

water

at

tighinn	bho	dhoimhneachd	na	talmhainn)	agus	a	h-uile	bliadhna	tha
coming	from	depth	the	earth.gen	and	to	each	year	be

nas29	lugha	uisge	ann	agus	barrachd	dhaoine	‘g	a	iarraidh.
less	water	in	and	more	people.gen	at	its	needing

The water comes deeply from the earth (the water comes from the depths of the earth) and each year there is less water there and more people needing it.

Note: 29.According to MacLaren this is a contraction of “an ni a is,” “the thing which is.”

71.

Air	an	taobh	deas	dhe	‘n	bhaile	againn	tha	coimhearsnachd	bheag	far
on	the	side	south	of	the	town.dat	at.1p	be	community	small	where

a

bheil

iad

a'

sabaid

le

gunnaichean

airson

an

aon

thobair

a

tha

be.inter

they

at

fighting

with

guns.dat

for

the

one

well.gen

that

be

aca	eatorra.
at.3p	among

On the south side of our town there is a small community where they are fighting with guns for the one well that they have among them.

72.

Cò	smaoinicheadh	gun	robh	rud	mar	ghloinne	uisge	iriosal,
who.inter	think.cond	that	be.past	thing	like	glass	water.gen	lowly

a’	dol	a	bhith	cho	prìseal	dhuinn30
at	going	to	be	so	precious	to.1p

Who would think that a lowly thing like a glass of water would be going to be so precious to us?

Note: 30.I think this should be a question mark.

73.

A

bheil

dad

sam

bith

eile

‘n

ar

beatha

nach

eil

sinn

a’

mothachadh?

be.inter

anything

other

in

our

life.dat

that.be.neg

we

at

perceiving

Is there anything else in our life that we are not perceiving?

74.

Rud

nach

eil

sinn

a'

cur

luach

air

an-diugh,

ach

mar

a

thèid

thing

that.be.neg

we

at

putting

value

on

today

but

like

that

go.fut

an	tìde	seachad	a	dh'	fhàsas	nas	luachmhor	dhuinn.31
the	time	past	that	grow.fut.rel	more	valuable	to.1p

(fàsaidh	e	nas	luachmhòr	dhuinn)
grow.fut	he	more	valuable	to.1p

Something that we are not putting value on today, but likewise that the time will come in which it grows more valuable to us? (it will grow more valuable to us)

Note: 31.This one too.

75.

'S

dòcha

am

beatha32

fhèin

nach

bi

sinn

a'

mothachadh

nuair

a

tha

cop

likely

the

life

self

neg

be.fut

we

at

perceiving

when

that

be

sinn

òg

ach

a

dh'

fhàs

glè

phrìseil

gu

dearbh

mar

as

sinne

a

we

young

but

that

grow.fut

very

precious

to

certain

like

older

that

tha	sinn	a'	fàs.
be	we	at	growing

Perhaps we will not be perceiving life itself when we are young but it will certainly grow very precious the older that we are growing.

Note: 32.I think this might also be a genitive, since it is the direct object of the verb “a’ mothachadh.”

Litir bho Arizona

Litir	bho	Arizona
letter	from	Arizona

Letter from Arizona

le	Muriel	Fisher
with	Muriel	Fisher

By Muriel Fisher

1.

Tha	suidheachadh	a’	dol	air	adhart	aig	a’	chrìoch	eadar	Mexico
be	situation	prog	go.vn	on	forward	at	the	border	between	Mexico

agus	Arizona	an	dràsda	a	tha	fàs	nas	cunnartaich	leis	a	h-uile
and	Arizona	the	now	wh-C	be.pres	grow.vn	comp	dangerous.comp	with	the	each

latha	a	tha	a’	dol	seachad.
day	wh-C	be.pres	prog	go.vn	forward

There is a situation going on at the border between Mexico and Arizona right now that is growing more dangerous every day that is going by.

2.

Gach	oidhche	tha	ceudan	de	dhaoine	a’	sruthadh	tarsainn	air	a’	chrìoch
Each	night	be	hundreds	of	people	prog	stream.vn	across	on	the	border

eadar	an	dà	rìoghachd	a’	feuchainn	ri	faighinn	a-steach	dhan	an	tir
between	the	two	countries	prog	try.vn	with	get.vn	inside	to	the	land

mhòr	bheartach	[ann seo]	a’	lorg	obair.
big	rich	here	prog	search.vn	work

Every night there are hundreds of people streaming across the border between the two countries trying to get into this large rich land here looking for work.

3.

