How would you translate:

Protect the Gaeltacht

I would offer

Cosnaígí an Ghaeltacht (Let us protect the gaeltacht)

but you might to wait for some of our more expert contributors

quote:

Cosnaígí an Ghaeltacht (Let us protect the gaeltacht)

Aontaím leis an nGaeilge, ach ní leis an míniú idir lúibíní.

Let us protect = Cosnaímis.

Cosnaígí = (you plural) Protect!

I think that should be "Cosnaíodh muid". What you gave there is the imperative You (pl.) protect.

Oops, didn't see you there, a Dhennis. But still, am I misreading something, because from what I'm finding in Ó Siadhail, 'cosnaímis' would be "Let THEM protect". Unless I've stumbled into one of his misprints.



(Message edited by Maidhc_Ó_G. on February 09, 2007)

Oops myself, I was going to include a link to foclóir beag regarding cosnaímis, but I see (after I made this now-edited posting, that Dennis included that information only.

What a coincidence that I was just asking about the use of the imperative mood with other than the second-person singular and plural forms and voila!

(Message edited by mac_léinn on February 09, 2007)

I would prefer the saorbhriathar:

Cosnaítear an ghaeltacht!

nó níos fearr

Caomhnaítear an ghaeltacht!

Aointim len mbriathar ó hAonghus ansin.

But about my confusion above.

http://www.nualeargais.ie/gnag/verbend.htm

Near the bottom of the page, under 'imperative'.
"The first person plural can be said also -(e)am or -(a)imid instead of -(a)imis."

It seems the form "cosnaíodh muid" found in Ó Siadhail is a dialect form of 'cosnaimid' --> cosnaímis.

I also mixed it with cosnaiDís --> they. :-P

Hmmm. I wonder if Dennis hadn't answered back so I could go figure that out for myself ?? It WAS a great read....
GRMMA a chara.