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The Daltaí Boards » Archive: 1999-2004 » 2003 (January-June) » Need tranlation for recently deceased friend « Previous Next »

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michael
Posted on Sunday, February 09, 2003 - 11:56 pm:   Edit Post Print Post

I'm getting a memorial tattoo its a shamrock with wings and a halo and at the bottom i want it to say "always with us" ive got a few different translations... the only one i got more than once was i gco nai linn... could anyone help would be greatly appreciated

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James
Posted on Monday, February 10, 2003 - 06:10 pm:   Edit Post Print Post

What you have is basically correct with this slight "edit".

i gconai linn

Your note indicated a separation between gco and nai. The "g" is an eclipsis and looks funny to the english reading eye but it is perfectly correct.

Another possibility would be

Go Deo Linn

I'm not a native speaker so what I've offered might not sound right. Also, there may be an Irish phrase that doesn't lend itself to translation very well but provides a more natively accurate conveyance of the sentiment.

Ink is forever so be sure to get more feedback than mine before you commit it to skin.

Le meas,

James

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Oliver Grennan
Posted on Monday, February 10, 2003 - 07:47 pm:   Edit Post Print Post

Yes,

"I gcónaí linn" is how you say it.

Don't forget the accents on the i & e.

"Go Deo linn" means "with us forever".

Slán,

Oliver.

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James
Posted on Monday, February 10, 2003 - 09:21 pm:   Edit Post Print Post

Oliver, A Chara,


"Don't forget the accents on the i & e."

Wouldn't that fada be on the "o" and the "i"? I think you had a small typo with the "e" reference.

Secondly, we tend to use forever and always interchangeably in english. Is this not true in Irish? I realize that there is a difference between the two in some instances but in english it's usually a subtle difference. Is it more dramatic in Irish?

Go raibh maith agat,

James

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Oliver Grennan
Posted on Monday, February 10, 2003 - 11:36 pm:   Edit Post Print Post

Sorry, that was a typo. As far as I know, go Deo only means "till the end of time", and doesn't convey the meaning of "habitually" that "i gcónaí" does.

I'd recommend "i gcónaí linn" for "always with us". The confusion is because we say

forever = always

in English but it's not the same in Irish.

Slán

Oliver.

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James
Posted on Monday, February 10, 2003 - 11:40 pm:   Edit Post Print Post

Fair enough. Go Deo implying an "end of time" while i gcónaí has a more eternal connotation.

OK--now this--how does i gcónaí fit into Tá me i mo chónaí i .....

Is is accepted that we will live somewhere eternally??

Just trying to make sense out of the subtleties and nuances.

Le meas,

James

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Oliver Grennan
Posted on Tuesday, February 11, 2003 - 02:31 am:   Edit Post Print Post

Hi James,
If you have a dictionary, look up "cónaí". You'll see that it has a large number of meanings - probably due to dialects using it in diferent ways. I suppose "i mo chónaí" could meann "I am in my always"! but I don't know for sure what the connection is.

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Pádraig Mac Gafraidh
Posted on Tuesday, February 11, 2003 - 09:16 am:   Edit Post Print Post

This may be a reach -- of course it's a reach -- but i gcónai (always) may be rooted in the "dwelling place." Some ambitious scholar may wish to research Jesus' reference "abide with Me" as Gaeilge in Matthew, Mark, Luke or John. It would be interesting to see whether the Irish is cónai, because the implication is of an eternal abode in Christ.

P.

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Pádraig Mac Gafraidh
Posted on Tuesday, February 11, 2003 - 10:07 am:   Edit Post Print Post

It wasn't Jesus, but in II Chronicles 6:18 Solomon asked this question at the dedication of the temple:

Ach an déanfaidh Dia cónai dáiríre i measc an chine dhaonna ar talamh?

But will God really make a dwelling place in the midst of men on earth?

Sure enough, after the dedication is complete and God has moved into the Temple, we are told:

Óir is maith é, agus maireann a bhuanghrá de shiór.

For He is good, and his everlasting love lives forever.

A simpler translation might be "and His love endures forever," but I believe the translator's use of "maireann," the prefix "buan," and the expression "de shiór" are intentional for the purpose of emphasis.

The entire context of these lines, the dedication of the temple is about God making a dwelling place among men -- an chónai go síoraí."

Slán,
P.

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michael
Posted on Tuesday, February 11, 2003 - 10:10 pm:   Edit Post Print Post

So do you guys think its safe for me to get
"i gcónaí linn" on my arm... meaning "always with us" im really nervious about this i don't have any tattoos and this means soo much....thanks for the help

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Pádraig Mac Gafraidh
Posted on Tuesday, February 11, 2003 - 10:37 pm:   Edit Post Print Post

Michael,

Boy, we sure got off the track there. didn't we. Sorry.

Your first post said you want your tattoo to say "Always with us."

"i gcónaí linn" says it exactly.

Beannachta,
Pádraig

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áine
Posted on Monday, February 17, 2003 - 07:49 am:   Edit Post Print Post

Linn i gcónaí.

Is fearr liom mar sin é, a Phádraig, bail ó Dhia ort.

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Fintan
Posted on Wednesday, February 19, 2003 - 07:53 pm:   Edit Post Print Post

A Chairde,

Just my two cents... I like the look of Áine's suggestion. It would 'flow' better calligraphically... Linn i gcónaí (With us always).

Anyhoo.....As always, Le meas,
Fintan

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