Address to the Lord Liutenant of Ireland in Yola

Address to Lord Lieutenant in 1836
Congratulatory address in the dialect of Forth and Bargy, presented to Earl Musgrave, Lord Lieutenant of Ireland on his visit to Wexford in 1836 taken from the Wexford Independent newspaper of 15 February 1860. The paper’s editor Mr Edmund Hore writes:

"The most remarkable fact, in reality, in connexion with the address is this. In all probability it was the first time regal or vice-regal ears were required to listen to word of such a dialect; an it is even still more probable that a like event will never happen again; for if the use of this old tongue dies out as fast for the next five-and-twenty years as it has for the same bygone period, it will be utterly extinct and forgotten before the present century shall have closed.
In order for a person not acquainted with the pronunciation of the dialect to form anything like an idea of it, it is first necessary to speak slowly, and remember that the letter a has invariably the same sound, like a in “father”. Double ee sounds like e in “me”, and most words of two syllables the long accent is placed on the last. To follow the English pronunciation completely deprives the dialect of its peculiarities."

To’s Excellencie Constantine Harrie Phipps, y’ Earle Mulgrave, Lord Lieutenant-General and General Governor of Ireland. Ye soumissive Spakeen o’ouz Dwelleres o’ Baronie Forthe, Weisforthe.
MAI’T BE PLESANT TO TH’ECCELLENCIE, - Wee, Vassalès o’ ‘His Most Gracious majesty’, Wilyame ee Vourthe, an, az wee verilie chote, na coshe and loyale dwellerès na Baronie Forthe, crave na dicke luckie acte t’uck neicher th’ Eccellencie, an na plaine grabe o’ oure yola talke, wi vengem o’ core t’gie ours zense o’ y gradès whilke be ee-dighte wi yer name; and whilke we canna zei, albeit o’ ‘Governere’, ‘Statesman’, an alike. Yn ercha and aul o’ while yt beeth wi gleezom o’ core th’ oure eyen dwytheth apan ye Vigere o’dicke Zouvereine, Wilyame ee Vourthe, unnere fose fatherlie zwae oure diaez be ee-spant, az avare ye trad dicke londe yer name waz ee-kent var ee vriene o’ livertie, an He fo brake ye neckares o’ zlaves. Mang ourzels – var wee dwytheth an Irelonde az ure genreale haim – y’ast, bie ractzom o’honde, ee-delt t’ouz ye laas ee-mate var ercha vassale, ne’er dwythen na dicke waie nar dicka. Wee dwyth ye ane fose dais be gien var ee guidevare o’ye londe ye zwae, - t’avance pace an livertie, an, wi’oute vlynch, ee garde o’ generale reights an poplare vartue. Ye pace – yea, we mai zei, ye vast pace whilke bee ee-stent owr ye londe zince th’ast ee-cam, proo’th, y’at wee alane needeth ye giftes o’generale rights, az be displayth bie ee factes o’thie goveremente. Ye state na dicke daie o’ye londe, na whilke be nar fash nar moile, albeit ‘constitutional agitation’, ye wake o’hopes ee-blighte, stampe na yer zwae be rare an lightzom. Yer name var zetch avancet avare ye, e’en a dicke var hye, arent whilke ye brine o’zea an dye craggès o’noghanes cazed nae balke. Na oure gladès ana whilke we dellt wi’ mattoke, an zing t’oure caulès wi plou, wee hert ee zough o’ye colure o’ pace na name o’ Mulgrave. Wi Irishmen ower generale houpes be ee-boud – az Irishmen, an az dwellerès na cosh an loyale o’ Baronie Forthe, w’oul daie an ercha daie, our meines an oure gurles, praie var long an happie zins, shorne o’lournagh an ee-vilt wi benisons, an yersel and oure gude Zovereine, till ee zin o’oure daies be var aye be ee-go to’glade.

Standard English Translation
To his Excellency, Constantine Henry Phipps, Earl Mulgrave, Lord Lieutenant-General, and General Governor of Ireland. The humble Address of the Inhabitants of the Barony of Forth, Wexford.
MAY IT PLEASE YOUR EXCELLENCY – We, the subjects of his Most Gracious Majesty, William IV, and, as we verily believe, both faithful and loyal inhabitants of the Barony of Forth, beg leave at this favourable opportunity to approach your Excellency, and in the simple dress of our old dialect to pour forth from the strength (or fullness) of our hearts, our sense (or admiration) of the qualities which characterise your name, and for which we have no words but of ‘Governor’, ‘Statesman’, etc. In each and every condition it is with joy of heart that our eyes rest upon the representative of the Sovereign, William IV, under whose paternal rule our days are spent; for before your foot pressed the soil, your name was known to us as the friend of liberty, and he who broke the fetters of the slave. Unto ourselves – for we look on Ireland to be our common country – you have with impartial hand ministered the laws made for every subject, without regard to this party or that. We behold in you one whose days are devoted to the welfare of the land you govern, to promote peace and liberty – the uncompromising guardian of the common right and public virtue. The peace – yes, we may say the profound peace – which overspreads the land since your arrival, proves that we alone stood in need of the enjoyment of common privileges, as is demonstrated by the results of your government. The condition, this day, of the country, in which is neither tumult nor disorder, but that constitutional agitation, the consequence of disappointed hopes, confirms your rule to be rare and enlightened. Your fame for such came before you even into this retired spot, to which neither the waters of the sea below nor the mountains above caused any impediment. In our valleys, where we were digging with the spade, or as we whistled to our horses in the plough, we heard the distant sound of the wings of the dove of peace, in the word Mulgrave. With Irishmen our common hopes are inseparably bound up – as Irishmen, and as inhabitants, faithful and loyal, of the Barony Forth, we will daily and every day, our wives and our children, implore long and happy days, free from melancholy and full of blessings, for yourself and our good Sovereign, until the sun of our lives be gone down the dark valley (of death).

