Blethering and chatting
A' bleadraigeadh agus a' cabadaich
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 do naidheachd an-diugh, Anna?
What's doing [your news] today, Anna?
Chan eil guth ri ràdh. Tha mi fhìn is Fionnlagh dìreach a' bleadraigeadh an seo agus a' cabadaich mu ar sinnsearan.
Nothing much. Finlay and I are just blethering and chatting about our ancestors.
Thathas ag ràdh gu bheil liut sheanchais sna daoine againn cuideachd. Tha e san fhuil againn!
It is said that our people also have a talent for storytelling. It's in our blood!
A bheil thu ag ràdh gu bheil an liut sin san teaghlach agad? An e an fhìrinn a th' agad?
Are you saying that that talent runs in your family? Are you for real [are you telling the truth]?
Tha gu dearbh! Coma leibh Seasaidh an Tàilleir! Thàinig fear à Sgoil Eòlais na h-Alba dhan taigh againn turas no dhà, 's e ag iarraidh na sgeulachdan is tòimhseachain aig bràthair mo sheanar a chur air clàr.
Yes (I am) indeed! Never mind Seasaidh an Tàilleir! A man from the School of Scottish Studies came to our house a couple of times, wanting to record the stories and riddles of my great uncle [grandfather's brother].
Istibh, a chàirdean, chan e co-fharpais a th' ann!
Wheesht, friends/guys, it's not a competition!
Anns na seann làithean uaireannan 's e co-fharpais a bhiodh ann eadar cuid de sheanchaidhean.
In the old days, sometimes it would be a competition between some storytellers.
Chuala mise sin cuideachd. Cha bhiodh ann mar bu trice ach fealla-dhà, ge-tà. No eadar fealla-dhà is dha-rìribh? Bhiodh iad a' cur blas air seanchas, mar a gheibheadh tu ann an ròlaistean, aibheiseachadh is uirsgeulan.
I heard that as well. It was usually just joking, though. Or perhaps half-joking, half serious? They would add spice to storytelling, as you would find in ridiculous tales, hyperbole and fictitious stories.
Ach tha fhios ’am gum biodh iad airson cànan eirmseach, innleachdach is tuairisgeulach ùisneachadh cuideachd.
But I know they would like to use witty, inventive and descriptive language as well.
Ciamar a dhèanadh iad sin, ma-thà?
How would they do that, then?
Uill … mar eisimpleir, an àite 'an uair sin chaidh e a-steach' dh'fhaodadh tu 'an ceann tiotan, dh'èalaidh e a-steach' a ràdh, agus mar sin air adhart.
Well … for example, instead of 'then he went in' you could say 'after a moment, he crept in', and so on.
Tha seo coltach ris na dh'ionnsaich sinn ann an sgrìobhadh cruthachail.
This is similar to what we learned in creative writing.
A bheil mòran diofar ann eatarra? Chan eil ann ach conaltradh eile ann am fèin-fhiosrachadh coitcheann daonna!
Is there that much of a difference between them? It's just another dialogue in the collective/shared human experience!