Bilingual transcription: Foghlam

RONA: O halò! Seall sin. A bheil do shùil nas motha na do bhrù?!

Hello! Look at that. Is your eye bigger than your belly?

ALFIE: Dè? Chan ann dhòmhsa a tha iad seo. Thàinig iad bhon lot bheag aig mo sheanmhair. Dh’iarr i orm an toirt chun a’ bhanca-bìdh agaibh.

They’re not for me. They came from my grandmother’s allotment. She asked me to bring them to your food bank.

RONA: Tapadh leatsa. Bidh Luc an seo a dh’aithghearr; tha esan nas fhiosraiche mun bhanca-bìdh na tha mise agus nas cleachdte ri bhith a’ dèiligeadh ri tabhartasan. Tha iad a’ coimhead cho ùr.

Thank you. Luc will be here shortly, he’s more knowledgeable about the food bank than I am, and used to managing donations. They look so fresh.

LUC: O halò, an e an stuth aig Seonag a tha sin?

Hello, is that the stuff from Seonag?

ALFIE: ’S e. Lìon i am bogsa seo dhuibh.

Yes. She filled this box for you.

LUC: Is tusa Alfie ma-thà? Is mise Luc agus choinnich thu ri Rona? Seall fhèin sin. Tha lot bheag mhìorbhaileach aig Seonag. Boireannach easgaidh agus ionnsaichte. Ciamar a tha dol le na clasaichean, a Rona?

You must be Alfie then. I’m Luc and you’ve met Rona. Just look at this. Seonag has a fantastic allotment. An obliging and learned lady. How are the classes coming along, Rona?

RONA: Chan eil dona. Tha na clasaichean ciùil trang agus feumaidh mi leigeil fhaicinn gu bheil na beàrnan sna clasaichean Gàidhlig air an lìonadh.

Not bad. The music classes are busy and I have to let it be known that the spaces in the Gaelic classes have been filled.

LUC: Cha bhi feum agadsa air clas Gàidhlig co-dhiù!

You certainly won’t need a Gaelic class!

ALFIE: Tha mi fortanach. Chaidh mo thogail le Gàidhlig anns a’ bhaile mhòr. ’S ann à Leòdhas agus às an Eilean Sgitheanach a tha mo theaghlach.

I’m lucky. I was brought up with Gaelic in the city. My family come from Lewis and Skye.

RONA: An do rinn thu Gàidhlig san sgoil?

Did you study Gaelic in school?

ALFIE: Rinn. Rinn mi Àrd-ìre agus Àrd-ìre Adhartach. Chòrd Gàidhlig rium ach dh’obraich mi cruaidh airson na deuchainnean agus bha tòrr leughaidh ri dhèanamh.

I did Higher and Advanced Higher. I enjoyed Gaelic and I worked hard for my exams, and there was a lot of reading.

RONA: An robh a h-uile deuchainn sgrìobhte?

Was every exam written?

ALFIE: Bha aon deuchainn còmhraidh ann.

There was one spoken exam.

RONA: Chuireadh sin an t-eagal ormsa!

That would frighten me!

LUC: A bheil thu a’ dol a leantainn ort leis an ionnsachadh ’s a’ dol dhan oilthigh gus ceum a dhèanamh?

Are you going to continue learning and go to university to study for a degree?

ALFIE: Chan eil mi buileach cinnteach. Tha mi air bliadhna a ghabhail air falbh bhon fhoghlam gus smaoineachadh mu dheidhinn. Tha obair agam anns an taigh-bìdh Fhrangach shìos an t-sràid.

I’m not quite sure. I’ve taken a year away from Education to think about things. I have a job in the French restaurant down the street.

RONA: Chez La Famille!

LUC: Seall ortsa – le do chuid Fraingis. Nach tusa a dh’fhàs foghlaimte!

Look at you – with your French. Haven’t you become learned!

RONA: Tha mi foghlaimte mu thaighean-bìdh!

I’m learned about restaurants!

ALFIE: Tha mise ag ionnsachadh tòrr san taigh-bìdh agus a’ fàs cleachdte ris an obair.

I’m learning a lot in the restaurant and getting used to the work.

LUC: Tha iomadh dòigh air foghlam fhaighinn, nach eil? Chan fheum thu an t-slighe stèidhichte a leantainn agus a dhol dhan oilthigh mar a rinn d’ athair gus dreuchd tidsear a thoirt a-mach.

There are many ways to get an Education, aren’t there? You don’t need to follow the established path and go to university like your father did to become a teacher.

RONA: Tha fiosrachadh againne an seo mu chùrsaichean…. ’s dòcha gun còrdadh fear riut.

We have information here about courses… maybe you’d enjoy one.

ALFIE: Bheir mi sùil ma-thà, ach ’s fheàrr dhomh a dhol a dh’obair. Chì mi sibh uaireigin eile.
Tìoraidh!

I’ll have a look then, but I’d better go to work. I’ll see you sometime. Bye!