h2g2 The Hitchhiker's Guide to the Galaxy: Earth Edition

What about 'athníonn cíaróg cíaróg eile'? I'm not sure of the fada on the i. Is the meaning one beetle recognises another one, or is it specifically blackbeetles?
Azara

I checked this with a senior relative of mine who has a good command of Irish. He thinks that ciaróg is a beetle. There is another word for black beetle, which he thinks is ciar dubh.

My favourite is 'Tosnu maith, leath na hoibre'; A good start is half the work. I'm not 100% sure of the spelling.

There is a series of Irish proverbs on the individual sugar servings provided in some restaurants and cafes around Dublin and perhaps the country in general.



John Luke

Thanks, John Luke. I'm not doing much with this entry at the moment, but I've added "tosnú maith" to it.

A few more, courtesy of "Gem" individual sugar servings.

Is fearr rith maith na drochshesamh: A good run is better than a bad stand. (Much neater than "He who runs away ....", don't you think?

Is binn beal ina thost: Silence is golden.

Is geal leis an bhfriach dubh a ghearrcach fein: To the black crow its offspring is bright.

How do I type an accented vowel? There should be a few above; na, beal and fein.



John Luke

To get an accented vowel, hold down both the Control and Alt keys while you press the letter key:
ná, béal, féin and so on


Azara

Tá go maith. It works!

Thanks, Azara.

Two more from the 'Gem' sugar sachets:

Is glas iad cnoic i bfad uainn: Far away hills are green.

Is deacair ceann críonna a chur ar cholainn óig: It is difficlt to put a wise head on young shoulders.



John Luke

Bíonn siúlach scéalach; The traveller has tales to tell

Ólann an cat ciúin bainne leis; The quiet cat also drinks milk

Ar scáth a chéile a mhaireas na daoine; People live in one another's shadows

Is gliobach í an chearc go dtogann sí a hál; The hen has ruffled feathers until she rears her brood

Is minic a rinne bromach gioblach capall cumasach; A raggy colt often made a handsome horse

Ní heolas go haontíos; If you want to know me, come and live with me

Ní neart go cur le céile; There is no strength without unity

Ní huasal ná íseal ach thuas seal agus thíos seal; It's not a matter of upper class or lower class but of being up a while and down a while

(All of the above from 'Gem' brown sugar sachets!)
---------------------------------------------------

Some of the translations seem to be the nearest equivalent proverb in English and they don't always do justice to the poetry and brevity of the Irish. Would it be practical to provide a better translation as well as the nearest equivalent?

I assume that when the 'foreign language' is accompanied by its translation there is no breach of house rules.



John Luke

"Is maith an cearc a scríobann di féin" : Its a good hen that scratches for itself.

"Is maith an t-annlann an t-ocras" : Hunger is a great soup.

(Apologies, my Irish spelling is probably atrocious at this stage).

More proverbs from 'Gem' sugar sachets:

Is maith an scáthán súil charad; A friend's eye is a good mirror.

Bíonn dhá insint ar scéal agus dhá leagan déag ar amhrán; There are two sides to every story and twelve versions of every song.

Marbh le tae agus marbh gan é; Some people are never satisfied.

Is fearr focal sa chúirt ná punt sa sparán; A good word in court is better than a pound in your purse.

Ní heaspa go díth carad; There is no need like the lack of a friend.

Ní haon maith a bheith ag caoineadh nuair a imíonn an tsochraid; There is no good keening when the funeral has moved off.



John Luke

Thanks, John Luke. I think the translation of the third one could do with a little work. One of these days I'll put all your sugar proverbs into my entry.

I look forward to it. As I mentioned earlier, it might be interesting to give a direct translation (or as close as practible) so as not to lose the poetry and imagery of the original. The English equivalent could also be shown, where there is a suitable one.

I thought of you last night while watching the BBC programme on Moses. When they came to suggest a possible reason for the plagues of Egypt and in particular the parting of the waters, I exclaimed "It must be Santorni!", based on your entry in the Guide. And so it was. All present were much impressed.

Regards



John Luke

Ceann eile:

Is minic a bhí fear maith i seanbhríste; Good men can often be found wearing worn britches.



John Luke

An rud a líonas an tsúil, líonann sé an chroí; What fills the eye fills the heart. (Also, IMHO, what fills the heart fills the eyes!)

Sileann do chara agus do namhaid nach bhfaighidh tú bás chroíche; Both your friends and your enemy think that you will never die.

Níl aon leigheas ar an ngrá ach pósadh; The only cure for love is marriage.

Is giorra cabhair Dé ná an doras; God's help is nearer than the door.

Ritheann uisce doimhin ciúin; Still waters run deep.

Bíonn blas ar an mbeagán; Though little, it is tasty.

Ní dhéanfaidh an saol capall ráis d'ascal; The world can't make a racehorse out of a donkey.

Regads

John Luke

Missed one ....

An rud is annamh is iontach; What is strange is wonderful.

JL

John Luke, do you want to take over ownership of this entry, since you seem to be the main person contributing to it?

Thank you for the thought but I don't think I'm competent to do so. My contributions to your entry are more of a testament to how often I visit certain cafés and restaurants than to my knowledge of Irish proverbs. My spoken Irish expires after 'Bhfuil cead agam dul amach'. My knowledge of Guide ML is zilch.

For the time being I am happy to be a lurker, lobbing in the occasional comment or suggestion. I am in awe of the researchers, like your goodself, who can produce entries to a high standard on such a range of subjects. Someday a wand'ring muse will transfix me with the article that I MUST write and that will get me started.

As far as the proverbs are concerned, I don't really deserve any credit as I only transcribed the work of others and added nothing. My only suggestion about the form of your entry is that you would give a 'true translation' as well as the 'equivalent' proverb in English.

Also, now that I think of it, it *might* be better to use only genuine Irish proverbs as I suspect that some of those already listed are merely translations from the English in the first place.

Respectfully, John Luke.

Hi John Luke,

I don't think you need even a smidgeon of Guide ML to write an entry such as this, as the sub-eds will do this for you if required. In any case, there is a way of acknowledging your contribution were Gnomon to finish it on your behalf.

Oh and by the way, I completely screwed up my meagre contribution - it was meant to be "is olc an cearc ná scriobann dí fein" - its a bad hen that doesn't scratch for herself.

Woodpigeon

Still 'borrowing' sachets of sugar whilst on family outings ....

Is fada an bóthar nach mbíonn casadh ann: It is a long road that has no turning.

Gíorraíonn beirt bóthar: Two shorten the road.

Ní hí an áilleacht a chuireann an corcán ag fiuchaidh; beauty does not boil the pot.

Is cuma le fear na mbróg cá gcuireann sé a cois: The man with boots does not have to worry about where he puts his feet.

John Luke.