Schnick, Schnack, Schnuck

By Simon

Schnick, Schnack, Schnuck

Last weekend a couple of couchsurfers from the USA stayed with me. When they’re not surfing from sofa to sofa they live in Leipzig in Germany and one of them speaks German fluently. When she discovered that I also speak German, we started chatting in German. Even after many years of neglect my German is still there, although I often flail around for words and my grammatical knowledge is rusty. I learnt some interesting expressions, including:

  • Schnick, Schnack, Schnuck = Rock-paper-scissors (game)
  • (der) Streber = geek, nerd
  • streberhaft = geekiness, nerdiness
  • (die) Kneipe = pub
  • innerer Schweinehund = one’s weaker self; inner temptation; procrastination

According to Wikipedia the game rock, paper, scissors is also known as Schere, Stein, Papier; Ching, Chang, Chong; Klick, Klack, Kluck; Stein schleift Schere; Schnibbeln, Knobeln oder Schniekern in German. Apparently alternative names for this game in English include roshambo, Paper-Scissors-Stone and ick-ack-ock – have you heard of these?

The game originally comes from China and was first mentioned in a book by 谢肇淛 (Xie Zhaozhi) during the Ming Dynasty (c. 1600), who said that game dates back to the Han Dynasty (206 BC – 220 AD) and calls it 手势令 (shoushiling) or “hand command”.

What do you call this game?

Òrain Gaeilge

By Simon

Madainn an-diugh chlaraich mi òran anns a’ Ghàidhlig na h-Éireann ris an canar An Saighdiúir Tréigthe, a dh’ionnsaich mi ann an Éirinn ann an t-Iuchar. Chur mi na facail agus eadar-theangachadh air mo làrach-lìn cuideachd. An t-seachdain seo chaidh chur mi dhà òran eile air mo làrach-lìn – Mo Mhadadh Beag agus Túirne Mháire no Cuibhle-shnìomha Màiri. Tha mi a’ rùnachadh seo a dhèanamh ri gach òran a dh’ionnsaich mi ann an Éirinn, ann an Alba agus anns an Eilean Mhanainn.

Maidin inniu chláraigh mé amhrán as Gaeilge darb ainm An Saighdiúir Tréigthe, a d’fhoghlaim mé in Éirinn i mhí Iúil. Chuir mé na focail agus aistriúchán ar mo shuíomh idirlín chomh maith. An tseachtain seo caite chuir mé dhá amhrán eile ar shuíomh idirlín – Mo Mhadadh Beag agus Túirne Mháire. Tá rún agam seo a déanamh le gach amhrán a d’fhoghlaim mé in Éirinn, in Albain agus in san Oileán Mhanann.

This morning I recorded a song in Irish called An Saighdiúir Tréigthe, that I learnt in Ireland in July. I put the words and a translation on my website as well. Last week I put two other songs on my website – Mo Mhadadh Beag (My Little Dog) and Túirne Mháire (Mary’s Spinning Wheel). I plan to do the same for all the songs I’ve learnt in Ireland, Scotland and the Isle of Man.

Aoighean

By Simon

Choinnich mi ri na Aimeireaganaich (Couchsurfers) ann taigh-seinnse ann an baile an-raoir. Tha iad a’ siubhal timcheall a’ Chuimrigh an-dràsta a’ falbh air an òrdaig agus a’ siubhal air busan agus trèanaichean. Tha iad a’ fuirich anns a’ Ghearmailt, nuair nach eil iad a’ siubhal, agus tha Gearmailtis fileanta ag fear dhiubh, agus do bhrìgh sin, bhruidhinn mise agus ise le chéile anns a’ Ghearmailtis. Bha i glé thoilichte cuideigin a choinnicheachadh agus tha Gearmailtis air. An déidh deoch no dhà, thàinig sinn air ais chun mo thaigh agus dh’ith sinn dinnear. Ansin chluich sinn Scrabble.

An-diugh choisich sinn timcheall Bangor agus dh’ith sinn lòn, agus chluich sinn Scrabble a-rithist. Dh’fhàg iad air an trèan gu Cardiff ag seachd uair.

