We seem to have lost some of the objective of this site recently, in terms of helping each other to improve our Irish, as opposed to debating around the language.

I have tried to start a few hares by setting riddles, but they seem to only attract the already fluent (which is still good fun)

But it has been a long, long time since a question was posed here which helped me sharpen my language.

Cá bhfuil Celtoid? Nach bhfuil aoinne i ngleic le scéal casta? Conas is féidir linn feabhas a chuir ar chursaí?

I tried to discussed this as it was evovling and was summarily "shushed" by the new "gaeilge elite". But, since you have been a consistent source of support and...since you asked....In my never to be humble opinion, this has become a platform for the fluent to flaunt their respective talents rather than a site for fledglings to the language (like myself) to visit for help and encouragement. (You and a few others being the exceptions).

Virtually every post by a neophyte over the past year or so has eventually turned into an "Irish Only" response board that focuses on dialectal nuances, IPA symbols and debates over Standard Irish vs Old Irish and whether the wind in Connemara has affected the nuetral glide in a way similar to the way the puffins on the Blaskets affected the gutteral "ch" in proto-celtic communities.....etc, etc, etc. (Obviously, that last bit was an attempt at sarcasm/humor.)

I'm still around hoping for the tide to turn but in all honesty, I've learned more from Ros na Rún over the past few months than I have from this site. At least there I can hear the differences in the dialects without having to debate their enthno-anthropo-linguistic origins.

I hate to sound repetitious but...this place just ain't fun anymore. Not like it used to be, anyway.

Is maith liom site seo. (Ta bron orm as an Bearlachas)

I think that this site is very interesting and fun and I like debating. However I like the other things we do here too because they help my slow self to learn. A bit of everything is nice.

Beir bua agus beannacht

One of the many things I like about this forum is the breadth of subject matter that is discussed, from simple requests for tatoos to detailed discussions on dialectal nuances. I enjoy reading them all!

Scríobh James: Virtually every post by a neophyte over the past year or so has eventually turned into an "Irish Only" response board that focuses on dialectal nuances, IPA symbols.....

That's not true at all. I am very grateful for all the help I've received from other contributors, and find that virtually every contributor who helps me and others will use English or Irish when appropriate. I would especially like to commend Dennis for his constant encouragement for us beginners to use Irish as much as possible. This place is a lot of fun! And my Irish is getting better day by day because of it.

I wish I could participate in the riddles, but they're a little bit over my head. But, I do enjoy reading them and I pick up new words each time I read them. I also think it's good to debate issues that relate to the Irish language. In other words, I wouldn't want to see limits on what we can and can't discuss as far as it relates to the Irish language. I think that those who don't care for a particular subject matter should just ignore that thread. Maybe they could start one of their own - that would be a positive contribution.

http://www.focal.ie/Search.aspx?term=su%C3%ADomh&lang=2

suíomh an focal atá uait.

Is é site "láthair" as Gaeilge, nach ea?

A Riona, I think it's so neat that you can say it two sentences much better than what I tried to say in 4 paragraphs - maith thú!


FRC - GRMA

Tá brón orm a Aonghuis. Looks like I was typing my response when you had already supplied the word for site.

Is maith liom sa chuid seo den suíomh. (Go raibh míle maith agat, a Aonghus, den fhoclóir agus don chabhrach.) Is breá liom Daltaí Na Gaeilge. Tá an-chraic ar na deirheadh seactaine.

Ach, Is breá liomsa ag féachaint ar TG4 freisin. Is maith liom Aifric agus Ros na Rún. Is mian liom liofa ach tá bóthar fada agam.

Cleachtadh, cleachtadh, cleachtadh ...

Maidhc

Is maith liom sa chuid seo den suíomh. (Go raibh míle maith agat, a Aonghus, den fhoclóir agus don chabhrach.) Is breá liom Daltaí Na Gaeilge. Tá an-chraic ar na deirheadh seachtaine.