This address in included as part of Jacob Poole's 1867 glossary of the Yola language which remains the only such book about Yola.

How we would talk if the Saxons had won the Battle of Hastings in 1066

The Lords Prayer in Old English;





An account of the Battle of Brunanburgh in Old English (a battle between the Saxons and an alliance of Scots, Picts and Norsemen);

An ancient Brittonic curse and some Pictish

The language of the ancient Celtic Britons was oral and has left few written traces but after the Roman conquest a few examples exist; along with a few gravestones there are a few charms and pendents one of which is believed to have a curse;

a) Original version;
"Adixoui Deuina Deieda Andagin Uindiorix cuamenai"

b) Possible translation;
"The affixed - Deuina, Deieda, Andagin, (and) Uindiorix - I have bound"

An alternate translation being:

"May I, Windiorix for/at Cuamena defeat the worthless woman, oh divine Deieda"

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The Picts were the inhabitants of Scotland during the Roman conquest of Britain who withstood Roman domination. Very little is known about them although they are believed to have been Celts who spoke a separate language. Aside from a few place names the only one known surviving example of Pictish comes from a probable eighth or ninth century grave marker found in the Shetland Islands called The Lunnasting stone. There is not enough to enable a full translation but when translated into the Latin alphabet the original appears to say;

"ttocuhetts: ahehhttmnnn: hccvvevv: nehhton"

or "ettecuhetts: ahehhttannn: hccvvevv: nehhtons"

It has been suggested that the last words translate as "the vassal of Nehtonn" and the word "Ahehhttannn" is also a name.

All of which shows how fiendishly difficult it is to discipher a long dead language when faced with a serious lack of info to work with. It can not even be stated with certainty whether Pictish is even Celtic at all although the available evidence suggests a relationship with Welsh rather than Gaelic.

The intro to "Piers Plowman"

Written by William Langland circa 1360 - 1387 "Piers Plowman" is one of the relatively small number of surviving works of literature written in Middle English and is second in importance only to "The Canterbury Tales". Below are some introductory passages along with translations;

1.a) "Memorandum quod Stacy de Rokayle pater willielmi de Langlond qui stacius fuit generosus & morabatur in Schiptoun vnder whicwode tenens domini le Spenser in comitatu Oxoniensi qui predictus willielmus fecit librum qui vocatur Perys ploughman."

b) (translation)
"It should be noted that Stacy de Rokayle was the father of William de Langlond; this Stacy was of noble birth and dwelt in Shipton-under-Wychwood, a tenant of the Lord Spenser in the county of Oxfordshire. The aforesaid William made the book which is called Piers Plowman."

2.a) "Whan this werke was wrouyt, ere Wille myte aspie
Deth delt him a dent and drof him to the erthe
And is closed vnder clom"

b) (translation"
"Once this work was made, before Will was aware
Death struck him a blow and knocked him to the ground
And now he is buried under the soil."

Two riddles in Anglo-Saxon from The Exeter Book

Riddle 25;
Old English

Ic eom wunderlicu wiht wifum on hyhte neahbuendum nyt; nægum sceþþe burgsittendra nymthe bonan anum. Staþol min is steapheah stonde ic on bedde neoðan ruh nathwær. Neþeð hwilum ful cyrtenu ceorles dohtor modwlonc meowle þæt heo on mec gripe ræseð mec on reodne reafath min heafod fegeð mec on fæsten. Feleþ sona mines gemotes seo þe mec nearwað wif wundenlocc. Wæt bið þæt eage.


Modern English

I am a wondrous creature for women in expectation, a service for neighbors. I harm none of the citizens except my slayer alone. My stem is erect, I stand up in bed, hairy somewhere down below. A very comely peasant's daughter, dares sometimes, proud maiden, that she grips at me, attacks me in my redness, plunders my head, confines me in a stronghold, feels my encounter directly, woman with braided hair. Wet be that eye.

Answer: Onion


Riddle 26
Old English

Mec feonda sum feore besnyþede, woruldstrenga binom, wætte siþþan, dyfde on wætre, dyde eft þonan, sette on sunnan þær ic swiþe beleas herum þam þe ic hæfde. Heard mec siþþan snað seaxses ecg, sindrum begrunden; fingras feoldan, ond mec fugles wyn geond speddropum spyrede geneahhe, ofer brunne brerd, beamtelge swealg, streames dæle, stop eft on mec, siþade sweartlast. Mec siþþan wrah hæleð hleobordum, hyde beþenede, gierede mec mid golde; forþon me gliwedon wrætlic weorc smiþa, wire bifongen. Nu þa gereno ond se reada telg ond þa wuldorgesteald wide mære dryhtfolca helm—nales dol wite. Fif min bearn wera brucan willað, hy beoð þy gesundran ond þy sigefæstran, heortum þy hwætran ond þy hygebliþran, ferþe þy frodran, habbaþ freonda þy ma, swæsra ond gesibbra, soþra ond godra, tilra ond getreowra, þa hyra tyr ond ead estum ycað ond hy arstafum lissum bilecgað ond hi lufan fæþmum fæste clyppað. Frige hwæt ic hatte, niþum to nytte. Nama min is mære, hæleþum gifre ond halig sylf.


Modern English translation;

Some fiend robbed me from life, deprived me of wordly strengths, wetted next, dipped in water, took out again, set in the sun, deprived violently of the hair that I had after, the hard knife's edge cut me, ground from impurities, fingers folded and a bird's delight spread useful drops over me, swallowed tree-ink over the ruddy rim, portion of liquid, stepped on me again, traveled with black track. After, a man clad me with protective boards, covered with hide, adorned me with gold. Forthwith adorned me in ornamental works of smiths, encased with wire Now the trappings and the red dye and the wondrous setting widely make known the helm of the lord's folk, never again guard fools. If children of men want to use me they will be by that the safer and the more sure of victory the bolder in heart and the happier in mind, in spirit the wiser. They will have friends the more dearer and closer, righteous and more virtuous, more good and more loyal, those whose glory and happiness will gladly increase, and them with benefits and kindnesses, and they of love will clasp tightly with embraces. Ask what I am called as a service to people. My name is famous, bountiful to men and my self holy.

