Ulster Scots
Apr. 6th, 2005 04:44 pm![[personal profile]](https://www.dreamwidth.org/img/silk/identity/user.png){kind=small}
hellisonI can't help it. I try, but I can't help it. It makes me laugh so much...
We just got some of our guides to monuments 'translated' and they are cracking me up. This one in particular... To get the full effect, try reading it out loud.
In Airlann in tha days o tha Normans, a laird wud hae taen care o himsel, his femilie an aa tha hingers-on by wye o his tooer-hoose. Frae tha tap o its thrie or mair flairs he cud leuk oot owre his lanns an see onie boadie, frien or fae, cumin up near. Tooer-hooses wus bigged tae sut strang agin roads, wattèrwyes an fords; quhiles, lake at tha boat-key in Airdgless, the’ wur bigged thegither fur strenth in nummers. Quhan tha Laird shut tha airn-strappit dorr, as lang as his guids lastit, he wus maistèr in his tooer richt eneuch. No that it cud hae bin aisie leevin. In 16&44, quhaniver tooer-hooses wus big in tha kintra yit, acause o tha troubles bak then, this French boy cum on thaim in his trip, but didnae think much o thaim; quo he, ‘naethin but square tooers athoot wundaes nor even wee apenins that wud gie onie mair licht nor a jail. The’ hae next tae nae plenishins, an pit reeds doon fur beddin in tha simmertim an strae in tha wuntèrtim. The’ pit reeds doon on tha flair tha depth o a fit an up thair wundaes, an a wheen o thaim decorates tha ceilins wi reuch sticks’.
I don't have the original to hand but I believe the first few lines should run something like this. Have fun working the rest out for yourself!
Tower-houses in Co.Down
In Ireland in Norman times, the local Lord would protect himself, family and retainers by building a tower-house. From the top of its 3 or more floors, he could survey his lands and monitor the approach of anyone, friend or foe. Tower-houses were built to defend important strategic locations, such as roads, waterways and fords; while in other places, such as at the harbour at Ardglass, they were built together for strength in numbers.
The best bit has to be that they even translated (feh, mangled) 'the French boy' quote.
I don't really want to get into the whole language/dialect/political tool debate, it just makes me laugh :p
If you need anymore help try here http://www.ulsterscotsagency.com/
There are some great made up phrases, tho they have alas stopped referring to disabled children as 'daftie wains'
We just got some of our guides to monuments 'translated' and they are cracking me up. This one in particular... To get the full effect, try reading it out loud.
In Airlann in tha days o tha Normans, a laird wud hae taen care o himsel, his femilie an aa tha hingers-on by wye o his tooer-hoose. Frae tha tap o its thrie or mair flairs he cud leuk oot owre his lanns an see onie boadie, frien or fae, cumin up near. Tooer-hooses wus bigged tae sut strang agin roads, wattèrwyes an fords; quhiles, lake at tha boat-key in Airdgless, the’ wur bigged thegither fur strenth in nummers. Quhan tha Laird shut tha airn-strappit dorr, as lang as his guids lastit, he wus maistèr in his tooer richt eneuch. No that it cud hae bin aisie leevin. In 16&44, quhaniver tooer-hooses wus big in tha kintra yit, acause o tha troubles bak then, this French boy cum on thaim in his trip, but didnae think much o thaim; quo he, ‘naethin but square tooers athoot wundaes nor even wee apenins that wud gie onie mair licht nor a jail. The’ hae next tae nae plenishins, an pit reeds doon fur beddin in tha simmertim an strae in tha wuntèrtim. The’ pit reeds doon on tha flair tha depth o a fit an up thair wundaes, an a wheen o thaim decorates tha ceilins wi reuch sticks’.
I don't have the original to hand but I believe the first few lines should run something like this. Have fun working the rest out for yourself!
Tower-houses in Co.Down
In Ireland in Norman times, the local Lord would protect himself, family and retainers by building a tower-house. From the top of its 3 or more floors, he could survey his lands and monitor the approach of anyone, friend or foe. Tower-houses were built to defend important strategic locations, such as roads, waterways and fords; while in other places, such as at the harbour at Ardglass, they were built together for strength in numbers.
The best bit has to be that they even translated (feh, mangled) 'the French boy' quote.
I don't really want to get into the whole language/dialect/political tool debate, it just makes me laugh :p
If you need anymore help try here http://www.ulsterscotsagency.com/
There are some great made up phrases, tho they have alas stopped referring to disabled children as 'daftie wains'
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no subject
Date: 2005-04-06 12:47 pm (UTC)Reuch:
Hm, apparently it's Verlan (cool French) for 'expensive'. Don't think that's it, really.
Aha, here we are. Scholarly article on Burns in Scots curricula. Looking at that, there's no doubt that 'reuch' is a direct idiomatic translation of 'rough'. http://www.arts.gla.ac.uk/ScotLit/ASLS/Laverock-Burns-2.html