Irish Lesson 90

To this continuation of the general review of grammar and vocabulary through conversation, we will begin to add a more complete review of certain elements, such as verbs.

Comhrá(koh-raw*), conversation

Tadhg(teyeg): Dia dhuit, a Airt (DEE-uh git, uh AHRT). Hello, Art.

Art(ahrt): Dia's Muire dhuit, a Thaidhg (DEE-uhs MWIR-e git, uh heyeg). Cén chaoi bhfuil tú? (KAY-hee VWIL too) Hello, Tadhg. How are you today?

Tadhg: Go han-mhaith, go raibh maith agat (goh HAN-VWAH, gur-uh MAH huh-GUHT). Conas tátúféin? (KUN-uhs taw* too fay*n) Very well, thank you. How are you yourself?

Art: Támégo maith leis (TAW* may* goh MAH lesh). Nach bhfuil túag obair inniu? (nahk* VWIL too eg OH-bir in-YOO) I am well, too. Aren't you working today?

Tadhg: Nílim (NEEL-im). Chuamar ar stailc - an tseachtain seo caite (K*OO-uh-muhr er STEYELK un TYAHK*T-in shuh KAH-tye). Nídhéanaim rud ar bith anois - ach fanacht le socrúna stailce (nee YAY*N-im ruhd er BI uh-NISH ahk* FAHN-uhk*t le SOHK-roo nuh STEYELK-e). I am not. We went on strike last week. I don't do a thing now but wait for settlement of the strike.

Art: Cén fáth ar chuaigh sibh ar stailc? (kay*n faw* er K*OO-ee shiv er STEYELK) Why did you go on strike?

Tadhg: Méadúpáa bhíag teastáil uainn (MAY*-doo paw* vee uh TAS-taw*-il WOO-ing). Níbhfuaireamar ach aon mhéadúle linn dhábhliain (nee VOO-ir-uh-muhr ahk* ay*n VAY*-doo le ling gaw* VLEE-in). A pay raise was what we wanted. We didn't get but one increase during two years.

Art: Iséan bolgadh an fáth (shay* un BOH-luh-guh un FAW*). An síneoidh na húnéiri - agus na stailceoirí- conradh nua go luath? (un sheen-YOH-ee nuh hoo-NAY*R-ee AH-guhs nuh steyel-KYOH-i-ree KOHN-ruh NOO-uh goh LOO-uh) The inflation is the reason. Will the owners and the strikers sign a new contract soon?

Tadhg: Cábhfios domsa? (KAW* vis DUHM-suh) Aontófar le rudéigin, - sin nódúnfar an mhonarcha (ay*n-TOH-fuhr le ruhd AY*-gin, shin noh DOON-fuhr un VWOHN-uhr-huh). How do I know? Something will be agreed upon, that or the factory will be closed.

Art: Nár dúnadh anuraidhí? (naw*r DOON-uh uh-NOOR-ee ee) Didn't they close it last year?

Tadhg: Dúnadhí(DOON-uh ee). Bhísídúnta cúpla mí(VEE shee DOON-tuh KOOP-luh mee). Níbhfuarthas mórán orduithe - le linn na bliana (nee VOO-uhr-huhs muh-RAW*N OHRD-i-he le ling nuh BLEE-uh-nuh). They did. It was closed for a couple of months. Not many orders were received during the year.

Art: Bíonn a lán daoine dífhostaithe anois (BEE-uhn uh LAW*N DEEN-uh dee-OHS-ti-he uh-NISH). B'fhéidir go bhfaighfear orduithe nua - i gceann tamaill (BAY*-dir goh VWEYE-fuhr OHRD-i-he NOO-uh i GYOUN TAHM-il). Many persons are unemployed now. Perhaps new orders will be received in a while.

Tadhg: Dúradh go raibh an ceardchumann - agus an bainisteoir - ag dul i gcomhairle - le chéile - le linn an tsamhraidh go léir (DOO-ruh goh REV un kard-K*U-muhn AH-guhs un bwin-ish-TYOH-ir uh duhl i GOH-ir-le le HYAY*-le le ling uh TOU-ree goh LAY*R). It was said that the union and the manager were conferring (going in conference) with each other during the entire summer.

Art: Níl toradh ar bith air - péscéalé(neel TOHR-uh er BI er, pay* SHKAY*L ay*). Is maith an rudéan fostú(is mah un RUHD ay* un FOHS-too). Cad a tharlóidh do na hoibritheoirí- mádhúnfar an mhonarcha? (kahd uh hahr-LOH-ee duh nuh hib-ri-HOH-i-ree maw* GOON-fuhr un VWOHN-uhr-huh) There's no result on it, anyway. Employment is a good thing. What will happen to the workers if the plant will be closed?

Art: Gheofar poist eile, is dóigh liom (YOH-fuhr pwist EL-e, is DOH-ee luhm). Other jobs will be found, I suppose.

 

Notes: "Cén chaoi bhfuil tú?" is another way to ask "How are you?" It means "What condition or manner are you in?" "Fuair" can mean "get, receive, find." "Ceardchumann" combines the words "ceard", a trade or craft, and "cumann", a society, to give a word meaning "trade union" or "union".