Muir is Tir ~ Land and Sea

[anteros_lmc]

The other book I picked up while I was in the Outer Hebrides earlier this week was Muir is Tir by Seoras Chaluim Sheorais which is a collection of traditional Lewis Gaelic words and phrases relating to all things nautical including boats, fittings, furnishings, sails, tides, fishing gear, weather, navigation, lore and proverbs. The book is also beautifully illustrated by the late author with line drawings of local craft and gear. One or two of the words are vaguely familiar from when I was a kid but most of the saying are new to me. A few of them particularly struck a chord...

Cha deachaidh lann a chur aig tarag a b'fhearr na am bata ud ~ No better boat than that one was ever built. (It's the bloody Indy!)

Cum an t-eather bho chladach an fhasgaidh, agus cumaidh i i fhein bho chladach an fhuaraidh ~ Keep the boat from the lee shore, and she will keep herself from the windward shore.

Fear nach teid og chun na mara, cha dean fear-mara a-chaoidh ~ He who will not go to sea young will never be a sailor.

Bidh duil re beul cuain, ach cha bhi duil re beul uaigh ~ There may be hope of a man at sea, but none of one in the grave.

Sona gach ni 's a' ghoath na tamh ~ Everything is peaceful when the wind is at rest.

I also now know the Gaelic word for a belaying pin ~ dealg-cheangail. I must inform nodbear immediately when she returns!

Comments

[eglantine-br.livejournal.com]

Sounds lovely. Picturing Gunner Morrison reading over your shoulder and smiling.

[anteros-lmc.livejournal.com]

It's a lovely wee book. I love seeing collections of words like this being preserved for future generations. And it's so nice they've been published in such an accessible way. Gunner Morrison would definitely have known these words and a good few more besides I should imagine!

[mylodon.livejournal.com]

What's the pronunciation for dealg-cheangail?

[anteros-lmc.livejournal.com]

Hmm...I had a nasty feeling someone was going to ask me how to pronounce something ;) It would be something like jalk - chyangil, with the ch being the same sound as in loch. Dealg means spindle or pin and ceangal means a fastening. So dealg cheangail is a fastening pin. Makes perfect sense really!

[mylodon.livejournal.com]

Perfect sense.

Must work said jalk - chyangil into something sometime...

[anteros-lmc.livejournal.com]

Must work said jalk - chyangil into something sometime...
Dead easy. Give the Stewart's a Scottish ghillie! XD

[stevie-carroll.livejournal.com]

That all sounds great. I like Gaelic.

[anteros-lmc.livejournal.com]

It's a beautiful language. Sadly I only have a smattering as my father was of the generation that didn't think it was important to pass the language on to their children.

[stevie-carroll.livejournal.com]

I know none; I just developed an odd fascination with Gaelic Kids TV while at Edinburgh Uni.

[anteros-lmc.livejournal.com]

Lol! Don't tell me you're a fan of Donnie Dotaman?!

[stevie-carroll.livejournal.com]

I'm trying to remember names other than De-a-nis? There was something with puppets on a boat...

[anteros-lmc.livejournal.com]

I don't remember much about it myself but I think my cousin may have made some of the puppets for that show!

[stevie-carroll.livejournal.com]

Now that's cool.

[anteros-lmc.livejournal.com]

Gaelic is beautiful and very, very strange yet familiar.
And so it should be!

So you're from Lewis then?
I am indeed. Leodhasach born and bred. All my family are from Lewis and Harris.

[anteros-lmc.livejournal.com]

Though quite different language families, right?
Quite different I believe so, thought they now share a lot of vocabulary. I've been told that several Gaelic words have made their way into the Scandinavian languages but sadly I couldn't tell you what they are.

would love to visit the Hebrides at some point. Just got to get meself a job first...
Don't worry, the Hebrides will wait for you :)