| Author |
Message |
    
Antoin (Unregistered Guest)
Unregistered guest
Posted From:
| | Posted on Wednesday, August 02, 2006 - 06:16 am: |   
|
im confused by the double negative in this sentence
"nach raibh siad in ann gan a bheith diúltach"
they weren’t able not to be negative
should it be
"nach raibh siad in ann ach a bheith diúltach"
they were only able to be negative
or is it ok ? |
|
Niallmac
Member
Username: Niallmac
Post Number: 36
Registered: 07-2006
| | Posted on Wednesday, August 02, 2006 - 06:25 am: |
|
gan a bhieth is correct, but not so sure about ach, doesnt really make sence.. gan a bheith diúltach = to be without negativity.... whats the full sentence
but ach a bheith diúltach... doesnt really make sence i dont think, but soemone else might be able to add more too this |
|
Aonghus
Member
Username: Aonghus
Post Number: 3550
Registered: 08-2004
| | Posted on Wednesday, August 02, 2006 - 09:28 am: |
|
The original is correct, but awkward.
It looks like journalese to me.
The second is wrong, I think (without being able to put my finger on why). |
|
Abigail
Member
Username: Abigail
Post Number: 17
Registered: 06-2006
| | Posted on Wednesday, August 02, 2006 - 09:45 am: |
|
I'd tend to say the first one, but both are grammatically correct. As you point out, they mean slightly different things (although I don't think the difference is significant in this example.)
nach raibh siad in ann gan a bheith diúltach
they were unable not to be negative
In other words, they were incapable of being nonnegative. (Or as I'd say at home, "they couldn't stop with the negative.") It sounds a bit awkward in English, but it's perfectly fine in Irish.
The second one is OK too. The usual way of expressing "only" in Irish is ní ... ach, and that's what can be seen here:
nach raibh siad in ann ach a bheith diúltach
they were only able to be negative
Hope this helps! As always, it's open to correction... I'm still a learner myself.
Abigail
Tá fáilte roimh chuile cheartú!
|
|
Abigail
Member
Username: Abigail
Post Number: 18
Registered: 06-2006
| | Posted on Wednesday, August 02, 2006 - 09:50 am: |
|
Oops! Sorry, Aonghus, I didn't see you there.
The second one may just be my "book Irish" rearing its head again. If you say it sounds wrong, I'll take your word for it.
How would you render this sentence in Irish, out of curiosity?
Abigail
Tá fáilte roimh chuile cheartú!
|
|
Niallmac
Member
Username: Niallmac
Post Number: 38
Registered: 07-2006
| | Posted on Wednesday, August 02, 2006 - 10:10 am: |
|
ni raibh siad abalta gan a bheith diúltach.
not that much different but a bit easier on the eyes and tongue for me! :-)
Cad a ceapeann siad? |
|
Antoin (Unregistered Guest)
Unregistered guest
Posted From:
| | Posted on Wednesday, August 02, 2006 - 10:31 am: |
|
Grma, do bhur bhfreagraí ar fad,
The complete sentence is from "BEO Lúnasa 64-Ar na Saolta Seo le R.McMillen"
"Bhí mé feargach leis na haontachtaithe nach dtiocfaidh leo muinín a bheith iontu féin, nach raibh siad in ann gan a bheith diúltach" |
|
Aonghus
Member
Username: Aonghus
Post Number: 3554
Registered: 08-2004
| | Posted on Wednesday, August 02, 2006 - 10:51 am: |
|
Bheadh
"nach bhfuil ar a gcumas diúltacht a sheachaint"
agamsa.
(Robert McMillen is a professional journalist, I think journalese in English rubs off on his Irish) |
|
