OF INTERJECTIONS.
The syllables or sounds, employed as expressions of various emotions or
sensations, are numerous in Gaelic, but for the most part provincial, and
arbitrary. Only one or two single vocables, and a few phrases, require to
be noticed under this division.
Och! Ochan! alas!
Ochan nan och! _alas_ and _well-a-day!_
Fire faire! what a pother!
Mo thruaighe! _my misery!_ }
Mo chreachadh! _my despoiling!_ } woe's me!
Mo n[`a]ire! _my shame_, for shame! fy!
H-ugad, _at you_, take care of yourself, _gardez-vous_.
Feuch! behold! lo!
* * * * *
{137}
PART III.
OF SYNTAX.
Syntax treats of the connection of words with each other in a sentence; and
teaches the proper method of expressing their connection by the
_Collection_ and the _Form_ of the words. Gaelic Syntax may be conveniently
enough explained under the common divisions of Concord and Government.
CHAPTER I.
OF CONCORD.
Under Concord is to be considered the agreement of the Article with its
Noun;--of an Adjective with its Noun;--of a Pronoun with its
Antecedent;--of a Verb with its Nominative;--and of one Noun with another.
SECTION I.
OF THE AGREEMENT OF THE ARTICLE WITH A NOUN.
_Collocation._
The article is always placed before its Noun, and next to it, unless when
an Adjective intervenes.
_Form._
The article agrees with its Noun in Gender, Number, and Case. Final _n_ is
changed into _m_ before a plain Labial; as, am baile _the town_, am fear
_the man_. It is usually cut off before an aspirated Palatal, or Labial,
excepting _fh_; as, a' chaora _the sheep_, a' mhuc _the sow_, a' choin _of
the dog_. In the Dat. Sing. initial _a_ is cut off after a Preposition
ending in a Vowel; as, do 'n chloich _to the stone_[94].
{138}
A Noun, when immediately preceded by the Article, suffers some changes in
Initial Form:--1. With regard to Nouns beginning with a Consonant, the
_aspirated_ form is assumed by a mas. Noun in the gen. and dat. singular;
by a fem. noun in the nom. and dat. singular. If the Noun begins with _s_
followed by a vowel or by a Liquid, instead of having the _s_ aspirated,
_t_ is inserted between the Article and the Noun, in the foresaid cases;
and the _s_ becomes entirely quiescent[95]. 2. With regard to Nouns
beginning with a Vowel, _t_ or _h_ is inserted between the Article and the
Noun in certain Cases, viz. _t_ in the Nom. sing. of mas. Nouns, _h_ in the
gen. sing. of fem. Nouns, and _h_ in the nom. and dat. plur. of Nouns of
either gender. Throughout the other sing. and plur. Cases, all Nouns retain
their Primary form.
The following examples show all the varieties that take place in declining
a Noun with the Article.
_Nouns beginning with a Labial or a Palatal._
Bard, mas. _a Poet_.
_Sing._ _Plur._
_N._ am Bard, na Baird,
_G._ a' Bhaird, nam Bard,
_D._ a', 'n Bhard[96]. na Bardaibh.
Cluas, fem. _an Ear_.
_Sing._ _Plur._
_N._ a' Chluas, na Cluasan,
_G._ na Cluaise, nan Cluas,
_D._ a', 'n Chluais. na Cluasaibh.
{139}
_Nouns beginning with f._
Fleasgach, m. _a Bachelor._
_Sing._ _Plur._
_N._ am Fleasgach, na Fleasgaich,
_G._ an Fhleasgaich, nam Fleasgach,
_D._ an, 'n Fhleasgach. na Fleasgaich.
F[`o]id, f. a _Turf._
_Sing._ _Plur._
_N._ an Fh[`o]id, na Foidean,
_G._ na F[`o]ide, nam F[`o]id,
_D._ an, 'n Fh[`o]id. na Foidibh.
_Nouns beginning with a Lingual._
Dorus, m. _a Door._
_Sing._ _Plur._
_N._ an Dorus, na Dorsan,
_G._ an Doruis, nan Dorsa,
_D._ an, 'n Dorus, na Dorsaibh.
Teasach, f. _a Fever._
_Sing._ _Plur._
_N._ an Teasach, na Teasaichean,
_G._ na Teasaich, nan Teasach,
_D._ an, 'n Teasaich. na Teasaichibh.
_Nouns beginning with s._
Sloc, mas. _a Pit._
_Sing._ _Plur._
_N._ an Sloc, na Sluic,
_G._ an t-Sluic, nan Sloc,
_D._ an, 'n t-Sloc. na Slocaibh.
{140}
S[`u]il, fem. _an Eye._
_Sing._ _Plur._
_N._ an t-S[`u]il, na Suilean,
_G._ na S[`u]la nan S[`u]l,
_D._ an, 'n t-S[`u]il. na Suilibh.
_Nouns beginning with a Vowel._
Iasg, m. _a Fish._
_Sing._ _Plur._
_N._ an t-Iasg, na h-Iasga,
_G._ an Eisg, nan Iasg,
_D._ an, 'n Iasg. na h-Iasgaibh.
Adharc, f. _a Horn._
_Sing._ _Plur._
_N._ an Adharc, na h-Adhaircean,
_G._ na h-Adhairc, nan Adharc,
_D._ an, 'n Adhairc. na h-Adhaircibh.
The initial Form of Adjectives immediately preceded by the Article, follows
the same rules with the initial Form of Nouns.
Besides the common use of the Article as a Definitive to ascertain
individual objects, it is used in Gaelic--
1. Before a Noun followed by the Pronouns _so_, _sin_, or _ud_; as, am fear
so, _this man_; an tigh ud, _yon house_.
2. Before a Noun preceded by the Verb _is_ and an Adjective; as, is maith
an sealgair e, _he is a good huntsman_; bu luath an coisiche e, _he was a
swift footman_.
3. Before some names of countries; as, righ na Spainne, _the king of
Spain_; chaidh e do 'n Fhrainc, _he went to France_; but righ Bhreatain,
_the king of Britain_; chaidh e dh' Eirin, _he went to Ireland_, without
the Article. {141}
SECTION II.
OF THE AGREEMENT OF AN ADJECTIVE WITH A NOUN.
_Collocation._
When an Adjective and the Noun which it qualifies are in the same clause or
member of a sentence, the Adjective is usually placed after its Noun; as,
ceann liath, _a hoary head_; duine ro ghlic, _a very wise man_. If they be
in different clauses, or if the one be in the subject, and the other in the
predicate of a proposition, this rule does not apply; as, is glic an duine
sin, _that is a wise man_; cha truagh leam do chor, _I do not think your
case unfortunate_.
1. Numerals, whether Cardinal or Ordinal, to which add, iomadh _many_, gach
_every_, are placed before their Nouns; as, tri lathan, _three days_; an
treas latha, _the third day_; iomadh duine, _many a man_; gach eun g' a
nead, _every bird to its nest_.--Except such instances as the following :
Righ Tearlach a h-Aon, _King Charles the First_; Righ Seumas a Cuig, _King
James the Fifth_.
2. The possessive pronouns mo, do, &c., are always placed before their
nouns; as, mo lamh, _my hand_. The interrogatives co, cia, &c., are placed
before their nouns, with the article intervening; as, cia am fear? _which
man?_
3. Some adjectives of one syllable are usually placed before their Nouns;
as, deadh dhuine, _a good man_; droch ghniomh, _a bad action_; seann
sluagh, _old people_. Such Adjectives, placed before their Nouns, often
combine with them, so as to represent one complex idea, rather than two
distinct ones; and the adjective and noun, in that situation, may rather be
considered as one complex term, than as two distinct words, and written
accordingly; as, oigfhear, _a young man_; ogbhean, _a young woman_;
garbhchriochan, _rude regions_[97].