Answer: Bible

A battle scene from "The Elene"

"The Elene" is an Old English poem, sometimes known as "Saint Helena Finds the True Cross." Written somewhere between the 8th and 10th centuries by the poet Cynewulf about whom little is know, including exactly when he lived. He is belived to have been from Mercia or Northumbria and wrote in that dialect. He was probably a monk or other religious figure. Four of his poems survive. "The Elene" is 1,321 lines long.


~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
Ridon ymb rofne, ðonne rand dynede,
camp wudu clynede, cyning ðreate for,
herge to hilde. Hrefen uppe gol,
wan ond wælfel. Werod wæs on tyhte.
Hleopon hornboran, hreopan frican,
mearh moldan træd.

Translation;

“They rode about the famous one; then the shield dinned,
the battle-tarp clanged, the king advanced with a troop,
a battalion to the battle. The raven yelled from above,
dark and greedy for carrion. The troop was on the march.
The horn-bearers ran, the heralds called out,
the horse trod the earth”

A Gospel in Sercquiais/Jerriais

The Channel Islands (Jersey, Guernsey, Alderney, Sark, Herm, and Les Casquets) are actually closer to France than to England or Ireland but have been under British rule in the 13th century. Prior to this the islands were part of the Kingdom of Normandy and people there spoke various dialects of Norman-French. One of these that survive is Sercquiais, spoken on Sark by only a few dozen people, although is there is a great deal of mutual intelligibility between the various Channel tongues and French. The French refer to these tongues as "patois". Below is part of the gospel of St. Matthew;

Sercquiais version;
"L'chen qui sème s'n allit s'mai ; Et tàndis qu' i s'maitt une partie d' la s'menche quitt le long du ch'mìnn et l's oesiaux du ciel vìndrint et i la màndgirent. Une aûtre quitt dans d's endréts roquieurs, où alle n'avait pas fort de terre; et ou l'vist ossivite, parçe que la terre où al' 'tait n'était pas ben avant. Mais l'solé se l'vitt et ou fut brulaie; et coumme ou n'avait pas d'rachinnes, ou s'quitt. Une aûtre quitt dans d's épinnes, et l's épinnes vìndrent à craitre, et l'etoupidrent. Une aûtre enfin quitt dans d'bouanne terre, et ou portit du fritt; quiq' grâins rèndirent chent pour un, d'aûtres sessànte, et d'aûtres trente. L'chen qu'a d's oureilles pour ouit qu' il ouêt." (S. Makyu. Chap. XIII. 3-9)

English translation;
"A farmer went out to sow his seed. As he was scattering the seed, some fell along the path, and the birds came and ate it up. Some fell on rocky places, where it did not have much soil. It sprang up quickly, because the soil was shallow. But when the sun came up, the plants were scorched, and they withered because they had no root. Other seed fell among thorns, which grew up and choked the plants. Still other seed fell on good soil, where it produced a crop — a hundred, sixty or thirty times what was sown. He who has ears, let him hear." Gospel of St Matthew, NIV)

Intro to The Speculum Vitae

Written in the middle to late 14th century possibly by William of Nassyngton, an obscure English poet about whom little is known. The poem is written in Late Middle English which is much closer to Modern English than the earlier works of Chaucer as English evolves into the next step in it's development as the language of Shakespeare. The title however is in Latin and translates as "Mirror of life".

a) Original;
In English tonge I schall you telle,
yif ye with me so longe wil dwelle.
No Latyn wil I speke no waste,
But Englisch, that men vse mast,
That can ech man vnderstonde,
That is born in Ingelande.
For that langage is most chewyd,
Os wel among lered as lewyd.
Latyn, as I trowe, can nane
But tho, that haueth it in scol tane.
And somme can frenssche and no Latyn,
That vsed hav cowrt and dwellen therein.
And somme can of Latyn a party,
That can of Frensche but febly.
And somme vnderstonde wel Englysch,
That can nother Laty nor Frankys.
Bothe lered and lewed, olde and yonge,
Alle vnderstonden english tonge.

John Audelay's warning to future book thieves

John Audelay was a priest and poet in the early 15th century who wrote approximately 68 religious poems and Christmas carols that have survived. Little else is known about him other than that he lived at Haughmond Abbey in Shropshire where he died sometime after 1426 reportedly at an advanced age and there is a reference to him living in London in 1417. His last written work was an introduction to a collection of poems warning future readers not to steal or deface his work.

a) Original version;
"No mon this book he take away,
Ne kutt owt no leef, y say for why;
For hyt is sacrilege, sirus, y ȝow say,
He beth accursed in the dede truly;
if ye wil have any copi,
Askus leeve and ye shul have,
To pray for hym specialy,
That hyt made our soules to save,
Jon the blynde Awdelay
The furst prest to the Lord Strange he was,
Of thys chauntre here in this place
That make thys bok by Goddus grace,
Deef, syk, blynd, as he lay,
Cujus anime propicietur Deus.

b) Modern translation;
"None must take this book away
Or cut out any page, I'll tell you why;
For it is sacrilege, sirs, I tell you
He will be accursed in the deed;
If you would have a copy
Ask leave, and you will have,
To pray especially for him
That made it [the book] to save your souls
John the blind Audelay;
He was the first priest to the Lord Strange
Of this chantry
That made this book by the grace of God
As he lay deaf, sick, and blind
On whose soul God have mercy.