Bhuail mé lena Meiriceánaigh (Couchsurfers) i dteach tábhairne sa bhaile aréir. Tá siad ag déanamh turas timpeall an Bhreatain Bheag ar faoi láthair ar an bus, ar an treain agus tá siad ag síobaireacht. Tá siad ina gcónaí sa Ghearmáin, nuair nach bhfuil siad ag taisteal, agus tá Gearmáinis ag ceann acu, agus da bhrí sin, labhair mise agus sise le chéile as an Ghearmáinis. Bhí si iontach sásta a bheith ag bualadh le duine atá Gearmáinis air. I ndiaidh deoch no dhá, tháinig muid ar ais go dtí mo theach, d’ith muid dinnear, agus chluich muid Scrabble.

Inniu shiúil muid timpeall Bangor, d’ith muid lón, agus chluich muid Scrabble uair arís. D’fhág siad ar an treain go Cardiff seacht uair.

I met the Americans (Couchsurfers) in a pub in town. They are currently travelling around Wales by bus, by train and hitchhiking. They live in Germany, when they’re not travelling, and one of them speaks German fluently, so I spoke with her in German. She was very happy to meet someone who speaks German. After a drink or two we came back to my house, ate dinner and played Scrabble.

Today we walked around Bangor, ate lunch, and played Scrabble again. They left on the train to Cardiff at 7 o’clock.

Neòil

By Simon

Tha i neulach an-diugh, agus bha i neulach an-dé, ach tha i blàth agus tioram. Bidh na panailean-ghréine air mullach an taigh agam a’ dèanamh dealan fiù air làithaean neulach, ach bidh iad a’ dèanamh tuilleadh dealan air làithean grianach. Cha do thachair móran an-dé no an-duigh, ach bidh càraid às na Stàitean Aonaichte a’ fuireach rium anochd. Bidh mi a’ dol chun iad a choinneachadh a dh’aithghearr.

Tá sé scamallach inniu, agus bhí sé scamallach inné, ach tá sé te agus tirim. Bíonn na painéil gréine ar mo dhíon ag déanamh leicreachais fiú ar leathanta scamallach, ach bíonn siad ag déanamh níos mó ar leathanta grianmhara. Ní tharla móran inné no inniu, ach beidh cúpla ón Stáit Aontaithe ag fanacht liom anocht. Beidh mé ag dul chun iad a bhuladh riomh i bhfad.

It’s cloudy today, and it was cloudy yesterday, but it’s warm and dry. The solar panels on my roof are generating electricity even on cloudy days, but they generate more on sunny days. Not much happened yesterday or today, but a couple (of couch surfers) from the USA will be staying with me tonight. I’m off to meet them shortly.

Math math

By Simon

This week I discovered that you can emphasize adjectives in Scottish Gaelic by repeating them. For example:
– bha e math math air faclan a chur ri chèile ann am bàrdachd (he was very good at putting words togther in poetry).

Emphasis can also be indicated with glé (very) – bha e glé mhath – with uabhasach (terribly) – bha e uabhasach math – or with fiadhaich (wild) – bha e fiadhaich math. Another example, which is mentioned in Leabher nan Litrichean by Ruairidh MacIlleathain, concerns an overheard conversation between two boys. One says “An robh an t-isag mòr?” (Was the fish big?), and the other replies, “Bha! Bha e mòr mòr mòr mòr mòr!”. (Yes! It was very very very very big!).

This doubling isn’t very common in English, though some people might use it. Alternatively you can elongate the adjective, it was biiiiig!. Do you double or enlongate adjectives at all, in English or other languages?

Petit chenapan!

By Simon

Last night at the French conversation group we were discussing how to say rascal in French, because one of the beers being served last night is called rascal. I found quite a few possible translations, each of which has slightly different meanings:

  • vaurien = good-for-nothing, scoundrel; (to child) petit vaurien ! = you little devil!
  • fripon = [n] rogue; [adj] mischievous, roguish; (to child) petit fripon ! = you little scamp/rogue!
  • polisson = [adj] mischievous, cheeky; saucy, naughty – une chanson polissonne = a racy saucy song; [n] little devil / rogue / scamp
  • gredin = rascal, rogue
  • maraud = rascal, rapscallion
  • chenapan = rascal, rogue, scoundrel (humourous)
  • bélître = rascal; dandy
  • canaille = [adj] roguish; coarse, vulgar; [n] scoundrel, crook – petite canaille ! = you little devil / rascal!