Ach, is breá liomsa ag féachaint ar TG4 freisin. Is maith liom Aifric agus Ros na Rún. Is mian liom liofa ach tá bóthar fada agam.

Cleachtadh, cleachtadh, cleachtadh ...

Maidhc

"Is maith liom sa chuid seo den suíomh..."

Well, I have a question. What is the difference between "is maith liom" and "ba mhaith liom"? Is it simply the difference between "is" and "would be"?

I ask because this is one of the phrases the Pimsleur program cudgels into your brain with no grammar or explanation. Thanks.

Is maith liom - I like
Ba mhaith liom _ I would like/I want

From my very limited knowledge, Ta an ceart agat (you're right). Is maith liom ... means I like ... and Ba maith liom ... means I would like ...

On the Dail debate suiomh, they say "Ba maith liom ..." a lot as they start sentenses about what they would like to do/say/impart.

Beir bua agus beannacht

Domsa,
Bheadh níos mó spéise agamsa bheith ag plé gnáthrudaí le daoine.. Cad a rinne tú inniú / Cad é an áit gur fearr leat ar domhan.
Nach bhfuil ann ach comhrá? Agus níl an suíomh seo ann do ghnáthchomhrá, is d'fhoghlaimeoirí le ceisteanna é.

For me,
I'd prefer to chat about normal everyday things with people like asking the Americans what they did with their day and where Domhnall eile thinks is the best place in the world etc etc.
That's only chat though. This website isn't really here for that though, is it? It's more for learners who have questions.

"It's more for learners who have questions."

I always felt it would be appropriate to have discussions relating to Gaeilge - learners' questions, grammatical discussion, debate on the state of the language and where it's going etc in either irish or english, or discussions on any topic (the chit chat) as long as it's in Irish.

Although I do agree with Aonghus that frequently simple questions from the uninitiated are answered in two or three posts in a rather straightforward manner, which are then followed by thirty to fifty other posts that rapidly descend into lengthy shows of pedantry which far exceed both the scope of the initial question and the capacity of the questioner to understand the jargon and trivia.

A Dhomnaill,

"like asking the Americans what they did with their day"

An tseachtain seo chugainn bhí mé i Nua Eabhrac. Chuaigh mé go dtí sa cathair ag siopadóireacht a ceannaigh leabhair ag An Strand. Agus chonaic mé an Crann Nollag ag Rockefeller Center. Chuala mé ceol ag Stout. Bhí Sycthian (www.scythianmusic.com) ag seinm.

Agus tusa?

This weekend I was in New York. I went to the city shopping to buy books at The Strand. And I saw the Christmas Tree at Rockefeller Center. I heard music at Stout. Scythian was playing.

And you?

Maidhc

This American did very little today. But she did write quite a few posts on Daltai. :) Ta bron orm that wasn't more exciting.

Beir bua agus beannacht

A Riona, an bhfuilir ag teacht go dtí An Daingean an samhradh so chughainn?

Beidh mise sa cheantar i mí Iúil. An mbeidh tú fhéin ann? Bheadh sé go deas bualadh leat sa seomra mór gorm. Bíonn pictiúr breige de dhaoine againn san saol fíorúil go minic.

Cá bhfuil "seomra mór gorm"? Níor chuala riamh fé!)))

Béarlagar lucht ríomhaireachta atá ann. Amuigh faoin spéir atá i gceist, i. san fíor saol, seachas san saol fíorúil.

(Message edited by aonghus on December 19, 2006)

A Aonghuis agus James,

Slan a bhéas sibh. Aontaím libh.

At its best, this board is a vibrant and friendly exchange of information.
It has veered away from that lately, and I find I rarely visit.
A friend (and Daltaí stalwart) said the same thing to me a couple of weeks ago.

The thing I find discouraging is that too often people aren’t responded to, they’re pounced upon.

I’m a learner, and always will be. I look at learning Irish as being on a spectrum, and hopefully I’m moving towards fluency. And I’m thankful for the people who have encouraged me, both here on this board and in Ireland and America.