Caedmon's Hymn with Modern Translation

Written sometime between 657-680 a.d. by Caedmon, an Anglo-Saxon lay brother and herdsman living at Whitby Abbey who claimed the verses came to him in a dream. Upon presenting the full work the Abbot made him a full monk and he continued to write other works which have not been found. Little else is known of him including when he he lived or died, it is also not clear but he may have been sainted at some point. Considered a major work of Old English literature.

a) Original (using modern letters);

Nu scylun hergan
hefaenricaes uard,
metudæs maecti,
end his modgidanc,
uerc uuldurfadur
swe he uundra gihwaes,
eci dryctin
or astelidæ
he aerist scop.

aelda barnum
heben til hrofe,
haleg scepen.
tha middungeard
moncynnæs uard
eci dryctin
æfter tiadæ
firum foldu
frea allmectig

b) English translation;

Now [we] must honour
the guardian of heaven,
the might of the architect,
and his purpose,
the work of the father of glory[39]
— as he, the eternal lord,
established
the beginning of wonders.

He, the holy creator,
first created heaven as a roof
for the children of men.

Then the guardian of mankind
the eternal lord,
the Lord almighty
afterwards appointed
the middle earth,
the lands, for men.'

The Venerable Bede's Death song

The Venerable St.Bede was the foremost scholar and religious thinker of the Anglo-Saxon era. Living from 672-735A.D. he wrote many works of history, religious works, translations, science and astrology as well as personal letters in Old English and Latin, many of which survive in whole or part. One of his English works was as short funeral prayer known as "The Death Song":

a) Original version (in modern letters and punctuation);

Fore ðæm nedfere nænig wiorðe
ðonc snottora ðon him ðearf siæ
to ymbhycgenne ær his hinionge
hwæt his gastæ godes oððe yfles
æfter deað dæge doemed wiorðe.

b) Modern Translation;

Facing that enforced journey, no man can be
More prudent than he has good call to be,
If he consider, before his going hence,
What for his spirit of good hap or of evil
After his day of death shall be determined.

A Bible verse in Jerriais

Jerriais is the language of Jersey, one of the Channel Islands. The Islands are closer to France than England and their languages are a dialect of Norman French;

Mais si not' bouonne nouvelle est muchie, oulle est muchie des cheins tchi sont pouor péthi. Pouor dé ieux l'dgieu d'chu monde a êgalué les cheins tchi n'craient pon, à seule fîn qu'i' n'appèrchèvent la lueu d'la bouonne nouvelle d'la glouaithe du Christ, tch'est l'portrait du Bouôn Dgieu. Ch'est en tchi jé n'prêchons pon d'nos-mêmes, j'prêchons qu'Jésû Christ est l'Seigneu et qu'nous j'sommes vos sèrvants par Jésû. Viyant qu'le Bouôn Dgieu dit, "Qu'la leunmiéthe lithe dé d'dans la nièrcheu," et a lit dans nos tchoeurs à seule fîn d'bailli la leunmiéthe d'la glouaithe dé Dgieu dans la fache dé Jésû Christ. (2 Corîntchiens, 4: 3-6)

But if our gospel be hid, it is hid to them that are lost: in whom the god of this world hath blinded the minds of them which believe not, lest the light of the glorious gospel of Christ, who is the image of God, should shine unto them. For we preach not ourselves, but Christ Jesus the Lord; and ourselves your servants for Jesus’ sake. For God, who commanded the light to shine out of darkness, hath shined in our hearts, to give the light of the knowledge of the glory of God in the face of Jesus Christ. (2 Corinthians 4: 3-6)

The sermon on the mount in Manx

Alternating between Manx with English translations;

1a). As fakin lheid ny earrooyn dy leih, hie eh seose er slieau: as tra v'eh er hoie sheese, haink e ynseydee huggey;

1b). And seeing the multitudes, he went up into a mountain: and when he was set, his disciples came unto him:

2a). As hrog eh seose e choraa, as dynsee eh ad, gra,

2b). And he opened his mouth, and taught them, saying,

3a). Bannit t'adsyn ta imlee ayns spyrryd: son lhieusyn reeriaght niau.

3b). Blessed are the poor in spirit: for theirs is the kingdom of heaven.

4a). Bannit t'adsyn ta dobberan: son bee ad er nyn gherjaghey.

4b). Blessed are they that mourn: for they shall be comforted.

5a). Bannit t'adsyn ta meen surransagh: son bee yn thalloo oc ayns eiraght.

5b). Blessed are the meek: for they shall inherit the earth.

6a). Bannit t'adsyn ta accryssagh as paagh lurg yn ynrickys: son bee ad er nyn yannoo magh.

6b). Blessed are they which do hunger and thirst after righteousness: for they shall be filled.

7a). Bannit ta'n vooinjer vyghinagh: son bee myghin er ny hoilshaghey daue.

7b). Blessed are the merciful: for they shall obtain mercy.

8a). Bannit t'adsyn ta glen ayns cree: son ver ad Jee my-ner.

8b). Blessed are the pure in heart: for they shall see God.

9a). Bannit t'adsyn ta tayrn sleih gys shee: son bee ad enmyssit nyn gloan dy Yee.

9b). Blessed are the peacemakers: for they shall be called the children of God.

10a). Bannit t'adsyn ta surranse tranlaase er graih cairys: son lhieusyn reeriaght niau.

10b). Blessed are they which are persecuted for righteousness' sake: for theirs is the kingdom of heaven.

11a). Bannit ta shiuish tra vees shiu oltooanit, as tranlaasit, as dy chooilley ghrogh-ghoo currit ass nyn lieh dy aggairagh er y choontey aym's.

11b). Blessed are ye, when men shall revile you, and persecute you, and shall say all manner of evil against you falsely, for my sake.

12a). Gow-jee boggey, as bee-jee erskyn towse gennal: son s'mooar ta nyn leagh ayns niau: son shoh myr ren ad tranlaase er ny phadeyryn va rhymbiu.

12b). Rejoice, and be exceeding glad: for great is your reward in heaven: for so persecuted they the prophets which were before you.

13a). Shiuish sollan y thallooin: agh my ta'n sollan er choayl e vlass, kys hig e vree ayn reesht? cha vel ymmyd erbee sodjey ny chour, agh dy ve tilgit magh, as stampit fo cassyn deiney.