{142}
_Form._
Though a Gaelic Adjective possesses a variety of Forms, yet its Form is not
always determined by the Noun whose signification it modifies. The Form of
the Adjective depends on its Noun, when it immediately follows the Noun, or
only with the intervention of an intensitive Particle, ro, gle, &c., and
when both the Noun and the Adjective are in the Subject, or both in the
Predicate, or in the same clause or member of a sentence. In all other
situations, the form of the Adjective does in no respect depend on the
Noun; or, in other words, the Adjective does not agree with the Noun[98].
To illustrate this rule, let the following examples be attentively
considered:--Is beag orm a' ghaoth fhuar, _I dislike the cold wind_; is
beag orm fuaim na gaoithe fuaire, _I dislike the sound of the cold wind_;
is beag orm seasamh anns a' ghaoith fhuair, _I dislike standing in the cold
wind_. In these examples, the Adjective and the Noun are both in the same
clause or member of a sentence, and therefore they must agree together. In
the following examples the Adjective and the Noun do not necessarily agree
together:--Is fuar a' ghaoth ['a] tuath, _cold is the wind from the north_;
is tric leis a' ghaoith ['a] tuath bhi fuar, _it is usual for the wind from
the north to be cold_. In these examples, the Noun is in the Subject, and
the Adjective in the Predicate of the proposition.
{143}
The grammatical distinction observable in the following examples is
agreeable to the strictest philosophical propriety:--Rinn mis an scian
gheur, _I made the sharp knife_: here the Adjective agrees with the Noun,
for it modifies the Noun, distinguishing that knife from others. Rinn mis
an scian geur, _I made the knife sharp_: here the Adjective does not agree
with the Noun, for it modifies not the Noun but the Verb. It does not
characterize the _object_ on which the operation is performed, hut it
combines with the Verb in specifying the _nature of the operation_
performed. The expression is equivalent to gheuraich mi an scian, _I
sharpened the knife_. So also, mhothaich mi a' ghaoth fhuar, _I felt the
cold wind_; but mhothaich mi a' ghaoth fuar, _I felt the wind cold_. In the
former of these examples the Adjective modifies the Noun, and agrees with
it; in the latter it does not agree with the Noun, for its use is to modify
the Verb, or to specify the nature of the sensation felt. In like manner,
dh' fh[`a]g iad an obair criochnaichte, _they left the work finished_;
fhuaradh an [`o]igh s[`i]nte, marbh, _the maid was found stretched out
dead_. And so in other similar instances.
1. When an Adjective and Noun are so situated and related, that an
agreement takes place between them, then the Adjective agrees with its noun
in Gender, Number, and Case. A Noun preceded by the Numeral da _two_,
though it be in the Singular Number, [see conclusion of Part II. Chap I.]
takes an Adjective in the Plural; as, da iasg bheaga, _two small fishes_,
John, vi. 9. The Initial Form of the Adjective depends partly on the Gender
of the Noun, partly on its Termination, and partly on its being preceded by
the Article.
The following examples of an Adjective declined along with its Noun,
exhibit the varieties in the Initial Form, as well as in the Termination of
the Adjective:--
{144}
MONOSYLLABLES.
Fear m[`o]r, mas. _a Great Man_.
_Without the Article._
_Sing._ _Plur._
_N._ Fear m[`o]r, Fir mh[`o]ra,
_G._ Fir mh[`o]ir, Fheara m[`o]ra,
_D._ Fear m[`o]r, Fearaibh m[`o]ra,
_V._ Fhir mh[`o]ir. Fheara m[`o]ra.
_With the Article._
_N._ Am Fear m[`o]r, Na Fir mh[`o]ra,
_G._ An Fhir mh[`o]ir, Nam Fear m[`o]ra,
_D._ An Fhear mh[`o]r. Na Fearaibh m[`o]ra.
Slat gheal, fem. _a white rod_.
_Without the Article._
_N._ Slat gheal, Slatan geala,
_G._ Slaite gile, Shlatan geala,
_D._ Slait ghil, Slataibh geala,
_V._ Shlat gheal. Shlata geala.
_With the Article._
_N._ An t-Slat gheal, Na Slatan geala,
_G._ Na Slaite gile, Nan Slata geala,
_D._ An t-Slait ghil. Na Slataibh geala.
POLYSYLLABLES.
Oglach dileas, m. _a Faithful Servant_.
_Without the Article._
_N._ Oglach dileas, Oglaich dhileas,
_G._ Oglaich dhilis, Oglach dileas,
_D._ Oglach dileas, Oglachaibh dileas,
_V._ Oglaich dhilis. Oglacha dileas.
{145}
_With the Article._
_N._ An t-Oglach dileas, Na h-Oglaich dhileas.
_G._ An Oglaich dhilis, Nan Oglach dileas.
_D._ An Oglach dhileas, Na h-Oglachaibh dileas.
Clarsach fhonnmhor, f. _a Tuneful Harp._
_Without the Article._
_N._ Clarsach fhonnmhor, Clarsaichean fonnmhor.
_G._ Clarsaich fhonnmhoir, Chlarsach fonnmhor.
_D._ Clarsaich fhonnmhoir, Clarsaichibh fonnmhor.
_V._ Chlarsach fhonnmhor, Chlarsaiche fonnmhor.
_With the Article._
_N._ A' Chlarsach fhonnmhor, Na Clarsaichean fonnmhor.
_G._ Na Clarsaich fonnmhoir, Nan Clarsach fonnmhor.
_D._ A', 'n Chlarsaich fhonnmhoir, Na Clarsaichibh fonnmhor.
An Adjective, beginning with a Lingual, and preceded by a Noun terminating
in a Lingual, retains its primary Form in all the Singular cases; for the
sake, it would seem, of preserving the agreeable sound arising from the
coalescence of the two Linguals; as, nighean donn _a brown maid_, instead
of nighean dhonn; a' choin duibh _of the black dog_, instead of a' choin
dhuibh; air a' chois deis _on his right foot_, instead of air a chois
dheis.
II. A Noun preceded by an Adjective assumes the aspirated Form; as, ard
bheann _a high hill_, cruaidh dheuchainn _a hard trial_.
1. A Noun preceded by a Numeral is in the primary Form; as, tri meoir
_three fingers_; to which add iomadh _many_, gach _every_; as, iomadh fear
_many a man_; gach craobh _every tree_.--Except aon _one_, da _two_; ceud
_first_; as, aon fhear _one man_, da chraoibh _two trees_.
2. A Noun preceded by any of the following Possessive Pronouns, a _her_, ar
_our_, bhur _your_, an _their_, is in the primary {146} Form; as, a mathair
_her mother_, ar brathair _our brother_. When the Possessive Pronoun a
_her_, precedes a Noun or an Adjective beginning with a vowel, _h_ is
inserted between them; as, a h-athair, _her father_, a h-aon mhac _her only
son_. The Possessive Pronouns ar _our_, bhur _your_, usually take _n_
between them and the following Noun or Adjective beginning with a vowel;
as, ar n-athair _our father_, bhur n-aran _your bread_. Perhaps a
distinction ought to be made, by inserting _n_ only after ar, and not after
bhur[99]. This would serve often to distinguish the one word from the other
in speaking, where they are ready to be confounded by bhur being pronounced
ur.
3. A Noun beginning with a Lingual, preceded by an Adjective ending in _n_,
is in the primary Form; as, aon duine _one man_, seann sluagh _old people_.
SECTION III.
OF THE AGREEMENT OF A PRONOUN WITH ITS ANTECEDENT.
