Influences on dialect
Buaidhean air dualchainnt
Let's have a look at this discussion. By the end of this section, you will have learned some valuable phrases that you can use in lots of different conversations.
Dè man a tha thu an–diugh, a bhalaich?
How are you today, boy/son?
Nach tu a tha coimig! Co–dhiù, chan eil guth ri ràdh, taing, 'ille.
Aren't you funny (not)! Anyway, no complaints [nothing to report], thanks, mate.
Co–dhiù no co–dheth, bidh rudan a' toirt buaidh air a' Ghàidhlig anns na sgoiltean. Ach dè mu dheidhinn a' bhuaidh aig buidhnean eile, leithid craobh–sgaoileadh, air dualchainnt?
Anyway, things do affect Gaelic in schools. But what about the influence of other organisations, such as broadcasting, on dialect?
Saoilidh mi gu bheil craobh–sgaoileadh a' coimeasgachadh nan dualchainntean uile gus an tuig a h–uile duine càch a chèile. Tha an t–ainm ag innse sin dhut—Rèidio nan Gàidheal!?
I think that broadcasting blends the dialects so that everyone understands one another. The name tells you that—Radio nan Gàidheal!?
Ach a bheil sin a' ciallachadh nach eil na dualchainntean a' cumail nam feartan aca fhèin, na facail is na blasan–cainnte sònraichte aca?
But does that mean that the dialects do not keep their own characteristics, their special words and accents?
'S dòcha nach eil. No a bheil sin a' lagachadh nan dualchainntean?
Probably not. Or does that weaken the dialects?
Ach ann an cànan sam bith, bidh daoine bruidhinn san dachaigh, san àite–obrach no sna h–ionadan foghlaim ann an dòighean eadar–dhealaichte bhon chànan a chluinnear air telebhisean is rèidio.
But in any language, people speak at home, in the workplace or in educational establishments/institutions in ways that are different from the language heard on television and radio.
'S e an fhìrinn a th' agad. Ach nach e rèim–chainnte a tha sin?
Isn't that the truth! But isn't that (language) register?
'S e rèim–chainnte agus dualchainnt a bha ag adhbharachadh sin, saoilidh mi. Ach ge b’ e dè, leis a' choimeasgachadh sin thig bun–tomhasachadh ann an litreachadh is gnothaichean eile.
It's (language) register and dialect that caused that, I think. But whatever it is, with that blending comes standardisation in spelling and other matters.
Ach 's ann air sgàth foghlaim a chaidh GOC (Gnàthachas Litreachaidh na Gàidhlig) fhoillseachadh sa chiad dol a–mach, nach ann?
But it was primarily for education that GOC (Gaelic Orthographic Conventions) was published in the first place, wasn't it?
'S ann, ann an 1981! Tha e doirbh a chreidsinn gun deach a' chiad dreach de na molaidhean sin fhoillseachadh còrr is dà fhichead bliadhna air ais! Cha mhòr nach eil gach duine is buidheann ann an Alba gan cleachdadh.
Yes, in 1981! It is hard to believe that the first draft (design) of these recommendations was published more than forty years ago! But now there's scarcely a person or group (in Scotland) that doesn't use them.
Nise, an e 'dà fhichead bliadhna' no 'ceathrad bliadhna' a bha sin?
Now, was that 'forty years' or 'forty years'?
Nach tu a tha èibhinn! Tha molaidhean ann airson litreachadh nan àireamhan, agus airson gach siostam cunntaidh, sean is ùr (an aghaidh na shaoileadh cuid a dhaoine!).
Aren't you funny! Contrary to what some people might think, there are suggestions for spelling the numbers, and for each counting system, old and new.
Bidh sinne fhathast a' cleachdadh siostam cunntaidh nam ficheadan san eaglais againn, eadar sailm is laoidhean is eile, a h–uile Didòmhnaich. No am bu chòir dhomh 'Là na Sàbaid' a ràdh?
We still use the vigesimal (twenties') counting system in our church, for psalms and hymns and so forth, every Sunday. Or should I say 'Sunday'?