13b). Ye are the salt of the earth: but if the salt have lost his savour, wherewith shall it be salted? it is thenceforth good for nothing, but to be cast out, and to be trodden under foot of men.

14a). Shiuish soilshey yn theihll Cha vod ard-valley ta soit er cronk ve follit.

14b). Ye are the light of the world. A city that is set on an hill cannot be hid.

Some insults for that special someone.

Some choice insults in Gaelic, Irish, Shelta and Yola;

Gaelic seems to be particularly rich in insults as befits such a literate culture;

a) Fat/Obese/;
mèith (fat and greasy or oily)

meathas (fat and flabby or effeminate, now that's a good one, why don't we have a word for this?)

moirgean (a short fat person)

reamhar (fat, plump, fleshy)

sultach (flabby)

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Stupid;

blaomastair ~ Stupid fellow, dolt, blockhead. 2 Blusterer, bully. 3(JM) One who talks in an irrelevant and pompous way. The general idea expressed by this word in the Western Isles is one suffering from a mental defect. (this is a great word, very evocative, looks like blowhard although the two words are not related)

blaomastaireachd ~ Stupid blundering. 2 Preposterous-ness. 3(JM) Boisterous talking, vain boasting.

briollanach ~ Stupid, boorish, ignorant.

eacartha ~ Stupid.

gleogair ~ Stupid, dull fellow. 2 Talkative fellow. 3 Arrogant fellow. 4 Lazy fellow. 5†† Sloth. 6(DMC) Trifler.

gleogaireachd ~ Stupid behaviour. 2 Idle talk. 3 Awkward gestures. 4.Sloth. 5 to be rroganct. 6. Talkativeness.

gleogamas ~ Stupid drowsy fellow.

glòbag ~ Stupid

gogair ~ Stupid fellow, fool.

sgleamhraidh ~ Stupid, senseless person. 2 Awkward, untidy fellow. 3 Mean or ignorant fellow. 4 Bumpkin

stuacach ~ Stupid, boorish, churlish, gruff.

toirchimeach ~ Stupid. 2 Benumbed.

dobht ~ Stupid man. 2 Partially demented man.

dota ~ Stupid fellow.

burracaid ~ Stupid or silly female.

burrait ~ Stupid. 2Beastly.

claonaire ~ Stupid fellow, used of a person whose wits are considered to be less sharp than the normal.

damhail ~ Stupid, boorish. 2 Of, or belonging to, oxen.

diomhothaigheach ~ Stupid, an idiot

spollachdair ~ Stupid person, blockhead.

amhlair ~ Dull, stupid or ignorant person. 2 Fool, idiot. 3** Changling. 4 Driveller. 5** Brutish man.

gamal ~ Fool, stupid person.

gleòman ~ Silly stupid fellow. 2 Sluggish man, drowsy person. 3.Dull person.

muirghineach ~ Dull, stupid.

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

Arrogant;

reimheach ~ Arrogant, proud, petulant, conceited.

toicheastalach ~ Arrogant, presuming, self-suffcient, arrogant, opinionated.

brodail ~ Proud, arrogant, conceited, forward. Tha e cho brodail ris a' mhac mhallachd, he it as proud as Lucifer.

baisealach ~ Proud, arrogant.

àrd-inntinneach ~ Haughty, arrogant, proud, vain. Na bi àrd-inntinneach, be not high-minded.

neo-ìogarra ~ Haughty, arrogant. Gu neo-ìogarra, haughtily.

tòstalach ~ Presumptuous, arrogant.

diomasach ~ Proud, arrogant, bold, haughty, defying. 2** Disrespectful.

barpail ~ Arrogant.

uaibhreach ~ Proud, haughty, arrogant person.

ràideachas ~ Boastful speech, arrogant language, arrogance, pride. 2 Saying. 3 Report. 4 Trial of skill.

sraonaiseach ~ Huffish, snuffy. 2 Arrogant. 3 Querulous, petulant.

ceannardach ~ pushy, arrogant, proud, imperious, dictatorial. 2 Confident, dogmatical

ràiteachail -e, a. Boasting, vainglorious, arrogant. Daoine ràiteachail, boasters.

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

Liar;

breugaire ~ Liar, (it's resemblance to beggar is interesting)

sabhdair ~ A foolish braggart

brionach ~ Liar

tul-bhreugadair -ean, sm Impudent liar.

tlusach ~ Dissembler, liar.

feallair ~ Deceiver, traitor. 2 Liar.

bradag ~ Thievish woman.

fallsaire ~ Sophist, false philosopher. 2.Falsifier. 3** Liar, deceiver, traitor. (obvious resemblance to false can not be a coincidence)

truthair ~ Traitor, villain. 2 Filthy fellow. 3 Prevaricator, liar, deluder, knave. 4 (* truthaire) Bankrupt.

breugach ~ Lying, false, deceitful. 2. Flattering, cajoling, soothing. 3.Deceived. Is breugach thu an-diugh, you are deceiving today; tha e cho breugach 's a tha an cat cho bradach, he is as much a liar as the cat is a thief [an emphatic way of saying a man is a liar]; "tha e breugach" / he is untruthful; N"ach breugach thu! / how much you lie!"