Le gach dea-ghuí,
Paul

A Romain,

You are asking me if I'm going to An Daingean this summer. Nil. I have no way to get there. I very much wish I could go but I havn't anyone to go with. Aside from those evil street dogs I enjoyed An Daingean very much. I wish very much that I could go back to Eire.

Beir bua agus beannacht

quote:

I very much wish I could go but I havn't anyone to go with.

Tar liomsa! Is féidir linn san aerphort Bhleá Cliath a bhualadh leis a chéile. Ba mhaith liom dul go dtí An Rinn agus go dtí Oileán Chléire an samhradh so chughainn. Cad is dóigh leat?

Ta tu ag spochadh, ceart?
You are teasing me right?

Beir bua agus beannacht (from hence until Christmas I think I'll say Beannachtai na Nollag at the end of my posts.)

Ríona, I don't think he was kidding. It sounds like a wonderful opportunity to travel and meet someone from the group.

Shoshana

Ta tu ag spochadh, ceart?

Nílim, bhíos ag rá i ndáiríre. Nílim cinnte fós cathain a bhead ag dul go hÉirinn mhilis, agus táim cinnte go mbead! B'fhéidir, mí Iúl? Cad is dóigh leat?

We may discuss this matter further if you e-mail me



You ought to have my e-mail address anyway since I find you interesting. I'm not opposed to others writing me either.

Beir bua agus beannacht (the whole Beannachtai na Nollag thing just seems perculiar to write at the end of my messages so forget I mentioned doing so.)

Róman

Beidh mise i gCorca Dhuibhne i Mí Iúil, agus bheadh suim agam bualadh leat. Cuir r-phost chugham, le'd thoil - tá mo sheoladh le fáil sách éasca.

quote:

Is maith liom site seo. (Ta bron orm as an Bearlachas)

Ceapaim gurb iad an dá fhocal a úsáidtear is minice ná suíomh agus láithreán.

Mise inniú.. Hmmm

Bhuel tháinig mé abhaile ó Bhaile Atha Cliath, amach le mo bhuachaill aréir a bhí mé! Ansin scríobh mé aiste ar conas is féidir le Rí na Mara níos mó táirgí a dhíol timpeall an domhain agus mar sin. Chuaigh mé ag siopadóireacht lem chairde agus thiomáin mé timpeall an bhaile ag féachtaint ar na soilse nollag!

Well i came home from Dublin after being out with my boyfriend last night. Then i wrote an essay on how Rí na Mara can sell more of their products around the world etc etc. I went shopping with my friends and finally drove around the town looking at peoples houses that are covered in cmas lights! ",

Sounds fabulous, Domhnall. We'll be doing Xmas sightseeing locally here as well soon and I may post up some pics here if only I can figure out how the heck to do it.

Fabulásach you might even say! Ye i don't know if you can do that.. I'd love to be able to though.. I've bizillions of irish language posters..

Looking at Christmas light together; So romantic!

I personally find Christmas to be cheap, kitchy and, populist.

If I ever have kids, then they'll never get Christmas presents. Ever.

Your poor kids. what if your wife likes Christmas and wants to give them presents, then I guess their poorness will dominish. :)

I adore Christmas, Is maith liom Nollag!

Beir bua agus beannacht

Well, I've taken a long break from Daltai, on account of school being in session, but now I'm on break and have wandered back. And I am glad I did. I see that many posters that previously only responded in Gaelic now provide translations below. Thank you so much. It really is no fun trying to follow a conversation in a language you're only a novice at.

This American spent five hours making phone calls to re-register ESL students into an English course. The downside was that they all speak only Spanish, which I only speak at a minimal level. XP

Nollaig faoi mhaise daoibh!

Nice to see you back a Odwyre. School is a pain It would be fine if it stayed in the classroom and didn't follow you home. :)

Beir bua agus beannacht

quote:

If I ever have kids, then they'll never get Christmas presents.

Conas dearfa Bah Hum Bug! as Gaeigle?

Yeah ^ aontaím!

Romantic - Indeed..