Is there any interest in playing the game "21 Questions?" I know there's probably some of us who have been worn down with playing the game with our kids, but this is only a request to those who might be interested. So, if you don't like the game, don't feel obliged to play. For those who might not be familiar with the game, it goes like this:

Somebody thinks of a famous person. Then people take turns asking "Yes or No" type questions. For example, An bhfuil sé/sí beo ar fad? - Is the person alive? or an ea bean é? - is it a woman? You can also ask "inclusive or" type questions. For example, Is the person in literature, music or entertainment?, which still requires a Yes or No answer. So the questions go on until 21 questions are asked. If no one gets the answer by then, the person then tells everyone the answer and she or he "wins" that round. If somebody gets the answer before 21 questions (by asking Is it so and so?, then that person wins and gets to think of somebody famous so as to start the next round.

Of course, the objective for us is not about winning (it's how you play the game ) but more about giving us the oppportunity to practice our Irish.

Just one other note: The famous (or infamous) person should be someone most, if not all of us would know. It shouldn't be somebody that's only known locally or a fictional character like out of a book or TV program.

So here goes Round 1: I'm thinking of a famous person:

Time for someone to ask Question No. 1. The question needs to be asked oscailte as Gaeilge (ask the question in Irish only).

An bhfuil sé nó sí beo fós?

Maidhc

An bhfuil sé nó sí beo fós?

Níl.

One other note: I have mentioned in the beginning of this thread, that we'll take turns, but I think that that could slow the game up unnecessarily. What I'm trying to avoid is that someone asks a question and then they feel they need to wait (forever) for someone else to ask the next question before they can ask another question themselves. That may slow the game up unnecessarily. So, perhaps if we wait say about 10-20 minutes and then ask another question if no one else has asked the next question that will give others a chance to jump in but also keep the game moving along.

I don't mean to sound like a time-control officer, but I think I may have overconstrained ourselves in my initial post above - so, feel free to ask away!

P.S. I play this game with my younger son (as Béarla) all the time, especially when we're on the road. I think the kid has ESP, because often his third or fourth question will be Is it so and so? and he gets it right!

Ba mheiriceánach é/í?



(Message edited by fearfeasog on February 26, 2007)

(Message edited by fearfeasog on February 26, 2007)

Ba mheiriceánach é/í? Níor.

An bhfuil Gaeilge aige/aici?

Beir bua agus beannacht

Ceist 4: An bhfuil raibh Gaeilge aige/aici?

Ní raibh.

An ea fear e?

Beir bua agus beannacht

Ceist 5: An ea fear e?

'Sea, is fear é.

Note: It's common in 21 Questions to use the present tense when asking questions, even though we know that the person is no longer living. For example, from Ceist 1 by Mhaidc, we know that the person is not living, but, as is common in 21 Questions follow-up questions can be asked in the present tense, as with Riona's question An ea fear é - is it a man? Here Ríona is asking a question using the present tense but we know that the person is not living. This is perfectly fine, since it's very common to play the game this way, but I thought I would just point out this custom of using the present tense even though we know the person is no longer living. Also, it's common to phrase question in the form Is it a man, singer, etc. The word it may not be grammatically perfect, but it's another custom in 21 Questions where the word it is used instead of a more grammatically correct she or he, which, if used, could make asking the question a bit cumbersome.

An ceist seo chugainn, le bhur dtoil.

(Message edited by mac_léinn on February 26, 2007)

An raibh sé ina chónaí i mBaile Átha Cliath?

Maidhc Ó Sé

Ceist 6: An raibh sé ina chónaí i mBaile Átha Cliath?

Ní raibh. Tá leid anseo - ní raibh sé ina chónai in Éirinn.

Maidhc Ó Sé - tá tú an ghreannmhar a Mhaidc! D'imigh sé beagnach orm!

(Message edited by mac_léinn on February 27, 2007)

A chairde,

As we approach the answer, I'd like to make another suggestion. Someone is bound to ask a critical question that in their mind gives them the information that they need to ask who the famous person is. So, it seems reasonable that that person should go ahead and ask the next question, which would be in the form Is it so and so?. (Note: if you have ESP, you can always make a guess who it is, at any time during the game. But if you're way off keep in mind you make get some chuckles from the other players! )

So, in the spirit of keeping the game moving, let's have it such that if you ask a question, whatever it is, and you get a "Yes" answer, go ahead and ask the next question immediately or whenever you feel like it. Of course, someone else can jump in at anytime and ask their own question, including guessing who the famous person is. And if you'd like, keep asking until you get a "No" answer. Then it might be good to wait a little, say 10-20 minutes, which should give someone else a chance to ask. If someone else then asks a question, go ahead and ask another one if you'd like. My objective in suggesting these guidelines is to keep the game moving, give the person who knows the answer a chance to make their guess who it is, and also open the game to as many folks as possible. I appreciate hearing from y'all in regard to suggestions. At some point, I can firm up the guidelines - maybe we could even have our very own....
Ceist agus Fiche, an Caighdean Oifigiúil-21 Questions, the Official Standard

An ceist seo chugainn, le bhur dtoil.