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

Ugly;

uspair ~ Ugly or lumpish fellow.

iol-ghràineach ~ Very ugly, horrid, causing disgust.

aidheitighe ~ Very ugly.

fiamh a Ugly, disgusting, horrible.

grath a. Fearful, ugly.

leòbasach ~ Having an ugly mouth or hanging lips.

buaf ~ Any ugly venomous creature.

sgràideanach ~ Diminutive and ugly. 2 Shabby. 3 Having an ugly diminutive person. 4.Puny.

sgraidht ~ Shrivelled and ugly old woman.

sgràideach ~ Shrivelled and ugly.

striamalach ~ Anything long and ugly. 2 Tall, ugly person. 3†† Long trailing appendage.

droch-ghnùiseach ~ Ill-favoured, ugly.

mì-eireachdail ~ Unhandsome, unseemly, ugly. Giùlan mì-eireachdail, unseemly conduct; gu mì-eireachdail, ungenteely.

crainn ~ Ugly old woman

duaichnidh ~ Deformed, disfigured. 2.Ugly 3.Gloomy, horrible, dismal, black. 4 Ghastly, death-like. 5.More or most ugly

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
Worthless/useless/good-for-nothing;

ain-fhiùghach ~ a Worthless. 2 Insignificant, contemptible.

ceacharran ~ Worthless, pusillanimous person.

cosmaileach ~ Worthless.

mì-fhiù ~ Worthless, useless.

prabair ~ Worthless fellow, good-for-nothing

priobair ~ Worthless fellow, blinkard. 2 Miser.

suarachan ~ Worthless person.

truileach ~ Worthless person.

truille ~ Worthless, dirty person.

fudaidh ~ Useless

ruinnseach ~ Base or worthless woman

dreoll ~ Paltry, worthless fellow. 2 see dreall.

pliobair ~ A Flunkey, worthless fellow.

cuiliosal ~ a Vile, worthless, useless person.

gàirsgeal ~ Rabble, band of worthless persons.

leibideach ~ Trifling, mean, worthless, contemptible. 2 Accidental. 3 Awkward. 4 Avaricious. 5 Tawdry. 6 Annoying, vexatious.

feall-duine ~ Worthless man. 2 Deceiver, traitor.

mosach ~ Nasty. 2 Filthy. 3 Worthless. 4 Insignificant. 5 Sordid, mean, avaricious, niggardly.

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
Hateful/vindictive/petty/childish;

fuath-thoilltinneach ~ Hateful, abominable, deserving of hatred.

fuathach ~ Hateful, abhorrent 2 demoniacal.

fuathmhor ~ Hateful, disagreeable. 2 Terrific. 3 Horrible. 4 Hating, disliking. 5** Spectral. 6** Unclean. Gach eun fuathmhor, every unclean bird.

gràineil ~ Abominable, hateful, loathsome, odious, disagreeable, detestable, abject. 2 Nasty. Nach gràineile an duine? is not man more abominable?

doinidh ~ a Loathsome, contemptible, hateful - Sàr-Obair.

naoidheanta ~ Childish, child-like infantile.

pàisteanach ~ Childish. puerile

draingeis ~ Snarling, carping. 2. Childish bickering.

troileis ~ Any trifling thing. 2. Childish merriment


~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

In Irish;

Fat/obese;

ramhar ~ fat or obese person

lodartha ~ flabby (somewhat resembles "lard" but the two words are probably not related)

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
Stupid/idiot;

bómánta ~ stupid

amadán ~ Idiot (man)

óinseach ~ Idiot (woman)

díomhaoin ~ useless

beagmhaitheasach ~ worthless

neamhfhiúntach ~ worthless

Scraiste, duine gan mhaith ~ a worthless person

Ní fiú a bheith leis ~ it is worthless talking to him

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
Arrogant;

díomasach ~ arrogant

sotalach ~ arrogant

duine ardnósach ~ snob

mórluachach ~ snob

bogásach ~ smug

béalchráifeach ~ sanctimonious/holier than thou

uallach ~ conceited

giodalach ~ vain

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

Liar;

bréagadóir ~ liar (I wonder if there is a connection with "braggart")

calaois ~ fraud

camastaíl ~ fraud

cealg ~ deceit / fraud

calaoiseach ~ lies

fealltach ~ fraud

mealltach ~ deception

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

Ugly;

gránna ~ ugly

míofar ~ ugly

gráiciúil ~ ugly

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

Evil;

olc ~ Evil (adj)(the first two here are interesting, I wonder if Tolkien, who did study Gaelic, based his Orks on these. The resemblance to Ogre is also obvious)

olcas ~ (pl)

droch ~

diabhalta(adj) ~ devilish or diabolic or demonic

diabhlaíocht(n) ~ devilment

D'imigh an diabhal air! ~ He's a real devil!

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
In Shelta (The Lied of The Irish Travelers);

Nyaak / Nyaakish ~ dishonest, crooked

mugathath ~ stupidity

mong ~ fool

mugathawn ~ idiot

sramaler ~ thief

sumoal ~ crook

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
In Yola;

Stupid/idiot;

Clouk ~ An idiot

Dhonal ~ A dunce

Stouck ~ An idiot, a blockhead

Mope ~ A fool

Gomp ~ a moron

Houghany ~ stupid

Kimleare ~ A bummbler

Goodee-hang ~ Good-for-nothing

Falsakeen ~ A liar ( the relationship to "false" is obvious)

Shaaumeless ~ shameless

Trameal ~ sloth

Stuggoone ~ good-for-nothing

Llean ~ evil

Vaapereet ~ A braggart (another good word)

Villent ~ a crook (taken from villain)


~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
In Cromarty Scots;

Ablach ~ Akward or ungainly

Amitan ~ A fool or idiot

Belligut ~ A glutton or greedy person

Blether-Bus ~ A chatterbox, a person who talks with endless, inane chatter (from the Scots "Blather-Skite")

Boshach-Skeyter ~ Hideously ugly, deformed

Bubba ~ The Devi

l Guloot ~ An oaf or moron (from the Scots/Irish term "Galloot")

Haffleen ~ Half-Wit

Lummer ~ A naughty girl, a tramp

Lupikin ~ A rascal or scoundrel

Skilbygelk ~ A worthless good-for-nothing bum

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~`

Note; If you're so vain you think these are about you; then they are.

