398: Luchan
Litir sheachdaineach do luchd-ionnsachaidh le clàr-fuaime, tar-sgrìobhadh is mìneachadh. A weekly letter to Gaelic learners with audio, transcription and explanation.
Tha an litir ag obrachadh leis an fhaclair. Tagh an taba ‘teacsa Gàidhlig’ agus tagh facal sam bith san teacsa agus fosglaidh am faclair ann an taba ùr agus bidh mìneachadh den fhacal ann. The letter is integrated with the dictionary. Select the tab ‘Gaelic text’ and choose any word and the dictionary will open and you will see the English explanation of the Gaelic word.
Luchan
A bheil sibh measail air luchan? Is toigh leam fhìn iad. Bha tè aig mo nighinn mar pheata nuair a bha i òg. Bha i snog is glan – an luch a tha mi a’ ciallachadh – ged a bha mo nighean snog is glan cuideachd – uill, a’ chuid a bu mhotha dhen ùine.
’S iomadh seanfhacal a th’ againn ann an Gàidhlig co-cheangailte ri luchan. Mar eisimpleir, is bean-taighe an luchag na taigh fhèin – the little mouse is mistress in her own house. Is bean-taighe an luchag na taigh fhèin. Agus cha mhurtar an luchag fon chruaich-fheòir. Ged a tha cruach-fheòir mòr is trom, agus luch a’ fuireach foidhpe, cha dèan cuideam na cruaiche cron air an luch. Is dòcha gu bheil dòighean againn airson a bhith beò eadhon ged a tha gnothaichean an t-saoghail a’ bualadh oirnn gu trom. Cha mhurtar an luchag fon chruaich-fheòir.
Agus tha claisneachd mhath aig luchan. Canaidh daoine – an rud a bhios sàmhach, cha chluinn na luchan e. An rud a bhios sàmhach, cha chluinn na luchan e.
Bidh luchan a’ nochdadh ann an samhlaidhean cuideachd. Mar eisimpleir, cho umhal ri luch fo spòg a’ chait. As humble as a mouse beneath the cat’s paw. Chì sibh nuair a bhiodh abairt mar sin feumail ann a bhith a’ bruidhinn air daoine. Cho umhal ri luch fo spòg a’ chait.
Cuideachd, thathar a’ dèanamh dheth gum bi an luch ri mèirle – gum bi i bradach. Uill, dh’fhaodadh sin a bhith fìor, ceart gu leòr. Agus tha an abairt seo ann: tha thu cho breugach ’s a tha an luch cho bradach. Tha thu cho breugach ’s a tha an luch cho bradach.
Agus seo agaibh rann do chloinn anns a bheil luch an sàs – agus cat a bhios a’ sealg nan luchan. Seo mar a tha an rann a’ dol:
Thuirt an luch bheag, ’s i san toll,
Dè am fonn a th’ air a’ chat ghlas?
Fonn math is deagh shaod
Gum faodadh tusa tighinn a-mach.
Is mòr m’ eagal ron dubhan chrom
A th’ agad ann am bonn do chas,
Mharbh thu mo phiuthar an-dè
’S fhuair mi fhìn air èiginn às
An do ghreimich sibh air na faclan gu lèir? Seo an rann a-rithist. Tha an luch bheag agus an cat glas a’ bruidhinn ri chèile.
Thuirt an luch bheag, ’s i san toll,
Dè am fonn a th’ air a’ chat ghlas?
Fonn math is deagh shaod
Gum faodadh tusa tighinn a-mach.
Is mòr m’ eagal ron dubhan chrom
A th’ agad ann am bonn do chas,
Mharbh thu mo phiuthar an-dè
’S fhuair mi fhìn air èiginn às
Uill, bha freagairt aig a’ chat don ghearan sin. Mar a chanadh iad ann am Beurla Lunnainn, “it weren’t me, gov!” Seo na thuirt an cat:
Cha mhis’ a bha sin ach cat Iain Ruaidh
A b’ àbhaist a bhith a’ ruagadh chearc,
Ghoid i an càis’ a bha sa chliabh
’S dh’ith i ’n t-iasg a bha sa phreas.
Seo an rann bheag sin a-rithist.
Cha mhis’ a bha sin ach cat Iain Ruaidh
A b’ àbhaist a bhith a’ ruagadh chearc,
Ghoid i an càis’ a bha sa chliabh
’S dh’ith i ’n t-iasg a bha sa phreas.
Saoil an do ghabh an luch ris na thuirt an cat? Canaidh daoine – tha fios aig an luch nach eil an cat a-staigh. Tha fios aig an luch nach eil an cat a-staigh. Ach a bheil fios aice nuair a tha cat ag innse breug? Chan eil mi cho cinnteach mu dheidhinn sin.
Faclan na Litreach: claisneachd: sense of hearing; samhlaidhean: similes.
Abairtean na Litreach: a’ chuid a bu mhotha dhen ùine: most of the time; ged a tha cruach-fheòir mòr is trom, agus luch a’ fuireach foidhpe:although a haystack is large and heavy, with a mouse living under it; eadhon ged a tha gnothaichean an t-saoghail a’ bualadh oirnn gu trom: even though wordly matters are weighing heavily upon us; chì sibh nuair a bhiodh abairt mar sin feumail:you can [will] see when a phrase like that would be useful; ri mèirle: involved in stealing; dè am fonn a th’ air a’ chat ghlas?:what form is the grey cat in?; fonn math is deagh shaod: good form and good condition; gum faodadh tusa tighinn a-mach: that you might come out; is mòr m’ eagal ron dubhan chrom [the mouse is now speaking]: great is my fear of the bent hook [claw]; ann am bonn do chas: at the bottom of your feet; mharbh thu mo phiuthar an-dè: you killed my sister yesterday; fhuair mi fhìn air èiginn às:I only just escaped myself; ri chèile: to each other; cha mhis’ a bha sin ach cat Iain Ruaidh: that wasn’t me but red-haired John’s cat; a b’ àbhaist a bhith a’ ruagadh chearc: that used to be chasing hens; ghoid i an càis’ a bha sa chliabh: she stole the cheese that was in the creel; dh’ith i ’n t-iasg a bha sa phreas: she ate the fish that was in the cupboard; ag innse breug: telling a lie.
Seanfhaclan na Litreach: is bean-taighe an luchag na taigh fhèin: the little mouse is mistress in her own house; cha mhurtar an luchag fon chruaich-fheòir: the mouse is not murdered (killed) under the hay-stack; an rud a bhios sàmhach, cha chluinn na luchan e: what is silent, the mice won’t hear; cho umhal ri luch fo spòg a’ chait: as humble as a mouse beneath the cat’s paw; tha thu cho breugach ’s a tha an luch cho bradach: you are as lying as the mouse is thieving; tha fios aig an luch nach eil an cat a-staigh: the mouse knows the cat’s not in the house.
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Litir do Luchd-ionnsachaidh
This letter corresponds to Tha an Litir seo a’ buntainn ri An Litir Bheag 94
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