Bha	latha	nach	fhaiceadh	tu	a’	leithid	agus	cha	robh	sinn
be.past	day	that.neg	see.cond	2s	the	equal	and	neg	be.past.dep	1p

a’	cluinntinn	moran	mu	deidhinn	ach	gu	math	ainneamh.
prog	listen.vn	much	around	about	but	adv	good	rare

There was a day that you wouldn’t see the like and we weren’t hearing much about it but very seldom

4.

An	uair	sin	thoisich	an	riaghaltas	againn	(US)	a	cuir	suas	feansaichean
the	hour	dist	begin.past	the country	at.1p	U.S.	tran	put.vn	up	fences

mor	iarrainn	anns	na	bailtean	agus	a-mach	air	gach	taobh	dhiubh
big	iron.gen	in	the	towns.dat	and	outside	on	each	side	of.3p

tarsainn	an	staid.
across	the	state

Then our country (the U.S) began to put up big iron fences in the towns and outside on each side of them across the state.

5.

Thug

sin

air

na

"illegal aliens”

a

dhol

nas

fhaide

mach

dha

‘n

fhàsach

bring.past

that

on

the

illegal

aliens

tran

go.vn

more

long

out

to

the

desert

airson	faighinn	a-steach.
because	get.vn	inside

This made the illegal aliens go farther out into the desert in order to get in.

6.

'S

ann

mar

sin

a

bhitheas

iad

a’

dol

air

chall

agus

a’

bàsachadh

cop

in.3sm

like

that

wh-C

be.rel

3p

prog

go.vn

on

lost

and

prog

die.vn

anns	an	teas	mhòr,	gun	uisge,	agus	bithidh	sibh	a’	cluinntinn
in	the	heat	big	without	water	and	be.fut	2p	prog	hear.vn

mun	dheidhinn	anns	na	pàipearan	naidheachd.
Around.3p	about	in	the	papers	news

That is how they are getting lost and dying in the great heat, without water, and you hear about them in the newspapers.

7.

Ach	a’	suidheachadh	a	tha	mi	a’	bruidhinn	mu	dheidhinn	an-diugh,
but	the	situation	wh-C	be 1s prog	speak.vn	around	about	today

's

e

nuair

a

bhitheas

cuid

dhiubh

a’

dol

tarsainn

air

na

rainseachan

mhòr

cop

3sm

when

wh-C

be.rel

part

to.2p

prog

go.vn

across

on

the

ranches

big

a	tha	againn	an-seo	[ann	an]	Arizona.
wh-C	be	at.1p	here	in	Arizona

But the situation that I am speaking about today is when some of them are going across the big ranches that we have in Arizona.

Note: Relative future; but with present tense meaning

8.

Tha

na

taighean

glè

fhada

bho

cheile,

agus

glè

fhada

bho

na

bailtean

be

the

houses

very

long

from

other

and

very

long

from

the

towns

agus	mar	sin	glè	fhada	bho	‘n	'Border Patrol'	– poileas	a’	chrìoch.
and	therefore	very	long	from	the	Border	Patrol	police	the	border.gen

The houses are very far from each other, and very far from the towns and thus very far from the ‘Border Patrol’ – the border police.

9.

Air	oidhche	sam-bith	faodaidh	dhà	no	tri	cheud	tighinn
on	night	any	may.fut	two	or	three	hundred	come.vn

seachad	thairis	air	aon	'rains'.
passed	over	on	one	ranch

On any night two or three hundred may come over on one ranch.

10.

Fàgaidh	na	daoine	sin	às	an-dèidh	bochdainn,	tiormachd
leave.fut	the	people	dist	from	after	poverty	drought

agus	a	chuid	as	motha	dha	'n	teaghlaichean	aca.
and	the	part	most	big	from	the	families	at.3p

Those people leave from poverty, drought, and, most of their families.

11.

Tha	e	fior	nach	eil	mòran	aca	ri	chall,	tha	iad	acrach
bem3sm	true	neg	be.dep	many	at.3p	with	loss	be 3p	hungry

agus	tha	iad	eu-dòchasach.
and	be	3p	unhopeful

It is true that they don’t have much due to loose, they are hungry and they are hopeless (lost hope).

12.

Tha	barrachd	is	barrachd	ann	dhuibh	a	h-uile	mìos.
Be.pres	more	and	more	in.3sm	to.3p	the	every	month

There are more and more of them every month.

13.

Tha	eaconomaidh	Mexico	a'	fàs	nas	isil	agus
be.pres	economy	Mexico.gen prog	grow.vn	more	low	and

chan	eil	uisge	gu	leor	aca	am	bliadhna.
neg	be.dep	water	to	plenty	at.3p	the	year

The economy of Mexico is growing lower/worse and they don’t have enough water this year.

14.