The Personal and Possessive Pronouns follow the _Number_ of their
Antecedents, _i.e._ of the Nouns which they represent. Those of the 3d
Pers. Sing. follow also the Gender of their antecedent; as, sheas a'bhean
aig _a_ chosaibh, agus thoisich _i air am_ fliuchadh leis _a_ deuraibh,
agus thiormaich _i iad_ le gruaig _a_ cinn, _the woman stood at his feet,
and she began to wet them with her tears, and she wiped them with the hair
of her head_, Luke vii. 38. They follow, however, not the Gender of the
Antecedent, but the sex of the creature signified by the Antecedent, in
those words in which Sex and Gender disagree, as, an gobhlan-gaoithe mar an
ceudn' do sholair nead dh'i fein _the swallow too hath provided a nest for
herself_, Psal. lxxxiv. 3. Gobhlan-gaoithe _a swallow_, is a mas. Noun, as
appears by the mas. Article: but as it is the dam that is spoken of, the
reference is made by the Personal Pronoun of the fem. gender. Ta gliocas
air a fireanachadh leis a cloinn _Wisdom {147} is justified by her
children_, Matt. xi. 19. Gliocas is a mas. noun; but as Wisdom is here
personified as a female, the regimen of the Possessive Pronoun is adapted
to that idea[100]. See also Prov. ix. 1-3. In this sentence Och nach b' i
mhaduinn e, Deut. xxviii. 67, the former pronoun _i_ is correctly put in
the fem. gender, as referring to the fem. noun _maduinn_; while the latter
pron. _e_ is put in the mas. gend. because referring to no expressed
antecedent.
If the Antecedent be a sentence, or clause of a sentence, the Pronoun is of
the 3d Pers. Sing. masculine; as, dh' ith na b[`a] caola suas na b[`a]
reamhra, agus cha n-aithnichteadh orra _e_, _the lean cattle ate up the fat
cattle, and could not be known by them_.
If the Antecedent be a collective Noun, the Pronoun is of the 3d Pers.
Plur. as, thoir [`a]ithne do 'n t-sluagh, d' eagal gu m bris _iad_ asteach
_charge the people lest they break in_, Exod. xix. 21.
An Interrogative combined with a Personal Pronoun, asks a question without
the intervention of the Substantive verb; as, co mise? _who [am] I?_ co iad
na daoine sin? _who [are] those men?_ cia i a' cheud [`a]ithne? _which [is]
the first commandment?_ In interrogations of this form, the noun is
sometimes preceded by the Personal Pronoun, and sometimes not; as, co e am
fear? _who [is] the man?_ co am fear? _what man?_ Co am fear? is evidently
an incomplete sentence, like _what man?_ in English. The ellipsis may be
supplied thus; co e am fear a ta thu ciallachadh? _who is the man whom you
mean?_ This example may be abridged into another common interrogation, in
which the Interrogative is immediately followed by the Relative; as, co a
ta thu ciallachadh? _who [is he] whom you mean?_ ciod a ta thu faicinn?
_what [is it] that you see?_
In an interrogative sentence including a Personal Pronoun and a Noun, as,
co e am fear sin? if the Noun be restricted in {148} its signification by
some other words connected with it, such as the Article, an Adjective,
another Noun in the Genitive, or a relative clause, then the Pronoun
usually follows the Gender of the Noun, or the Sex of the object signified
by the Noun, if the Gender does not correspond to it; as, co _e_ am fear a
theid a suas? _who is the man that shall ascend?_ co _i_ am boirionnach
sin? _who is that woman?_ cia _i_ a' cheud [`a]ithne? _which is the first
commandment?_ If the Noun be not _so restricted_, the Pronoun is of the
masculine gender; as, ciod e uchdmhacachd? _what is adoption?_ ciod e
urnuigh? _what is prayer?_[101]
{149}
SECTION IV.
OF THE AGREEMENT OF A VERB WITH ITS NOMINATIVE.
As the Verb has no variation of _form_ corresponding to the Person or
Number of its Nominative, the connection between a Verb and its Nominative
can be marked only by its _collocation_. Little variety therefore is
allowed in this respect. The Nominative, whether Noun or Pronoun, is
ordinarily placed after the Verb; as, ta mi _I am_, rugadh duine-cloinne _a
man-child is born_[102]. The Article or an Adjective, is frequently {150}
placed between the Verb and its Nominative; as, thainig an uair, _the hour
is come_; aithrisear iomadh droch sgeul, _many an evil tale will be told_.
Sometimes, but more rarely, circumstances are expressed beween the Verb and
its Nominative; as, rugadh dhuinne, an diugh, ann am baile Dhaibhi, an
Slanuighear, _there is born to us, this day, in David's town, the Saviour_.
The word denoting the object of the verbal action, can never, even in
poetry, be placed between the Verb and its Nominative, without altering the
sense. Hence the arrangement in the following passages is incorrect:--Ghabh
domblas agus fiongeur iad, _they took gall and vinegar_. "Buch. Gael.
Poems," Edin. 1767. p. 14. The collocation should have been ghabh iad
domblas, &c. Do chual e 'n cruinne-c['e], _the world heard it_, id. p. 15,
ought to have been, do chual an cruinne-c['e] e. So also, do ghabh
truaighe, Iosa dhoibh, _Jesus took pity {151} on them_. Matt. xx. 34, Irish
vers. It ought to have been, do ghabh Iosa truaighe, &c.[103].
The Relatives a _who_, nach _who not_, are always put before the verb; as,
am fear a thuit, _the man who fell_; am fear nach dean beud, _the man who
will not commit a fault_.
In poetry, or poetical style, where inversion is allowed, the Nominative is
sometimes placed before the Verb; as doimhneachd na talmhain ta 'n a laimh,
_in his hand is the depth of the earth_. Psal. xcv. 4.
Oigh cha tig le cl[`a]r 'n an comhdhail,
_No virgin with harp will come to meet them._
Smith's "Ant. Gal. Poems," p. 285.
Gach doire, gach coire, 's gach eas,
Bheir a' m' chuimhne cneas mo Ghraidh.
_Each grove, each dell, and each water-fall, will bring to my remembrance
the form of my love._ Id. p. 30.
An la sin cha tigh gu br[`a]th,
A bheir dearrsa mo ghraidh gu tuath.
_That day shall never come, which shall bring the sun-beam of my love to
the North._ Fingal II. 192.
Am focail geilleam do Mhorlamh;
Mo lann do neach beo cha gheill.
_In words I yield to Morla; my sword to no living man shall yield._ Fing.
II. 203. This inversion is never admitted into plain discourse or
unimpassioned narrative.
In those Persons of the Verb in which the terminations supply the place of
the Personal Pronouns, no Nominative is expressed along with the Verb. In
all the other Persons of the Verb, a Noun or a Pronoun is commonly
expressed as its Nominative. In sentences of a poetical structure, the
Nominative is sometimes, though rarely, omitted; as, am fear nach {152}
gabh 'nuair gheibh, cha 'n fhaigh 'nuair 's aill, _the man who will not
take when [he] can get, will not get when [he] wishes_.
A Gharna, cuim a sheas? a Ghuill, cuim a thuit?
_Garno, why stoodst? Gaul, why didst fall?_
Smith's "Ant. Gal. Poems," p. 153.
The Infinitive often takes before it the Nominative of the Agent; in which
case the Preposition _do_ is either expressed or understood before the
Infinitive; as, feuch, cia meud a mhaith, braithre do bhi 'n an comhnuidh
ann sith! _behold how great a good it is, that brethren dwell in peace!_
Psal. cxxxiii, 1. Is e mi dh' fhantuinn 's an fheoil, a 's feumaile
dhuibhse, _my abiding in the flesh is more needful for you_, Phil. i. 24,
Cha n'eil e iomchuidh sinne dh' fhagail focail D['e], agus a fhrithealadh
do bhordaibh, _it is not meet that we should leave the word of God, and
serve tables_, Acts vi. 2. The Preposition _do_, being softened as usual
into _a_, readily disappears after a Vowel; as, air son mi bhi a r[`i]s a
lath[`a]ir maille ribh, _by my being again present with you_, Phil. i.
26[104].
SECTION V.
OF THE AGREEMENT OF ONE NOUN WITH ANOTHER.
