Translation
Eadar-theangachadh
We will all have heard the famous saying: a ir chall san eadar theangachadh , in the other language (English): 'lost in translation'.
Indeed, translation is a skill in itself, a skill which is useful to learners of language, especially before they are completely fluent.
Learners translate what they want to say, and things they hear.
While this is largely unavoidable at the early stages, we should try to move away from this as quickly as possible.
But when you are fluent in two languages, you understand what is being said without translating it.
However, as most of us live in an English-speaking? society, to a certain extent, we may find we often have to translate things in English into Gaelic, and if working in a Gaelic role we will also be required to translate between the two languages.
Practise this skill and the range of your Gaelic will improve, and help you communicate naturally in Gaelic.
Translate this passage into Gaelic from the book Hiort by Iain F. MacLeòid:
The woman found her in a small stone bothy.
A young woman, like she was asleep.
Her lips still red, white skin on the dark soil.
The woman who found the body often visited (was often visiting) remote islands, and this time, it was to the Flannan Islands she went, twenty miles from the coast of the Isle of Lewis.
She had always wanted to go there.
Seo am freagairt
Here’s the answer
Gaelic
Lorg am boireannach i ann am bothag bheag chloiche.
Boireannach òg, mar gun robh i na cadal.
Na lipean aice fhathast dearg, craiceann geal air an ùir dhorch.
Bha am boireannach a lorg an corp gu tric a' tadhal air eileanan iomallach, agus an turas seo, b' ann dha na h Eileanan Flannach a chaidh i, fichead mìle bho chosta Eilean Leòdhais.
Bha i a riamh airson a dhol ann.
English
The woman found her in a small stone bothy.
A young woman, like she was asleep.
Her lips still red, white skin on the dark soil.
The woman who found the body was often visiting remote islands, and this time, it was to the Flannan Islands she went, twenty miles from the coast of the Isle of Lewis.
She had always wanted to go there.
There are a few phrases which would be better translated as follows:
Gaelic
Lorg am boireannach i ann am bothag bheag chloiche.
Boireannach òg, mar gun robh i na cadal.
Na lipean aice fhathast dearg, craiceann geal air an ùir dhorch.
Bha am boireannach a lorg an corp gu tric a' tadhal air eileanan iomallach, agus an turas seo, b' ann dha na h Eileanan Flannach a chaidh i, fichead mìle bho chosta Eilean Leòdhais.
Bha i a riamh airson a dhol ann.
English
The woman found her in a small stone bothy.
A young woman, like she was asleep.
Her lips still red, white skin on the dark soil.
The woman who found the body was often visiting remote islands, and this time, it was to the Flannan Islands she went, twenty miles from the coast of the Isle of Lewis.
She had always wanted to go there.