Bithidh	iad	a’	fàgail	air	an	cùlaibh	air	an	fhearainn	salachar,
be.fut 3p prog	leave.vn	on 3p.poss	behind	on	the	land	trash

botail,	pocan	plastic,	'nappies'	agus	mar	sin	air	adhart.
bottles	bags	plastic	diapers	and	like	that	on	forward

They leave behind them on the ground rubbish, bottles, plastic bags, diapers and so forth.

15.

Chan

eil

urram

aca

airson

gu

bheil

iad

coiseachd

air

lot

cuideigin

eile.

neg

be.dep

respect

at.3p

for

that

be.dep 3p

country

walking.vn

on

land

somebody

else

They don’t have respect because they are walking someone else’s land.

16.

Cò	ghlanas	suas	as	an	dèidh	a	h-uile	latha?
who	clean.rel	up	from	3pl.poss	after	the	every	day

Who cleans up after them every day?

17.

Chan	urrain	dha	na	rainsearan	an	sprùilleach	fhàgail	airson
cop.neg	ability	to	the	ranchers	the	refuse	leave.vn	for

gun

do

chaill

feadhainn

dhuibh

crodh

mar

tha

nuair

a

dh'ith

iad

plastic.

that

past

lose

group

to.3pl

cattle

already

when

wh-C

ate 3p

plastic

The ranchers can’t leave the refuse because some of them lost cattle already, when they ate plastic.

18.

Chuir

aon

rainsear

tap

air

bonn

tanca

mòr

uisge

a

bha

aige

airson

put.past

one

rancher

spiggot

on

bottom

tank.gen

big

water.gen

wh-C

be.past

at.3sm

for

an	sprèidh,	gus	am	faodadh	na	daoine	deoch	fhaighinn,	ach	dh'fhag
the	livestock.gen	so.that	fut go.cond	the	people	drink	obtain.vn	but	leave.past

iad	e	fosgailte	agus	chaill	e	a	h-uile	boinne.
3p 3sm	open	and	lose.past 3sm	the	all	drop

One rancher put a spiggot on the bottom of a big water tank that he had for the livestock, so that the people would be able to get a drink, but they left it open and he lost drop.

19.

Anns	an	fhàsach	tha	an	t-uisge	mar	oir
in	the	desert	be.presthe	water	like	gold

In the desert water is like gold.

20.

Bho	chionn	mìos	bha	Roger	Barnett	a-muigh	leis	fhein	a’	càradh feansa
from	occasion	month	be.past	Roger	Barnett	outside	with.3sm	self	prog	mend.vn	fence

nuair	a	chunnaic	e	mu	deich	air	fhichead	daoine	a’	tighinn	seachad
when	wh-C	see.past 3sm	around	ten	on	twenty	people	prog come.vn	through

an	fhàsach	thuige.
the	desert	towards.3sm

A month ago Roger Barnett was outside alone mending a fence when he saw about thirty people coming through the desert towards him.

21.

Dh'fhòn	e	gu	a	bhràthair	air	a	'mhobile'	aige	agus	thug
call.past 3sm	to 3sm.poss	brother	on 3sm.poss	cellphone prog.3sm	and	take.past

an	dithis	aca	‘n	am	prìosanaich	an	sluagh.
the	two.people	at.3p	in	3p.poss	prisoners	the	group

He called his brother on his cellphone and the two of them took the group prisoner.

22.

Cha	do	tharuinng	iad	na	gunnaichean	orra,	ach	bha	gunnaichean	aca.
neg	past	draw 3p	the	guns	on.3p	but	be.past	guns	at.3p

They didn’t draw the guns on them, but they had guns.

23.

Dh'fhuirich	iad	an-sin	gus	an	tàinig	am	'Border Patrol'
stay.past 3p	there	until	wh-C	come.past	the	Border Patrol

agus	thug	iadsan	air	falbh	na	truaghainn	air	ais	gu	Mexico,
and	take.past 3p.emph perf	leave.vn	the	unfortunates	on	back	to	Mexico

mar	a	tha	iad	cleachdte	a	bhith	dèanamh.
like	wh-C	be.pres3p	accustomed	tran	be.vn	do.vn

They stayed there until the Border Patrol came, and they took away the unfortunates back to Mexico, like they are accustomed to doing.

24.

Mar	às	trice	nuair	a	dh'fhonas	na	rainsearan	airson	cuideachadh,
like	most	often	when	wh-C	call.rel	the	ranchers	for	help.gen

's

docha

gum

bi

e

ceithir

uairean

a’

thìde,

no

latha

no

dhà

cop

probable

that

be.dep 3sm

four

hours

the

time.gen

or

day

or

two

mus	tig	am	poileas.
until	come.fut	the	police

Most often when the ranchers call for help, maybe it will be four hours’ time, or a day or two until the police come.