When in the same sentence two or more Nouns, applied as names to the same
object, stand in the same grammatical relation to other words, it should
naturally be expected that their Form, in so far as it depends on that
relation, should be the same; in other words, that Nouns denoting the same
object, and related alike to the governing word, should agree in Case. This
accordingly happens in Greek and Latin. In Gaelic, where a variety of form
gives room for the application of the same rule, it has been followed in
some instances; as, Doncha mac Chailain mhic Dhonuil, _Duncan the son of
{153} Colin the son of Donald_; where the words Chailain and mhic denoting
the same person, and being alike related to the preceding Noun mac are on
that account both in the same Case. It must be acknowledged, however, that
this rule, obvious and natural as it is, has not been uniformly observed by
the speakers of Gaelic. For example; instead of mac Ioseiph an t-saoir,
_the son of Joseph the carpenter_, many would more readily say, mac Ioseiph
an saor; instead of thuit e le laimh Oscair an laoich chruadalaich, _he
fell by the hand of Oscar the bold hero_, it would rather be said, thuit e
le laimh Oscair an laoch cruadalach. The latter of these two modes of
expression may perhaps be defended on the ground of its being elliptical;
and the ellipsis may be supplied thus: mac Ioseiph [is e sin] an saor;
laimh Oscair [neach is e] an laoch cruadalach. Still it must be allowed, in
favour of the rule in question, that the observance of it serves to mark
the relation of the Nouns to each other, which would otherwise remain, in
many instances, doubtful. Thus in one of the foregoing examples, if we
should reject the rule, and write mac Ioseiph an saor; it would be
impossible to know, from the form of the words, whether Joseph or his son
were the carpenter.
The translators of the Scriptures into Gaelic, induced probably by the
reasonableness and utility of the rule under consideration, by the example
of the most polished Tongues, and by the usage of the Gaelic itself in some
phrases, have uniformly adhered to this rule when the leading Noun was in
the Genitive; as, do mhacaibh Bharsillai a' Ghileadaich, 1 Kings ii. 7;
righ-chathair Dhaibhi athar, 1 Kings ii. 12; do thaobh Bheniamin am
brathar, Judg. xxi. 6; ag gabhail nan clar chloiche, eadhon chlar a'
cho-cheangail, Deut. ix. 9. The rule seems to have been disregarded when
the leading Noun was in the Dative. See 1 Kings i. 25, Ruth iv. 5, Acts
xiii. 33. {154}
CHAPTER II.
OF GOVERNMENT.
Under this head is to be explained the Government of Nouns, of Adjectives,
of Verbs, of Prepositions, and of Conjunctions.
SECTION I.
OF THE GOVERNMENT OF NOUNS.
One Noun governs another in the Genitive. The Noun governed is always
placed after that which governs it; as, ceann tighe, _the head of a house
or family_; solus na gr['e]ine, _light of the sun_; bainne ghabhar _milk of
goats_.
The Infinitives of Transitive Verbs, being themselves Nouns, (See Part II.
Chap. V. p. 86.) govern in like manner the Genitive of their object; as, ag
cur s[`i]l, _sowing seed_; a dh' fhaicinn an t-sluaigh, _to see the
people_; iar leughadh an t-soisgeil, _after reading the gospel_[105].
Although no good reason appears why this rule, which is common to the
Gaelic with many other languages, should ever be set aside, yet it has been
set aside in speaking, and sometimes in writing Gaelic.
1. When the Noun governed does in its turn govern another Noun in the
Genitive, the former is often put in the Nominative instead of the Genitive
case. The following instances of this anomaly occur in the Gaelic
Scriptures:--Guth briathran an t-sluaigh, instead of, bhriathran, _the
voice of the words of the people_, Deut. v. 28; do mheas craobhan a'
gharaidh, instead of, chraobhan, _of the fruit of the trees of the garden_,
{155} Gen. iii. 2; ag itheadh tighean bhantrach, for thighean, _devouring
widows' houses_, Matt. xxiii. 14; ag nochdadh obair an lagha, for oibre,
_showing the work of the law_, Rom. ii. 15; ag cuimhneachadh gun sgur obair
bhur creidimh, agus saothair bhur graidh, for oibre, saoithreach,
_remembering without ceasing your work of faith, and labour of love_, 1
Thess. i. 3; trid fuil is fearta Chriost, _through the blood and merits of
Christ_, Gael. Paraph. 1787, p. 381, for trid fola Chriost, as in Eph. ii.
13; ag [`a]iteach sliabh Shioin, for sleibh, _inhabiting the hill of Zion_,
Psal. ix. 11. metr; air son obair Chriosd, Phil. ii. 30, 1767, according to
the usage of the language, but changed to oibre, in Edit. 1796, to suit the
Grammatical Rule[106]. For the most part, however, the general rule, even
in these circumstances, is followed; as, guth fola do bhrathar, _the voice
of thy brother's blood_, Gen. iv. 10; amhainn duthcha cloinne a shluaigh
_the river of the land of the children of his people_, Numb. xxii. 5; a'
nigheadh chos sheirbhiseach mo thighearna, _to wash the feet of the
servants of my lord_, 1 Sam. xxv. 41.
2. Such expressions as the following seem to be exceptions to the
rule:--Dithis mac, 2 Sam. xv. 27, 36; ceathrar mac, 1 Chron. xxi. 20;
leanabaibh mac, Matt. ii. 16. In the following similar instances, the rule
is observed:--Dithis mhac, Gen. xli. 50; dithis fhear, 2 Sam. xii. 1;
ceathrar fhear, Acts xxi. 23; ceathrar mhaighdiona, Acts xxi. 9.
The same anomaly takes place in the regimen of the infinitive, as in that
of other Nouns. Though an Infinitive be in that grammatical relation to a
preceding Noun which would require its being put in the Genitive, yet when
itself also governs another noun in the Genitive, it often retains the form
of the Nominative. The Infinitives naomhachadh, gnathachadh, briseadh,
admit of a regular Genitive, naomhachaidh, gnathachaidh, brisidh. In the
following examples, {156} these Infinitives, because they govern a
subsequent Noun in the Genitive, are themselves in the Nominative, though
their relation to the preceding word naturally requires their being put in
the Genitive Case. Tha an treas [`a]ithne a' toirmeasg mi-naomhach_adh_ no
mi-ghnathach_adh_ ni sam bith, &c., _the third commandment forbids the
profaning or the abusing of any thing_, &c. Assem. Cat. Gael. Edin. 1792,
Answer to Q. 55. Ged fheud luchdbris_eadh_ na h-aithne so dol as, &c., id.
Q. 56., _though the transgressors of this commandment may escape_, &c. Cuis
crath_adh_ cinn is cas_adh_ b['e]il, Psal. xxii. 7, as it is in the older
edition of the Gaelic Psalms. An deigh leugh_adh_ an lagha, _after the
reading of the Law_, Acts. xiii. 15; luchd cum_adh_ uilc, Rom. i. 30[107].
The Infinitive is not put in the Genitive, when preceded {157} by a
Possessive Pronoun, because it is in the same limited state as if it
governed a Noun in the Genitive Case; as, a chum am marbh_a_dh 's na
beanntaibh, _to kill them in the mountains_, Exod. xxxii., not marbh_ai_dh,
which is the Case regularly governed by chum. Co tha 'g iarraidh do
mharbh_a_dh? John vii. 20, not do mharbh_ai_dh. Thug iad leo e chum a
cheus_adh_. Matt. xxvii. 31. Chum an cruinneach_adh_ gu cath. Rev. xx.
8[108].
This coincidence in the Regimen of the Infinitive in two similar
situations, viz., when limited by a Possessive Pronoun, and when limited by
a subsequent Noun, furnishes no slight argument in support of the
construction defended above, of putting the Infin. in the Nom. case when
itself governs a Noun in the Genitive; for we find the Infin. is invariably
put in the Nom. when limited in its signification by a Possess. Pronoun.
When one Noun governs another in the Genitive, the Article is never joined
to both, even though each be limited in its signification, as, mac an righ,
_the son of the king_, not am mac an righ; taobh deas a' bhaile, _the south
side of the town_, not an taobh deas a' bhaile[109]. For the most part, the
Article is thus joined to the latter Noun. Sometimes it is joined to the
former Noun; as, an ceann tighe, _the head of the family_; an ceann iuil,
_the pilot_; but in such instances the two Nouns figure as one complex
term, like _paterfamilias_, rather than as two terms. The following
examples, in which the Article is joined to both Nouns, seem to be totally
repugnant to the Gaelic idiom: cuimhneachadh _nan_ c[`u]ig aran _nan_
c[`u]ig m[`i]le, Matt. xvi. 9; _nan_ seachd aran _nan_ ceithir m[`i]le,
Matt. xvi. 10[110].
