The Daltaí Boards: Fiafraigh vs. Iarr

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Pádraig
Member
Username: Pádraig

Post Number: 787
Registered: 09-2004

Posted on Sunday, February 15, 2009 - 01:11 pm:

Is there a difference in usage between fiafraigh and iarr? Also, why do I find these two verbs used in combinationation with different prepositions?

ie: Iarr an t-airgead air.
Fiafraigh de cad é mar atá sé?

Is ait an mac an saol agus fáilte roimh cheartúcháin.

Domhnaillín_breac_na_dtruslóg
Member
Username: Domhnaillín_breac_na_dtruslóg

Post Number: 423
Registered: 04-2008

Posted on Sunday, February 15, 2009 - 01:59 pm:

Iarr is to make a request.
Fiafraigh is to make an inquiry.

It's parallel to the distinction between Spanish pedir and preguntar, German bitten and fragen, and so on.

As for the pronoun use, well, that's a fairly arbitrary feature in European languages.

Lars
Member
Username: Lars

Post Number: 303
Registered: 08-2005

Posted on Sunday, February 15, 2009 - 02:12 pm:

quote:
Is there a difference in usage between fiafraigh and iarr?

Tá.
Iarraidh (ar) = to ask for a favor, to beg, to request, to solicit.
Fiafraí (de) = to ask a question

quote:
Also, why do I find these two verbs used in combinationation with different prepositions?

Cén fáth nach ea?
Different verbs, different meanings, different idioms.

Lars

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