25.

Chan	eil	ann	ach	tìde	ghoirid	gus	an	tarruinng	cuideigin	gunna
neg	be.dep	in.3sm	but	time	short	until	wh-C	draw.fut	someone	gun

agus	losgaidh	iad	e.
and	fire.fut 3p 3sm

It won’t be but a short time until someone draws a gun and they shoot it.

Note: future as present

26.

Chur	na	rainsearan	tagradh	gu	Riaghladair	na	staid,	Jane	Hull	ag	iarraidh
put.past	the	ranchers	plea	to	Governor	the	state.gen	Jane	Hull	prog	ask.vn

an	t-airm	a	thoirt	a-mach	gus	rian	a	chumail,	ach	dhiùlt	i
the	army	tran	bring.vn	out	for	order	tran	detain.vn	but	refuse.past 3sf

sin	a	dheanamh.
that	tran	do.vn

The ranchers sent a petition to the governor of the state, Jane Hull, asking her to bring out the army in order to keep order, but she refused to do it.

27.

Cha

stad

na

'illegal

aliens'

(sin

an

t-ainm

a

tha

orra ...

's

e

'legal

alien'

neg

stop.fut

the

illegal

aliens

that

the

name

wh-C

be.preson.3p cop 3sm

legal

alien

a	tha	annam	fhein ...	bha	mi	smaoineachadh	riamh	gu	feumadh	tu	tighinn
wh-C	be.presin.1s	self	be.past 1s	think.vn	ever	to	need.vn 2s	come.vn

bhon

a’

ghealach

airson

a

bhith

‘na

d'

alien ...

ach !!!),

cha

stad

iad

from

the

moon

for

tran

be.vn

in

2s.poss

alien

ach

neg

stop.fut 3p

a'

tighinn

a-staigh

do

’n

Staitean

Aonaichte

airson

gu

bheil

obair

air

an

prog

come.vn

into

to

the

States

United

for

wh-C

be.dep 3p

work

on

3p.poss

son	an-seo.
cause	here

The ‘illegal aliens’ will not stop (that is their name…it’s a ‘legal alien’ that I am myself…I was always thinking that you needed to come from the moon to be an ‘alien’…ach!!!,) they will not stop coming into the United States because there is work for them here.

28.

Chan	oibrich	na	h-Ameiricanaich	airson	am	pàigheadh	iosal,
neg	work.fut	the	Americans	for	the	wages	low

mar	sin	cò	bhuanadh	am	buntata	agus	an	leatas	etc.?
like	that	who	pick.cond	the	potatoes	and	the	lettuce	etc

The Americans won’t work for low pay, and so who would harvest the potatoes and the lettuce?

29.

Cò	nigheadh	na	soitheachan	anns	na	tighean	biodh?
who	wash.cond	the	dishes	in	the	houses	food.gen

Who would wash the dishes in the restaurants?

30.

Cò	dheanadh	am	fuaigheil?
who	do.cond	the	sewing

Who would do the sewing?

31.

Dè	ur	beachd?
what	2p.poss	opinion

What [is] your opinion?

32.

Am	bheil	sibh	a’	fearachdainn	duilich	airson	na	truaighean	a	tha	teicheadh
inter	be.dep 2p prog	feel.vn	sorry	for	the	pitifuls.gen	wh-C	be.presflee.vn

bho	bochdainn,	bho	thiormachd,	bho	riaghaltas	cunnartach	(Guatemala, El
from	poverty	from	drought	from	countries	dangerous	Guatemala,	El

Salvador)	a’	coimhead	airson	obair	agus	beatha	ùr?
Salvador	prog	looking	for	work	and	life	new

Are you feeling sorry for the poor ones who are fleeing from poverty, from drought, from dangerous countries (Guatemala, El Salvador) looking for work and a new life?

33.

No	am	bheil	sinn	a’	fearachdainn	duilich	airson	na	rainsearan	a	tha
or	inter	be.dep 1p prog	feel.vn	sorry	for	the	ranchers	wh-C	be.pres

teasairgainn	nan	teaghlaichean	agus	na	taighean	aca	fhein,	air
defend.vn	the	families	and	the	houses	at.3p	self	on

an	fhearainn	aca	fhein,	an-aghaidh	coigrich	acrach	a	tha	sruthadh
the	land	at.3p	self	against	strangers	hungry	wh-C	be	stream.vn

seachad	orra	latha	agus	oidhche?
past	on.3p	day	and	night

Or are we feeling sorry for the ranchers who are defending their own families and houses, on their own lands, against hungry strangers who are streaming past them day and night?