{158}
A Possessive Pronoun joined to the Noun governed excludes, in like manner,
the Article from the Noun governing; as, barr-iall a bhr[`o]ige, _the
latchet of his shoe_, not am barr-iall a bhr[`o]ige; obair bhur lamh, _the
work of your hands_, not an obair bhur lamh.
The Noun governed is sometimes in the Primary, sometimes in the Aspirated
Form.
Proper Names of the Masculine Gender are in the Aspirated Form; as,
br[`a]thair Dhonuill, _Donald's brother_; uaigh Choluim, _Columba's grave_.
Except when a final and an initial Lingual meet; as, clann Donuill,
_Donald's descendants_; beinn Deirg _Dargo's hill_.
When both Nouns are Appellatives, and no word intervenes between them, the
initial Form of the latter Noun follows, for the most part, that of an
Adjective agreeing with the former Noun. See p. 144.
Thus, d' a gh[`a]radh _f_iona, g' a gh[`a]radh _f_iona, without the
Article, Matt, xx. 1, 2, like do dhuine _m_aith; but do 'n gh[`a]radh
_fh_iona, with the Article _v._ 4, 7, like do 'n duine _mh_aith. So we
should say do 'n ard fhear-_ch_iuil, rather than do 'n ard fhear-_c_iuil,
as in the title of many of the Psalms.
EXCEPT.--If the latter Noun denote an individual of a species, that is, if
it take the Article _a_ before it in English, it is put in the _primary
form_, although the former Noun be feminine; as, s[`u]il caraid, _the eye
of a friend_, not s[`u]il _ch_araid, like s[`u]il _mh_or, duais _f_[`a]idh,
_a prophet's reward_, Matt. x. 4, not duais _fh_[`a]idh, like duais
_mh_[`o]r. Chum maitheanais _p_eacaidh, Acts, ii. 38, signifies _for the
remission of a sin_; rather chum maitheanais _ph_eacaidh _for the remission
of sin_.
{159}
SECTION II.
OF THE GOVERNMENT OF ADJECTIVES.
Adjectives of fulness govern the Genitive; as, l[`a]n uamhainn _full of
dread_, Acts, ix. 6, buidheach beidh, _satisfied with meat_.
The first Comparative takes the Particle na _than_, before the following
Noun; as, ni 's gile na an sneachdadh, _whiter than the snow_, b' fhaide
gach mios na bliadhna, _each month seemed longer than a year_. Smith's
"Ant. Poems," p. 9.
The second Comparative is construed thus: is feairrd mi so, _I am the
better for this_; bu mhisd e am buille sin, _he was the worse for that
blow_; cha truimid a' choluinn a ciall, _the body is not the heavier for
its understanding_.
Superlatives are followed by the Preposition de or dhe _of_; as, am fear a
's [`a]irde dhe 'n triuir, _the man who is tallest of the three_, _the
tallest man of the three_.
SECTION III.
OF THE GOVERNMENT OF VERBS.
A Transitive Verb governs its object in the Nominative or Objective Case;
as, mharbh iad an righ, _they killed the king_; na buail mi, _do not strike
me_. The object is commonly placed after the Verb, but never between the
Verb and its Nominative. [See Part III. Chap. I., Sect. IV.] Sometimes the
object is placed, by way of emphasis, before the Verb; as, mise chuir e
r[`i]s ann am [`a]ite, agus esan chroch e, _me he put again in my place,
and him he hanged_, Gen. xli. 13. An t-each agus a mharcach thilg e 's an
fhairge, _the horse and his rider hath he cast into the sea_, Exod. xv. 1.
Many Transitive Verbs require a Preposition before their object; as, iarr
air Donull, _desire Donald_; labhair ri Donull, _speak to Donald_; leig le
Donull, _let Donald alone_; beannuich do Dhonull, _salute Donald_;
fiosraich de Dhonull, _enquire of Donald_. {160}
Bu _was_, requires the following initial Consonant to be aspirated; as, bu
mhaith dhuit, _it was good for you_; bu chruaidh an gnothuch, _it was a
hard case_; except initial _d_, and _t_ which are not aspirated; as, bu
dual duit, _it was natural for you_; bu trom an eallach, _the burden was
heavy_; bu ghearr a lo, 's bu dubh a sgeul, _short was her course, and sad
was her story_. Smith's "Ant. Poems."
SECTION IV.
OF THE GOVERNMENT OF ADVERBS.
The collocation of Adverbs is for the most part arbitrary.
The Adverbs ro, gle, _very_, are placed before the Adjectives they modify,
and require the following initial Consonant to be aspirated; as, ro bheag,
_very little_; gle gheal, _very white_.
The Negative cha or cho _not_, when followed by a word beginning with a
Labial or Palatal, requires the initial Consonant to be aspirated; as, cha
mh[`o]r e, _it is not great_; cha bhuail mi, _I will not strike_; cha
chuala mi, _I did not hear_; but an initial Lingual remains unaspirated;
as, cha dean mi, _I will not do_; cha tog e, _he will not raise_; cha
soirbhich iad, _they will not prosper_. _N_ is inserted between cha and an
initial Vowel or an aspirated _f_; as, cha n-e, _it is not_; cha
n-['e]igin, _it is not necessary_; cha n-fhaca mi, _I saw not_.
The Negative ni requires _h_ before an initial Vowel; as, ni h-iad, _they
are not_; ni h-eudar, _it may not_.
SECTION V.
OF THE GOVERNMENT OF PREPOSITIONS.
The Proper Prepositions aig, air, &c., govern the Dative; as, aig mo chois,
_at my foot_; air mo laimh, _on my hand_. They are always placed before the
word they govern. The following Prepositions require the Noun governed to
be put in the Aspirated Form, viz., de, do, fuidh, fo, fa, gun, mar, mu, o,
tre. Air sometimes governs the Noun in the Aspirated Form; as, air
bharraibh sgiath na gaoithe, _on the extremities of the {161} wings of the
wind_, Psal. xviii. 10. Gun governs either the Nominative or Dative; as,
gun chrioch, _without end_, Heb. vii. 16; gun ch['e]ill, _without
understanding_, Psal. xxxii. 9; gun chloinn, Gen. xv. 2. Mar, and gus or
gu, when prefixed to a Noun without the Article, usually govern the Dative
case; as, mar nighin, _as a daughter_, 2 Sam. xii. 13; mar amhainn
mh[`o]ir, _like a great river_, Psal. cv. 41; gu cr[`i]ch mo shaoghail
fein, _to the end of my life-time_, Psal. cxix. 33, xlviii. 10. But if the
Article be joined to the Noun, it is governed in the Nominative; as, mar a'
ghrian, _like the sun_, Psal. lxxxix. 36, 37; gus an sruth, _to the
stream_, Deut. iii. 16; gus a' chrioch, _to the end_, Heb. iii. 6, 14.
Eadar governs the Nom.; as, eadar a' chraobh agus a' chlach, _between the
tree and the stone_. Eadar, when signifying _between_, requires the Primary
Form; as, eadar maighstir agus muinntireach, _between a master and a
servant_; when it signifies _both_, it requires the Aspirated Form; as,
eadar shean agus [`o]g, _both old and young_; eadar fheara agus mhnai,
_both men and women_, Acts viii. 12.
The Prepositions as, gus, leis, ris, are used before the Monosyllables an,
am, a'. The corresponding Prepositions a, gu, le, ri, often take an _h_
before an initial Vowel; as, a h-Eirin, _out of Ireland_; gu h-ealamh,
_readily_; le h-eagal, _with fear_.
