On my way back from a meeting this week, the airline stewardess noticed that I was reading Irish material. She asked me for a translation of "Remember the dead; the dead teach the living." I told her that it might be an idiom in different languages, but I tried to give as close a translation as I could. Thanks in advance for your expertise.

Cuimhnigh ar na básanna.
Múineann na básanna na beo.

I guess that's a literal way to it.

básanna = deaths
mairbh = dead persons, "the dead"

So putting in your word, Dennis, in Maidhc_Ó_g’s attempt above would it be
Cuimhnigh ar na mairbh.
Múineann na mairbh na beo?

I ask rather than attempt because I’m terrified I’ll get a response like the last time:

Caitriona (Unregistered Guest)
Posted on Saturday, June 24, 2006 - 07:24 pm:

This is a rushed job as I’m heading out but here’s a quick answer seeing as you haven’t got one yet. I’d wait to see what else you get:
Tá do ghrá ag múineadh dom dul ar mo ghlúine.
FRC

Dennis
Posted on Saturday, June 24, 2006 - 07:34 pm:

It's so ungrammatical and chaotic that no one could guess that it translates the U2 line.



It seems strange you didn’t use your signature boxed quotation if you were referring to something else.

So I ask with much trepidation,
would
‘Cuimhnigh ar na mairbh.
Múineann na mairbh na beo`
be correct?

Unregistered Guest:

Are you the same as Micheál, who began this thread, or the same as Macknight from whose thread you have quoted? I'm confused. Anyway, you wrote:

I ask rather than attempt because I’m terrified I’ll get a response like the last time:

Caitriona (Unregistered Guest)
Posted on Saturday, June 24, 2006 - 07:24 pm:

This is a rushed job as I’m heading out but here’s a quick answer seeing as you haven’t got one yet. I’d wait to see what else you get:
Tá do ghrá ag múineadh dom dul ar mo ghlúine.
FRC

Dennis
Posted on Saturday, June 24, 2006 - 07:34 pm:

It's so ungrammatical and chaotic that no one could guess that it translates the U2 line.

It seems strange you didn’t use your signature boxed quotation if you were referring to something else.

My response, quoted rather out of context here, refered to another "translation" which Macknight said he had gotten elswhere, to wit:

Bíonn do grá an dóigh lenar mo ghúine a dhéanamh a mhúineadh dom

While I was reading Macknight's post and responding to it, Caitríona posted her response. I did not see it, and posted mine about ten minutes after she did. If you you'd care to review the that thread carely, you'll see what took place.

I'll be happy to discuss the current translation, once I know who you are.

Oh, for pete's sake! The "Unregistered Guest" to whom I just replied is none other than Caitríona herself! I just compared the "posted from" number, , to a signed message from her posted earlier today. No, a bhean mhaith, I was not calling your translation "ungrammatical" and "chaotic". Once again, if you'd care to refer to the original thread, I later acknowledged your translation in positive terms, saying:

quote:

Caitríona's suggestion "ag múineadh dom dul ar mo ghlúine" tracks the original English most closely. The only possible problem there is stylistic. A person composing an original quotable quote in Irish might well prefer the compactness of the other formulations. It's up to you.

Dennis,
That initial response was the reason for my absence of late. I got sick when I read it and turned off Daltai until I got the courage to come back. It wasn't easy,

I did read back and past that comment Dennis when I recovered enough. It's unlike you to leave out a boxed quote or to not refer specifically to a line when commenting on it so the effect of your comment directly after my attempt was harsh, if unintentional. I am now, as Riona would say, skittish, in that I fear doing a translation with my name attached to it although I cannot avoid identification because of the number.

C

Dennis,
I'll leave this translation for Mícheál to you. It's best to move on and past this,
C

Nothing like a bit of drama at the Daltaí..