Pushing and pulling
A' putadh agus a' tarraing
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.
Mar sin, tha iad ann an dùthaich ùr, gun sgillinn ruadh aca, feumaidh iad beatha ùr a chur air bhonn agus tha aca ri fiachan a phàigheadh?
So, they are in a new country, without a penny, they have to start a new life and they have to pay (back) debts?
Sin agad e! No bhiodh aca ri obair mar shearbhantan air an fhearann nuair a ruigeadh iad. Theireadh cuid gur e seòrsa de thràilleachd a bh' ann.
That's it! Or they would have to work as servants on the land when they arrived. Some would say it was a form of servitude.
Ach 's i a' cheist—an do dh'imrich iad thall thairis gu deònach?
But the question is—did they migrate abroad voluntarily?
Cha chreid mi gu bheil duine sam bith deònach no toilichte cùl a chur ris an dachaigh aca.
I don't believe anyone is willing or happy to turn their back on their home.
Theireadh cuid gum biodh diofar adhbharan no eileamaidean ann—eileamaidean putaidh agus eileamaidean tarraing.
Some would say that there are different reasons or factors—push factors and pull factors.
Dè bh' anns na h-eileamaidean putaidh, ma-thà?
What were the push factors, then?
Cha robh fearann math ann, co-fharpais airson cosnadh is taigheadas, agus mu dheireadh gaiseadh a' bhuntàta.
There was no good land, competition for employment and housing, and finally the potato blight.
Cò a bhitheadh deònach fuireach ann an dùthaich mar sin? Ach thug thu iomradh air eileamaidean tarraing cuideachd. Dè bh' annta-san?
Who would be willing to live in such a country? But you also mentioned pull factors. What were they?
Bha cruaidh fheum air dòigh-beatha nas fheàrr. Thugadh geallaidhean seachad le beairteas is cosnadh nach fhaca iad roimhe, le pailteas fearainn agus obair ann an tuathanachais is àiteachan eile.
A better way of life was desperately needed. Promises were given of unprecedented wealth and employment, with plenty of land and work in farms and elsewhere.
Agus an do shoirbhich leis na daoine sin sna dùthchannan thall ud?
And did these people succeed in those faraway countries?
'S cinnteach gun do shoirbhich gu ìre, ach cha robh e soirbh airson na mòr-chuid. Bha beatha chruaidh a' feitheamh, agus tha fianais againn.
It is certain that they did succeed to a certain extent, but it was not easy for the majority. A hard life awaited, and we have evidence.