The Improper Prepositions govern the following Noun in the Genitive; as,
air feadh na t[`i]re, _throughout the land_; an aghaidh an t-sluaigh,
_against the people_; r['e] na h-[`u]ine, _during the time_. It is manifest
that this Genitive is governed by the Noun feadh, aghaidh, r['e], &c.,
which is always included in the Preposition. See Part II. Chap. VII.
Prepositions are often prefixed to a Clause of a sentence; and then they
have no regimen; as, gus am bord a ghiulan, _to carry the table_, Exod.
xxv. 27; luath chum fuil a dhortadh, _swift to shed blood_, Rom. iii. 15.
Edit. 1767; an d['e]igh an obair a chriochnachadh, _after finishing the
work_. {162}
SECTION VI.
OF THE GOVERNMENT OF CONJUNCTIONS.
The Conjunctions agus _and_, no _or_, couple the same Cases of Nouns; as,
air feadh chreagan agus choilltean, _through rocks and woods_; ag reubadh
nam bruach 's nan crann, _tearing the banks and the trees_. When two or
more Nouns, coupled by a Conjunction, are governed in the Dative by a
Preposition, it is usual to repeat the Preposition before each Noun; as,
air fad agus air leud, _in length and in breadth_; 'n an cridhe, 'n an
cainnt, agus 'n am beus, _in their heart, in their speech, and in their
behaviour_.
Co _as_, prefixed to an Adjective, commonly requires the initial consonant
of the Adj. to be aspirated; as, co mhaith, _as good_, co ghrinn, _as
fine_. But sometimes we find co m[`o]r, _as great_, co buan, _as durable_,
&c., without the aspirate. Sometimes the aspirate is transferred from the
Adj. to the Conjunct. as, cho beag, _as little_, for co bheag. In the North
Highlands, an adjective preceded by co is commonly put in the Comparative
form; as, co miosa, _as bad_; co treise, _as strong_.
The Conjunctions mur _if not_, gu, gur _that_, are always joined to the
Negative Mood; as, mur 'eil mi, _if I be not_; gu robh e, _that he was_.
_M_ or _n_ is often inserted, _euphoniae causa_, between gu and an initial
Consonant; viz., _m_ before a Labial, _n_ before a Palatal or Lingual; as,
gu-m faca tu, _that you saw_; gu-n dubhairt iad, _that they said_[111].
The Conjunctions ma _if_, o, o'n _because, since_, are joined to the Pres.
and Pret. Affirmative, and Fut. Subjunctive; as, ma ta e, _if he be_; o'n
tha e, _since he is_; ma bhuail e, _if he struck_; o'n bhuail e, _because
he struck_; ma bhuaileas tu, _if you strike_; o bhitheas sinn, _since we
shall be_.
Na'm, na'n _if_, is joined only to the Pret. Subjunctive. {163} The initial
Consonant of the Verb loses its aspiration after this Conjunction; as, na'm
bithinn, _if I were_; nan tuiteadh a' chraobh, _if the tree should fall_.
Ged _although_, is used before the Present and Preterite Affirmative, the
Fut. Negative, and the Pret. Subjunctive; as, ged tha e, _though he be_;
ged bha mi, _though I was_; ge do bhuail thu mi, _though you struck me_;
ged bhuail thu mi, _though you strike me_; ged bheireadh e dhomh, _though
he should give me_[112].
* * * * * {164}
PART IV.
OF DERIVATION AND COMPOSITION.
CHAPTER I.
OF DERIVATION.
The Parts of Speech which are formed by derivation from other words are
Nouns, Adjectives, and Verbs. These are chiefly derived from Nouns and
Adjectives, and a few from Verbs.
I. NOUNS.
Derivative Nouns may be classed as follows, according to the varieties of
their termination.
1. Abstract Nouns in _as_, formed from Adjectives or Nouns; as, from ceart
_just_, ceartas _justice_; from diomhan _idle, vain_, diomhanas _idleness,
vanity_; from caraid _a friend_, cairdeas contracted for caraideas
_friendship_; from namhaid _an enemy_, naimhdeas contracted for namhaideas
_enmity_.
2. Abstract Nouns in _achd_, formed from Adjectives, and sometimes, though
more rarely, from Verbs and Nouns; as, from naomh _holy_, naomhachd
_holiness_; from domhain _deep_, doimhneachd contracted for domhaineachd
_depth_; from righ _a king_, rioghachd _a kingdom_; coimhid _to keep_,
coimheadachd _keeping_; clachair _a mason_, clachaireachd _mason-work_;
gobhain _a smith_, goibhneachd contracted for gobhaineachd _iron-work_, or
rather _the trade or occupation of a smith_.
3. Abstract Nouns formed from the genitive of Adjectives, by adding _e_;
as, from dall gen. doill _blind_, doille _blindness_; from geal gen. gil
_white_, gile _whiteness_; from leasg gen. leisg _lazy_, leisge _laziness_;
tearc gen. teirc _rare_, teirce _rarity_; trom gen. truim _heavy_, truime
_heaviness_; truagh gen. truaigh _unhappy_, truaighe _misery_; uasal gen.
{165} uasail _noble_, uasaile contr. uaisle or by metath. uailse
_nobility_.
4. Abstract Nouns in _ad_, formed from the Comparative of Adjectives, and
used in speaking of the degree of a quality; as, gilead _whiteness_,
boidhchead _beauty_, doimhnead _depth_, lughad _smallness_, tainead
_thinness_; these are construed with the Prepositions _de_, _air_; as, cha
n-fhaca mi a samhuil air bhoidhchead, _I have not seen her match for
beauty_; air a lughad or d' a lughad, _however small it be_.
5. Nouns in _air_ or _oir_, _ach_, _iche_, derived, most of them, from
nouns, and signifying persons or agents, as, p[`i]obair _a player on the
pipe_, from p[`i]ob _a pipe_; cl[`a]rsair _a player on the harp_, from
cl[`a]rsach _a harp_; cealgair or cealgoir _a deceiver_, from cealg
_deceit_; sealgair or sealgoir _a huntsman_, from sealg _hunting_; marcach
_a rider_, from marc _a horse_; athach _a man of terror, a gigantic
figure_, from atha _fear_; oibriche _a workman_, from obair _work_;
sgeulaiche _a reciter of tales_, from sgeul _a tale_; ceannaiche _a
merchant_, from ceannaich _to buy_[113].
6. Diminutives in _an_, and in _ag_ or _og_, formed from Nouns or
Adjectives; as, lochan _a small lake_, from loch _a lake_; from braid
_theft_, bradag _a thievish girl_; from ciar _dark-coloured_, ciarag _a
little dark-coloured creature_. These Diminutives are often formed from the
Genitive of their Primitives; as, from feur gen. feoir _grass_, feoirnean
_a pile of grass_; moll gen. muill _chaff_, muillean _a particle of chaff_;
folt gen. fuilt _hair_, fuiltean _a single hair_; clag gen. cluig _a bell_,
cluigean _a little bell_; gual gen. guail _coal_, guailnean _a cinder_;
sm[`u]r gen. sm[`u]ir _dust_, sm[`u]irnean _a particle of dust, a mote_;
cl[`o]imh _plumage_, cl[`o]imhneag _a small feather, a flake of snow_.
Some Nouns are formed in _an_, which are not Diminutives; as, from l[`u]b
_to bend_, l[`u]ban _a bow_; from buail _to beat, thresh_, {166} buailtean
_a beater_, or _thresher_, applied to that part of the flail which threshes
out the grain.
7. Collective Nouns in _ridh_ or _ri_, derived from Nouns or Adjectives;
as, from [`o]g _young_, [`o]igridh _youth_, in the collective sense of the
word; from mac _a son_, macruidh _sons, young men_, Psal. cxlviii. 12;[114]
from laoch _a hero_, laochruidh _a band of heroes_, Psal. xxix. 1.
Macfarlan's Paraph. vi. 15, from ceol _music_, ceolraidh _the muses_. A.