A Bible verse in Jerriais

Jerriais is of the languages of Jersey, one of the Channel Islands. The Islands are closer to France than England and their languages are a dialect of Norman French;

Mais si not' bouonne nouvelle est muchie, oulle est muchie des cheins tchi sont pouor péthi. Pouor dé ieux l'dgieu d'chu monde a êgalué les cheins tchi n'craient pon, à seule fîn qu'i' n'appèrchèvent la lueu d'la bouonne nouvelle d'la glouaithe du Christ, tch'est l'portrait du Bouôn Dgieu. Ch'est en tchi jé n'prêchons pon d'nos-mêmes, j'prêchons qu'Jésû Christ est l'Seigneu et qu'nous j'sommes vos sèrvants par Jésû. Viyant qu'le Bouôn Dgieu dit, "Qu'la leunmiéthe lithe dé d'dans la nièrcheu," et a lit dans nos tchoeurs à seule fîn d'bailli la leunmiéthe d'la glouaithe dé Dgieu dans la fache dé Jésû Christ. (2 Corîntchiens, 4: 3-6)

But if our gospel be hid, it is hid to them that are lost: in whom the god of this world hath blinded the minds of them which believe not, lest the light of the glorious gospel of Christ, who is the image of God, should shine unto them. For we preach not ourselves, but Christ Jesus the Lord; and ourselves your servants for Jesus’ sake. For God, who commanded the light to shine out of darkness, hath shined in our hearts, to give the light of the knowledge of the glory of God in the face of Jesus Christ. (2 Corinthians 4: 3-6)

Some Gaelic and Welsh election terms

In time for the Canadian Elections;

Queen Elizabeth;
Welsh ~ Elisabeth II, Brenhines y Deyrnas Unedig
Cornish ~ Elisabeth II a Bow Sows
Gaelic ~ Ban-rìgh Ealasaid II (although some diehards insist on calling her Ealasaid I for historical reasons, since Ealasaid I was Queen of England, Ireland and Wales but not Scotland)
Irish ~ Eilís II na Ríochta Aontaithe

Governor General;
Gaelic ~ Mór-Uachdaran
Irish ~ Seanascal

Prime Minister;
Welsh ~ Prif Weinidog (Any resemblance to "Wiener Dog" is a total coincidence)
Cornish ~ Pennmenyster
Gaelic ~ Prìomhairean
Irish ~ Príomh-Aire (or Taoiseach)

Member of Parliament;
Welsh ~ Aelod Seneddol
Gaelic ~ Buill-Pàrlamaid
Irish ~ Teachta Dála
Scots ~ Commissioners tae the Pairlament

Conservative Party;
Welsh ~ Y Blaid Geidwadol
Cornish ~ Parti Gwithadorek
Gaelic ~ An Páirtí Coimeádach
Irish ~ Pháirtí Choimeádaigh

Liberal Party;
Welsh ~ Plaid Ryddfrydol
Cornish ~ Parti Livrel
Gaelic ~ An Pairti Libearalach
Irish ~ Páirtí Liobrálach
Scots ~ Leiberal Pairty

New Democratic Party;
Welsh ~ Plaid Newydd Democratiaid
Gaelic ~ Pàrtaidh Uire Deamocratach
Irish ~ Pháirtí Nua Daonlathach

Green Party;
Welsh ~ Plaid Werdd
Gaelic ~ Pàrtaidh Uaine
Irish ~ Comhaontas Glas
Scots ~ Green Pairty

Communists:
Welsh ~ Comiwnyddiaeth
Gaelic ~ Comunnachas
Irish ~ Cumannachas

"Thirty days hath September" in the original

The poem (or prose actually) Thirty Days Hath September has long been used to teach school kids the number of days in each month. It is actually a quite old poem of unknown English origin, with the oldest version known dating to the 15th century and written in Late Middle English.

a) Original;
"Thirtey days hath November,
Aprile, June, and September:
Of twyecescore-eightt is but eine,
And all the remnante be thrycescore-eine.
O´course Leap yare comes an´pynes,
Ev'rie foure yares, gote it ryghth.
An´twyecescore-eight is but twyecescore-nyne"

b) Translation;
"Thirty days has November,
April, June, and September:
Of twenty-eight is but one,
And all the remnant is thirty-one.
Of course Leap year comes and stays,
Every four years got it right,
And twenty-eight is but twenty-nine".

c) Modern Jèrriais (spoken on the Island of Jersey) version sent in by a viewer:

"I' y a trente jours en Septembre,
En Avri, Juîn et Novembre.
Les aut's mais sont fanmeux pour
Lus trente' tch'ieunième jour,
Mais l'pouôrre Févri
N'en a qu' vîngt-huit,
Et un vîngt-neuvième pouor les fil'yes
Pouor s'engagi ès années bissextiles!"

A folk song in Yola

Yola was a Middle English language spoken mainly in the Wexford area of Western Ireland starting from the settlement of some English knights, monks and farmers there in 1169. The Wexford area was rural and isolated from the mainstream English court and literary society as well as being surrounded by Irish speakers so the variety of Middle English did not change much after the literary influences of Chaucer and Tyndall in the late 14th century other than adopting various Irish words. The name "Yola" translates as "Old" ie; "The Old Tongue". With a relatively limited population base Yola died out in the late 19th century, forced out by the process if emigration, poverty, lack of jobs, compulsory education with greater literacy in English or Irish as well as hostility from both English and Irish society. Luckily an extensive historical surveys was done before it died out. Reportedly it was spoken with a distinctive slurring pronouncation.

Two examples below with translations;

1.a)"A Yola Song" (in Yola)

"Fade teil thee zo lournagh, co Joane, zo knaggee?
Th' weithest all curcagh, wafur, an cornee.
Lidge w'ouse an a milagh, tis gaay an louthee:
Huck nigher; y'art scuddeen; fartoo zo hachee?

Well, gosp, c'hull be zeid; mot thee fartoo, an fade;
Ha deight ouse var gabble, tell ee zin go t'glade.
Ch'am a stouk, an a donel; wou'll leigh out ee dey.
Th' valler w'speen here, th' lass ee chourch-hey.

