Well it would be interesting to know what the best translation for Ungeziefer is. Translating it into English is not easy either. An interesting article on this is at
http://www.nvcc.edu/home/vpoulakis/Translation/kafkatr1.htm - some English translations say "a vermin". But of course, "a vermin" is totally incorrect in English, as vermin is a collective noun. Insect, bug, don't fully grasp the horrible nature of vermin. I note that in English you can say "piece of vermin", but that is really an insult between people rather than a description of a creature. Maybe "a verminous creature" is appropriate in English?
I ask this, because if "míolra" means "vermin" it is probably a collective noun. I note that in Ó Dónall's dictionary, there is no plural of this word, adding to the impression it is collective, just as vermin is in English.
Míolra is not in Dinneen's dictionary, but I think it is some kind of variant of the plural of míol.
Dinneen's dictionary has cú cnámha or seadán for vermin (the former meaning louse and the latter parasite). O'Neill-Lane's English Irish dictionary says "míola beaga" in the plural or treadáin in the plural - obviously translating vermin as a collective noun. Treadáin seems to be the same word as treaghdán in Ó Dónall's dictionary, which means "nit", with treaghdánach listed as treaghdánach meaning "nitty, verminous".
Of course, míol beag would not be very good, as that link I gave above says the German means huge and disgusting piece of vermin, so "beag" would not encompass that. But míol mór means "whale".
Can anyone express a definite opinion as to whether míolra is collective? What about feithid anchúiseach?
But I love the word claochú, which I was not familiar with - it rolls around the mouth wonderfully! I hope you carry on with the book.