Macdonald's Songs, p. 7, from cos the _foot_, coisridh _infantry, a party
on foot_. McIntyre's Songs, Edin. 1768, p. 110, from gas _a lad_, gasradh
_a band of domestic attendants_. O'Brien's Ir. Dict. voc. gas; eachradh,
eachruith _cavalry_, Fingal. IV. 299, Carthon, 59.--This termination is
probably the Noun ruith _a troop_. See Lhuyd et O'Brien, in voc.[115]
8. Nouns in _ach_, chiefly Patronymics, formed from Proper Names, thus;
from Donull _Donald_, is formed Donullach _a man of the name of Macdonald_;
from Griogar _Gregor_, Griogarach _a Macgregor_; so Leodach _a Macleod_,
Granntach _a Grant_, &c., from Albainn _Scotland_, Albannach _a Scotsman_;
from Eirin _Ireland_, Eirineach _an Irishman_. These Nouns form their
Plural regularly, Donullaich, Leodaich, Albannaich, Eirinich. So the
following _Gentile_ Nouns, which occur in the Gaelic Scriptures, are
regularly formed from their respective Primitives, Partuich _Parthians_,
Medich _Medes_, Elamuich _Elamites_, Acts ii. 9. Macedonaich _Macedonians_,
2 Cor. ix. 2, 4. See also Gen. xv. 19, 20, 21; Exod. xxiii. 23, 28.[116].
{167}
9. Collective Nouns in _ach_; as, duille _a leaf_, duilleach _foliage_;
giuthas _fir_, giuthasach _a fir wood_; iughar _yew_, iugharach _a yew
copse_; fiadh _a deer_, fiadhach _deer, a herd of deer_; crion _diminutive,
shrunk_, crionach _decayed wood_.
II. ADJECTIVES.
1. Adjectives in _ach_, formed generally from Nouns; as, from f[`i]rinn
_truth_, f[`i]rinneach _true, faithful_; from sunnt _glee_, sunntach
_cheerful_; cr[`a]dh _pain_, cr[`a]iteach _painful_; togradh _desire_,
togarrach _willing, desirous_.
2. Adjectives in _mhor_ or _or_, derived from Nouns; as, from [`a]dh
_felicity_, adhmhor _happy, blessed_; from feoil _flesh_, feolmhor
_carnal_; from neart _strength_, neartmhor _strong_.
3. Adjectives in _ail_ derived from Nouns; as, from fear _man_, fearail
_manful_; from caraid _a friend_, cairdail contr. for caraidail _friendly_;
from namhaid _an enemy_, naimhdail contr. for namhaidail _hostile_; from
s[`u]rd _alertness_, surdail _alert_[117].
4. A few Adjectives in _ta_ or _da_, derived from Nouns; as, Gaelta
_belonging to the Gael_; Eireanda _Irish_; Romhanta _Roman_; _Kirk._
f[`i]reanta _righteous_, Matt. xxiii. 35.
III. VERBS.
Verbs in _ich_, for the most part Transitive, and implying causation,
derived from Nouns or Adjectives; as, from geal {168} _white_, gealaich _to
whiten_; naomh _holy_, naomhaich _to sanctify_; cruinn _round_, cruinnich
_to gather together_; lamh _the hand_, laimhsich _to handle_; cuimhne
_memory_, cuimhnich _to remember_. A few are Intransitive; as, from crith
_tremor_, criothnuich _to tremble_; fann _feeble_, fannuich _to faint_.
CHAPTER II.
OF COMPOSITION.
All compound words in Gaelic consist of two component parts, exclusive of
the derivative terminations enumerated in the preceding Chapter. Of these
component parts, the former may be conveniently named the Prepositive, the
latter the Subjunctive term. It sometimes happens, though rarely, that the
Subjunctive term also is a compound word, which must itself be decompounded
in order to find out the Root.
In compounding words, the usual mode has been, to prefix to the term
denoting the principal idea the word denoting the accessory idea or
circumstance by which the signification of the principal word is modified.
Accordingly we find Nouns, Adjectives, and Verbs modified by prefixing to
them a Noun, an Adjective, a Verb, or a Preposition.
In forming compound words, a Rule of very general application is, that when
the Subjunctive term begins with a Consonant, it is aspirated. From this
Rule, however, are to be excepted, 1. Words beginning with _s_ followed by
a mute, which never admit the aspirate; 2. Words beginning with a Lingual
when the Prepositive term ends in _n_; 3. A few other instances in which
there is an euphonic agreement between the Consonants thus brought into
apposition, which would be violated if either of them were aspirated.
These observations will be found exemplified in the following Compounds:--
{169}
I. WORDS COMPOUNDED WITH A NOUN PREFIXED.
_Nouns Compounded with a Noun._
Beart _dress, equipage_, ceann _head_--ceann-bheart _head-dress, armour for
the head_.
F[`a]inn _a ring_, cluas _the ear_--cluas-fhainn _an ear-ring_.
Galar _a distemper_, crith _shaking_--crith-ghalar _distemper attended with
shaking, the palsy_.
Oglach _a servant_, bean (in composition, ban) _a woman_--banoglach _a
female servant_.
F[`a]idh _a prophet_, ban-fhaidh _a prophetess_.
Tighearn _a lord_, baintighearn _a lady_.
_Adjectives Compounded with a Noun._
Geal _white_, bian the _skin_--biangheal _white-skinned_.
Lom _bare_, cas the _foot_--caslom _bare-foot_; ceann the _head_--ceannlom
_bare-headed_.
Biorach _pointed, sharp_, cluas the _ear_--cluasbhiorach _having pointed
ears_.
_Verbs Compounded with a Noun._
Luaisg _to rock_ or _toss_, tonn _a wave_--tonn-luaisg _to toss on the
waves_.
Sleamhnuich _to slide_, c[`u]l the _back_--c[`u]l-sleamhnuich _to
back-slide_.
Folaich _to hide_, feall _deceit_--feall-fholaich _to lie in wait_.
II. WORDS COMPOUNDED WITH AN ADJECTIVE PREFIXED.
_Nouns Compounded with an Adjective._
Uisge _water_, fior _true, genuine_--fioruisge _spring-water_.
Airgiod _silver_, beo _alive_--beo-airgiod _quick-silver_.
Sgolt _a crack_, crion _shrunk, decayed_--crionsgolt _a fissure in wood
caused by drought or decay_.
Criochan _bounds, regions_, garbh _rough_--garbhchriochan _rude mountainous
regions_. {170}
_Adjectives Compounded with an Adjective._
Donn _brown_, dubh _black_--dubh-dhonn _dark-brown_.
Gorm _blue_, dubh _black_--dubh-ghorm _dark-blue_.
Briathrach (not in use) from briathar _a word_, deas
_ready_--deas-bhriathrach _of ready speech, eloquent_.
Seallach (not in use) from sealladh _sight_, geur _sharp_--geur-sheallach
_sharp-sighted_.
_Verbs Compounded with an Adjective._
Ruith _to run_, dian _keen, eager_--dian-ruith _to run eagerly_.
Lean _to follow_, geur _sharp, severe_--geur-lean _to persecute_.
Buail _to strike_, trom _heavy_--trom-buail _to smite sore, discomfit_.
Ceangail _to bind_, dl[`u]th _closer_--dl[`u]th-cheangail _to bind fast_.
III. WORDS COMPOUNDED WITH A VERB PREFIXED.
Art _a stone_, tarruing _to draw_--tarruing-art _load-stone_.
S[`u]il _the eye_, meall _to beguile_--meall-shuil _a leering eye_.
IV. WORDS COMPOUNDED WITH A PREPOSITION.
Radh _a saying_, roimh _before_--roimh-radh _preface, prologue_.
Solus _light_, eadar _between_--eadar-sholus _twilight_.
M[`i]nich _to explain_, eadar-mh[`i]nich _to interpret_.
Gearr _to cut_, timchioll _about_--timchioll-ghearr _circumcise_.
Lot _to wound_, troimh _through_--troimh-lot _to stab, pierce through_.
Examples of words compounded with an inseparable Preposition are already
given in Part II. Chap. VII.