Sources: Larousse & Reverso.

The English word rascal, which I particularly like the sound of, comes from the Anglo-Norman word rascaile, from the Middle French rascaille (rabble, common people), possibly from the unattested verb *rasquer (to scrape).

Children are often the ones called rascals or little rascals in English. Is it the same in other languages, if they have similar words?

Les mots de la semaine

By Simon
français English Cymraeg Brezhoneg
coquin; fripon; polisson; vaurien rascal; scamp dyn drwg; cnaf; cenau; dihiryn lañfre; lachefre
petit chenapan! little rascal! y gwalch bach! y mawrddrwg! yr ellyll bach!
déchiffrer; décrypter decipher datrys; dehongli disifrañ
toutes les deux semaines every other week bob yn ail wythnos
un(e) … sur deux every other … bob yn ail …
la date/heure limite; le délai deadline dyddiad cau; adeg cau; pen set deiziad/eurioù diwezhañ; termen
le numéro d’immatriculation registration number rhif cofrestru niverenn-varilh
la plaque d’immatriculation number plate plât rhif plakenn-varilh
piloter (un avion) to fly (a plane) hedfan (awyren) pilotañ
voler to fly (planes, birds) hedfan nijal
aller en avion to fly (by plane) hedfan mont da karr-nij (?)
le tableau de bord dashboard borden flaen; panel deialau
la cachette hideout cuddfan; cuddfa kuzhiadell; kuzh; toull-kuzh

Latha leisg

By Simon

Rinn mi beagan obair madainn an-diugh, agus an déidh lòn chaidh mi chun an leabhar-lann gus leabhraichean a’ thilleadh agus leabhraichean eile a gabh air iasad. Cha do cheannaich mi móran leabhraichean anns an latha a tha ann gus airgead a chaomhnadh, ach leabhraichean le mo roghainn ùghdaran. Ansin dh’ionnsaich mi beagan Breatnais, agus rinn mi barrachd obair.

Rinne mé beagan obair maidin inniu, agus i ndiaidh lón chuaigh mé go dtí an leabharlann chun leabhair a thabair ar ais agus leabhair eile a fháil ar iasacht. Ní bím ag ceannach a lán leabhair an lá atá inniu chun airgead a choigil, ach amháin leabhair le na húdair is fearr liom. Ansin d’fhoghlaim mé giota beag Briotáinis agus rinne mé níos mó obair.

I did a bit of work this morning, and after lunch I went to the library to return some books and to borrow some more. I rarely buy books these days in order to save money, except books by my favourite authors. Then I learnt some Breton, and did a bit more work.

Seisean

By Simon

Bha seisean ann nam thaigh feasgar an-diugh, agus thàinig Steve agus Magnus. Sheinn Steve an fhìdheall, an dhuiseal agus an t-organ-beòil; sheinn Magnus an concertina, an giotàr agus a’ fhìdeag; agus sheinn mise a’ fhìdeag, a’ fhìdeag ìseal, an giotàr, ceithir recorder eadar-dhealaichte, am melodica, an t-organ-beòil agus am mandoilin. Is mhòr a’ còrdadh rium iomadh innealean-ciùil a sheinn, agus a bhith a’ atharrachadh eatorra.

Bhí seisiún ceoil ann i mo theach an tráthnóna seo, agus tháinig Steve agus Magnus. Sheinn Steve an fhidil, an fheadóg mhór agus an orgán béil; sheinn Magnus an consairtín, an giotár agus an fheadóg stáin; agus sheinn mise an fheadóg stáin, an fheadóg íseal, ceithre fliúit Shasanach éagsúla, an melodica, an orgán béil agus an maindilín. Is maith a bheith ag seinm a lán uirlis ceoil éagsúla, agus a bheith ag athrú eatarthu.

There was a music session in my house this afternoon, and Steve and Magnus came. Steve played the fiddle, flute and harmonica; Magnus played the concertina, guitar and whistle; and I played the high whistle, the low whistle, the guitar, four different recorders, the melodica, harmonica and mandolin. I really enjoy playing many different instruments and switching between them.