| Author |
Message |
    
Harrison
Member
Username: Harrison
Post Number: 17
Registered: 04-2005
| | Posted on Thursday, June 09, 2005 - 12:38 am: | 
|
Why when asked to translate "some people", it is roinnt daoine rather than daoine eicínt?
Also, why is it ag tóigeáil scíth and not ag baint scíth?
Go raibh maith 'ad,
Harrison |
|
Maidhc_Ó_g
Member
Username: Maidhc_Ó_g
Post Number: 20
Registered: 05-2005
| | Posted on Thursday, June 09, 2005 - 01:30 am: |
|
I think 'roinnt' is comparitive. A certain number of, some, a share of. And 'éicint' is completely indefinite. Some, any.
I guess, depending on the context, 'daoine éicint' could be used in order to show that you really have no idea as to who is/might be involved.
I could only guess on your second question. But, what could you get a break/rest out of? It seems to be that one gets rested by rebuilding oneself. That'd be my guess at the reasoning of the idiom.
Le meas,
Maidhc. |
|
Aonghus
Member
Username: Aonghus
Post Number: 1579
Registered: 08-2004
| | Posted on Thursday, June 09, 2005 - 04:08 am: |
|
duine éicint - somebody i.e. one particular person of many
roinnt daoine - an indefinite number of people |
|
Lughaidh
Member
Username: Lughaidh
Post Number: 361
Registered: 01-2005
| | Posted on Thursday, June 09, 2005 - 09:27 am: |
|
Some people = cupla duine. |
|
Aonghus
Member
Username: Aonghus
Post Number: 1584
Registered: 08-2004
| | Posted on Thursday, June 09, 2005 - 10:49 am: |
|
cúpla is "a few" |
|
Lughaidh
Member
Username: Lughaidh
Post Number: 367
Registered: 01-2005
| | Posted on Thursday, June 09, 2005 - 11:13 am: |
|
I've always heard "cupla duine" for "some people". But maybe it depends on dialect. |
|
Aonghus
Member
Username: Aonghus
Post Number: 1589
Registered: 08-2004
| | Posted on Friday, June 10, 2005 - 04:10 am: |
|
It depends on what "some" means.
If it means "a small number of people" then cúpla is correct.
But if it means "people drawn from a larger group" then roinnt is correct. |
|