Ar Eorpach é?

Ceist 7: Ar Eorpach é?

Freagra: Ba é

Ar rith sé go dtí An Fhrainc?

Maidhc Ó hOcht

Ceist 8: Ar rith sé go dtí An Fhrainc?

Freagra: Níor rith.

B'fhéidir go ndeachaigh sé go dtí An Fhrainc, mar shampla ar laethanta saoire, ach níl mé cinnte.

An Sasanach e??

Ceist 9: An Sasanach e??

Ba é!

An ea Winston Churchill e?

An raibh sé ar an ríchathaoir?

M10DHC nó M11DHC



(Message edited by mícheál on February 27, 2007)

Ceist 10: An ea Winston Churchill e?

Ní hea.

Ceist 11: An raibh sé ar an ríchathaoir?

Ní raibh.

ríchathaoir = rí + cathaoir, feicim; is focal an suimiúil í!

An raibh sé saibhir?

Is ea scribhneoir e?

Cúnamh anseo: http://everything2.com/index.pl?node=Fiche%20ceist

Ceist: An raibh sé saibhir?

Is ceist maith é, ach níl fhios agam. Since I don't know if he were rich, this won't count as a question.

A Faoi cheilt, go raibh maith agat as do chuidiú.

A chairde, we haven't even finished our first game and it looks like we may have a major controversy on our hands. My family and friends have always known and played this games as "21 Questions," but after doing a little research, I see that many people know this game as "20 Questions." I have no clue (no pun intended) as to why there is this discrepancy. During my research, I found positive evidence of the number 21 used in a guessing game - the only problem is that that game was involved with the largest game-show scandal in history - see: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Twenty_One_(game_show). And I don't know if we want to be associated with scandalous game-shows!

(....knocking on the door..... Oh, uachtar na maidine, a Chigire, beidh mé ansin - fan bomaite!)

Listen folks, I gotta go - some inspector wants to talk with me about this. When I get back, hopefully, let me know if we should rename this game to "20 Questions" If we do, that means starting with this game, you just lost the chance at asking one more question. .

Ok, I'm back.... whew, that was a close call!

Ceist 12: Is ea scribhneoir e?

'Sea.

An William Shakespear e?

21 ceist is just fine, though I know it as 20 questions. It really isn't terribly controversial in my view. We can just do it however you like a Mhac.

Beir bua agus beannacht

Ceist 13 An William Shakespear e?

'Sea! Maith thú a Ríona. Is leatsa anois.

I think we should change the name of the game to 20 Questions since most of the world knows it by that name. I spoke with my older son a little while ago. He takes credit for re-naming the game to 21 Questions when he was a kid since he thought and still thinks that the questioners get to ask a final question after the 20th question (is matamaiticeoir é mo mhac ). But, from my research on the subject it looks like the questioners need to ask who it is within 20 questions.

Sorry if I came across as over-reactive in regards to this being a controversial subject, but I purposely slowed (not rigged ) this round so that you would have a chance to follow up on your previous, clincher, question. Being an engineer, I like to make things 20 times more complicated then they have to be, but I think we'll just have to "experiment" (engineer lingo for play some more rounds) and see how things work out with the current, suggested guidelines that I'll post.

I've really enjoyed playing this first round. It's helped me get better at Irish, especially since the answerer needs to understand the questions and figure out how to answer correctly.

So, I'll start a new thread titled Fiche Ceist and post some of the suggested guidelines for playing. I'll also indicate, which I hope is alright with you, that it's your turn, so....... start thinking of somebody!

Mac Léinn Ceisteanna

I enjoyed playing the game too. We could also play a version based on the theme of where in the world is Carmen Sandiego. Something along the lines of: Tá sé an-fhuar! Cá bhuil mé? After each response, another clue is given until the correct answer is guessed.

What ya' think?

Maidhc Ar Strae

Is maith liom an cluiche sin "Carmen Sandiego". A Mhichíl sin moladh iontach, dar liom.

Idé mhaith! It's the perfect counterpart to Fiche Ceist since whose ever turn it is does more of the talking (writing) than the other players.

Is maith liom an ainm idé Cá bhfuil Maidhc? Just a suggestion.

Cathain a thosaoínn muid?

Just a note here regarding the game "21 Questions." This game has moved to a new thread titled Fiche Ceist as Gaeilge (Twenty Questions in Irish). Please see that new thread for the continuation of this game and make your posting/guesses/questions there.

Go raibh maith agaibh - thanks!

Nuair a bhí rang Gaeilge ar siúl agam, thaitin an cluiche "Céard (a)tá sa bhosca?" go mór leis na mic léinn. Chuireadh duine againn rud éigin i mbosca a bhíodh againn agus thosaigh na ceisteanna:

- An bhfuil sé crua?

-Níl.

- An bhfuil sé bog?

- Tá.

- An bhfuil sé déanta as plaisteach?

- Tá.

- An mála plaisteach é?

- Ní hea.

etc.