Take two: It's a challenge sometimes!
An dàrna turas: 'S e dùbhlan a th' ann uaireannan!
Let's have a look at this conversation again.
Ma chuireas mi a–steach airson na h–obrach seo agus ma gheibh mi i, bidh tòrr agam ri ionnsachadh.
If I apply for this job and get it, I will have a lot to learn.
Bidh gu dearbh. Ach nach ann mar sin a bhitheas e ann an iomadh dreuchd ùr?
Of course you will. But isn't that how it is in many new posts?
'S ann gu dearbh. Tha briathrachas ùr ri ionnsachadh. Tha modhan ùra rin ionnsachadh.
It is indeed. There is new vocabulary to learn. There are new ways to be learned.
Ann an dòigh, tha e coltach ri bhith ag ionnsachadh cànan eile. Tha Gàidhlig is Beurla agam mar–thà agus dh'ionnsaich mi Fraingis gu fileantas nam inbheach!
In a way, it's like learning another language. I already speak Gaelic and English and I learned French to fluency as an adult!
Nuair a thill mise dhan oilthigh 's mi ag ionnsachadh briathrachas ùr ionmhais is cunntasachd, bha mo cheann na bhrochan—airson greis!
When I returned to university and was learning new financial and accountancy vocabulary, my head was in a mess—for a while!
Tha fios ’am! Bha mi an aon rud nuair a rinn mi trèanadh luchd–teagaisg. Feumaidh mi ràdh gur e aon de na rudan a chuir tuainealaich nam cheann, b' e gràmar—riaghailtean gràmair!
I know! I was the same when I did teacher training. I have to say that one of the things that made my head spin was grammar—rules of grammar!
Tha mi leibh! 'S e dùbhlan a th' ann uaireannan!
I'm with you! It's a challenge sometimes!
Agus 's e sgil eile a th' ann a bhith a' gluasad eadar cànan foirmeil agus cànan neo–fhoirmeil, le briathrachas ùr is structaran eadar–dhealaichte.
And it's (entirely) another skill to move between formal language and informal language, with new vocabulary and different structures.
Ann an teagasg dh'ionnsaich sinn cànan foirmeil gun teagamh, ach chan eil fhios ’am an robh e cho siùbhlach no cho brèagha ri cuid dhen Ghàidhlig a chluinneas tu—no a leughas tu—aig ìrean nas àirde a thaobh rèim–chainnte.
In teaching we learned a formal language of course, but I don't know if it was as eloquent or as beautiful as some of the Gaelic you hear—or read—at a higher level in terms of register.
Chan eil fhios ’am a bheil mi gad thuigsinn. Dè tha thu a' ciallachadh?
I don't know if I understand you. What do you mean?
Tha mi a' bruidhinn air seann Ghàidhlig a' Bhìobaill, no bàrdachd—no seann òrain, fiù 's. Tha ruitheam annta!
I'm talking about old biblical Gaelic, or poetry—or old songs, even. They have (a) rhythm (to them)!
Ah! Tha cuimhn' agamsa gum bitheamaid a' bruidhinn ann an diofar dhòighean—eadar sgoil agus an dachaigh. Agus gu dearbh, nuair a chaidh sinn air chèilidh sna saor–làithean air teaghlach mo mhàthar ann an Èirinn, bhithinn a' tilleadh a dh'Alba le faclan ùra agus dòigh eile bruidhne/labhairt nam chluasan is air mo bhilean!
Ah! I remember that we would talk in different ways—between school and home. And of course, when we went to visit my mother's family in Ireland during the holidays, I would return to Scotland with new words and a different way of speaking in my ears and on my lips!
Tha mi a' smaoineachadh gur e suidseadh còd a chanar ris a sin. 'S e rud bitheanta—àbhaisteach—a th' ann air feadh an t–saoghail. Tha e coltach gu bheil iomadh–chànanas bitheanta sa h–uile h–àite ach san dùthaich seo!
I think that's called code-switching. It is a common—normal—thing all over the world. It seems multilingualism is common everywhere but this country!