Yerstey w'had a baree, gist ing oor hoane,
Aar gentrize ware bibbern, aamzil cou no stoane.
Yith Muzleare had ba hole, t'was mee Tommeen,
At by mizluck was ee-pit t'drive in.

Joud an moud vrem earchee ete was ee Lough.
Zitch vaperreen, an shimmereen, fan ee-daf ee aar scoth!
Zitch blakeen, an blayeen, fan ee ball was ee-drowe!
Chote well aar aim was t'yie ouz n'eer a blowe.

Mot w'all aar boust, hi soon was ee-teight
At aar errone was var ameing 'ar 'ngish ee-height.
Zitch vezzeen, tarvizzeen, 'tell than w'ne'er zey.
Nore zichel ne'er well, nowe, nore ne'er mey."


b) "An Old Song" (translated)

"What ails you so melancholy, quoth John, so cross?
You seem all snappish, uneasy, and fretful.
Lie with us on the clover, 'tis fair and sheltered:
Come nearer; you're rubbing your back; why so ill tempered?

Well, gossip, it shall be told; you ask me what ails me, and for what;
You have put us in talk, till the sun goes to set.
I am a fool and a dunce; we'll idle out the day.
The more we spend here, the less in the churchyard.

Yesterday we had a goal just in our hand.
Their gentry were quaking, themselves could not stand.
If Good-for-little had been buried, it had been my Tommy,
Who by misluck was placed to drive in.

Throngs and crowds from each quarter were at the Lough;
Such vapouring and glittering when stript in their shirts!
Such bawling and shouting, when the ball was thrown!
I saw their intent was to give us ne'er a stroke.

But with all their bravado they were soon taught
That their errand was aiming to bring anguish upon them
Such driving, and struggling, 'till then we ne'er saw
Nor such never will, no, nor never may."


2.a) "The Weddeen of Ballymore" (a verse in Yola)
"A maide vrem a Bearlough,
Aneure vrem ee Barke,
Eshoethet own anoree
Nich th' hia thoras a Culpake."

b) "The Wedding of Ballymore" (in English)
"A maid from Bearlough,
Another from Bake,
Met one another
Nigh the tall thistles of Culpake."

Days of the week in various British Leids

English;
Sunday
Monday
Tuesday
Wednesday
Thursday
Friday
Saturday

Old English (Saxon);
Sunnandæg
Mōnandæg
Tīwesdæg
Wōdnesdæg
Þūnresdæg
Frīgedæg
Sæturnesdæg

Irish;
Dé Domhnaigh
Dé Luain
Dé Máirt
Dé Céadaoin
Dé Ardaoin
Dé hAoine
Dé Sathairn

Scots Gaelic;
Di-Dòmhnaich
Di-Luain
Di-Màirt
Di-Ciadain
Di-Ardaoin
Di-Haoine
Di-Sàthairne

Manx;
Jedoonee
Jelune
Jemayrt
Jecrean
Jerdrein
Jeheiney
Jesarn

Welsh;
Dydd Sul
Dydd Llun
Dydd Mawrth
Dydd Mercher
Dydd Iau
Dydd Gwener
Dydd Sadwrn

Cornish;
Dy Sul
Dy Lun
Dy Meurth
Dy Mergher
Dy Yow
Dy Gwener
Dy Sadorn

Breton;
Di'sul
Di'lun
Di'meurzh
Di'merc’her
Di'riaou
Di'gwener
Di'sadorn

Norn;
Sonday
Monanday
Tiseday
Wadensday
Fuersday or Fuirsdey
Freday
Laurday

Yola;
Zindei
Mondei
Tusedei
Wennesdei
Thorsdei
Vridei
Zathardei

Shelta;
Djumnik (Sunday)
Sloon (Monday)
Graadni (Saturday)

Prime Numbers in various British Leids

Numbers 1 - 12 in Old English, Scots, Irish, Gaelic, Manx, Welsh, Breton, Shelta and Yola.

Old English
1. An
2. Twa
3. Brie
4. Féower
5. Fif
6. Syx
7. Seofon
8. Eahta
9. Nigon
10.Tyn
11.Endlefan
12.Twelf

Scots;
1. Yin
2. Twae
3. Threi
4. Fower
5. Foive
6. Sax
7. Seeven
8. Aucht
9. Nine
10.Tenn
11.Eleveen
12.Twal

Old Irish;
1. Oen
2. Da
3. Tri
4. Cethair
5. Coic
6. Se
7. Secht
8. Ocht
9. Noi
10.Diech

Irish;
1. Aon
2. Dha
3. Tri
4. Ceathair
5. Cúig
6. Se
7. Seacht
8. Ocht
9. Naoi
10.Ten
11.Aon déag
12.Dó dhéag

Gaelic;
1. Aon
2. Da
3. Tri
4. Ceithir
5. Cóignear
6. Sia
7. Seachd
8. Ochd
9. Naoi
10.Deich
11.Aon deug
12.Dà dheug

Manx;
1. Un
2. Da
3. Tree
4. Kiare
5. Queig
6. Shey
7. Shiaght
8. Hoght
9. Nuy
10.Jei
11.Nane jeig
12.Daa yeig
13.Tree jeig

Welsh;
1. Un
2. Dau
3. Tri
4. Pedwar
5. Pump
6. Chwech
7. Saith
8. Wyth
9. Naw
10.Deg
11.Un ar Deg
12.Deudegg

Breton;
1. unan
2. daou
3. tri
4. pevar
5. pemp
6. c'hwec'h
7. seizh
8. eizh
9. nav
10.dek

Shelta;
1. Ayn
2. Odd
3. Sheeka
4. Shaka
5. Shooka
6. Shay
7. Sheltoo
8. Okht
9. Ayen
10.Chal gyetcha

Yola;
1. Oane
2. Twye
3. Dhree
4. Vowér
5. Veeve
6. Zeese
7. Zebbem
8. Ayght
9. Neene
10.Dhen