Compound Nouns retain the gender of the principal Nouns in their simple
state. Thus crith-ghalar _palsy_, is masculine, because the principal Noun,
Galar _distemper_, is masculine, although the accessary Noun crith, by
which galar is qualified, be feminine. So c[`i]s-mhaor is masculine though
c[`i]s be a feminine Noun, Luke xviii. 11; c[`i]s-mheasadh ought also to be
masculine, Acts v. 37. Except Nouns compounded with {171} Bean _woman_,
which are all feminine, though the simple principal Noun be masculine,
because the compound word denotes an object of the female sex; as, oglach
_a servant_, masculine, but banoglach _a maid-servant_, feminine, caraid _a
friend_, masculine, bancharaid _a female friend_, feminine.
Compound words are declined in the same manner as if they were
uncompounded.
In writing compound words, the component parts are sometimes separated by a
hyphen, and sometimes not. The use of the hyphen does not seem to be
regulated by any uniform practice. In the case of two vowels coming in
apposition, the insertion of a hyphen seems indispensable; because, by the
analogy of Gaelic orthography, two Vowels, belonging to different
syllables, are scarcely ever placed next to each other without some mark of
separation[118]. Thus so-aomaidh, _easily induced_, _propense_;
so-iomchair, _easily carried_; do-innsidh, _difficult to be told_; and not
soamaidh, doinnsidh, &c., without the hyphen.
It was formerly remarked, Part I., that almost all Gaelic Polysyllables are
accented on the first syllable. When, in pronouncing compound words, the
accent is placed on the first syllable, the two terms appear to be
completely incorporated into one word. When, on the other hand, the accent
is placed, not on the first syllable of the Compound, but on the first
syllable of the Subjunctive term, the two terms seem to retain their
respective powers, and to produce their effect separately, and instead of
being incorporated into one word, to be rather collaterally connected. A
rule may then be derived from the pronunciation for the use of the hyphen
in writing Compounds, viz., to insert the hyphen between the component
parts, when the Prepositive term is not accented. Thus it is proposed to
write aineolach _ignorant_, antromaich _to exaggerate_, comhradh
_conversation_, dobheart _a bad action_, {172} soisgeul _Gospel_, banoglach
_a maidservant_, &c., without a hyphen; but to write an-fhiosrach
_unacquainted_, ban-fhiosaiche _a female fortune-teller_, co-fhreagarach
_corresponding_, so-fhaicsin _easily seen_, &c., with a hyphen[119]. By
this rule, a correspondence is maintained, not only between the writing and
the pronunciation, but likewise between the written language and the ideas
expressed by it. A complex idea, whose parts are most closely united in the
mind, is thus denoted by one undivided word; whereas an idea composed of
parts more loosely connected, is expressed by a word, whereof the component
parts are distinguished, and exhibited separately to the eye. Thus also the
Gaelic scholar would have one uniform direction to follow in reading, viz.,
to place the accent always on the first syllable of an undivided word, or
member of a word. If any exception be allowed, it must be only in the case
already stated of two vowels coming in apposition, as beo-airgiod
_quicksilver_.
Let it be observed that, according to this rule, an Adjective preceding a
Noun can never, but in the case just mentioned, be connected with it by a
hyphen. For if the accent be wholly transferred from the Noun to the
Adjective, then they are to be written as one undivided word; as,
garbhchriochan _highlands_; but if the accent be not so transferred, the
Adjective and the Noun are to be written as two separate words; as, seann
duine _an old man_, deagh chomhairle _good advice_, droch sgeul _a bad
tale_.
It not unfrequently happens that two Nouns, whereof the one qualifies the
meaning of the other, and connected by the common grammatical relation of
the one governing the other in the Genitive, come through use to be
considered as denoting only one complex object. The two Nouns in this case
are sometimes written together in one word, and thus form a Compound of a
looser structure than those which have been considered. Such are
ceann-cinnidh, _the head of a tribe or {173} clan_; ceann-tighe, _the head
of a family_; ceann-feadhna, _the leader of an army_; fear-turnis, _a
traveller_; luchd-faire, _watchmen_; iobairt-pheacaidh, _a sin-offering_;
urlar-bualaidh, _a threshing-floor_; fear-bainse, _a bridegroom_;
crith-thalmhain, _an earth-quake_; crios-guailne, _a shoulder-belt_, &c. In
writing Compound Nouns of this description, the two Nouns are never written
in one undivided word, but always separated by a hyphen. It comes to be a
question, however, in many instances of one Noun governing another in the
Genitive, whether such an expression is to be considered as a compound
term, and the words to be connected by a hyphen in writing, or whether they
are to be written separately, without any such mark of composition. An
observation that was made in treating of the Government of Nouns may help
us to an answer, and furnish an easy rule in the case in question. It was
remarked that when one Noun governed another in the Genitive, the Article
was never joined to both; that for the most part, it was joined to the Noun
governed, but sometimes to the Noun governing, that in the latter case, the
two Nouns seemed to figure as one compound term, denoting one complex idea.
If this last remark hold true, it may be laid down as a rule that in every
instance of a Noun governing another in the Genitive, where the Article is
or may be prefixed to the _governing Noun_, there the two Nouns ought to be
connected by a hyphen in writing; otherwise not. Thus we can say, without
impropriety, an ceann-feadhna, _the commander_; an luchd-coimhid, _the
keepers_; and the Nouns are accordingly considered as Compounds, and
written with a hyphen. But it would be contrary to the usage of the
language to say, am mullach craige, _the top of a rock_; an t-uachdar
talmhain, _the surface of the ground_. Accordingly it would be improper to
write a hyphen between the Nouns in these and similar examples.
The different effects of these two modes of writing, with or without the
hyphen, is very observable in such instances as the following:--Ainm
d[`u]thcha, _the name of a country_, as Scotland, Argyle, &c.;
ainm-d[`u]thcha, _a country name_, or {174} _patronymic_, as Scotsman,
Highlander, &c.; clann Donuill, _Donald's children_; clann-Donuill, _the
Macdonalds_.
Though few have exerted themselves hitherto in explaining the structure of
the Gaelic language, in respect of its inflections, construction, and
collocation, this cannot be said to be the case with regard to Etymology.
Much has been attempted, and something has been done, toward analysing
single vocables, particularly names of places. But this analysis seems to
have been too often made rather in a way of random conjecture than by a
judicious regard to the analogy of Derivation and Composition. The passion
for analysing has even induced some to assert that all true Gaelic
Primitives consist of but one syllable, that all Polysyllables are either
derived or compounded, and therefore that there is room to search for their
etymon. This seems to be carrying theory too far. It appears a fruitless
and rather chimerical attempt to propose a system of directions by which
all Polysyllables whatever may be resolved into component parts, and traced
to a root of one syllable. All I have thought it necessary to do is to
methodize and exemplify those general principals of Etymology which are
obvious and unquestioned, and which regulate the composition and derivation
of those classes of words whereof the analysis may be traced with some
probability of success.
* * * * *
{175}
EXERCISES IN READING, EXPLAINING, AND ANALYZING.
* * * * *
_From an Address to the Soldiers of a Highland Regiment_, by D. SMITH, M.D.
Theid an deadh shaighdear gu h-aobhach suilbhear an d[`a]il gach tuiteamais
a thig 'n a chrannchur. Ach 's e a's n[`o]s do 'n droch shaighdear a bhi
gearan 's a' talach air gach l[`a]imh; beadaidh ri l[`i]nn socair, is
diombach ann eiric caoimhneis; lag-chridheach ri h-am cruachais, agus
d[`i]blidh ri h-uchd feuma.
_In English._
The good soldier will advance, with spirit and cheerfulness, to any service
that falls in his way. But it is the practice of the bad soldier to be
complaining and grumbling on all occasions; saucy in time of ease, and
peevish in return for kindness; faint-hearted under hardships, and feeble
in encountering exigency.
_Analysis._
_Theid._ 3. per. sing. Fut. Affirm, of the irregular Verb _Rach_, go.
_An._ Nom. sing. of the Article _an_, the.
_Deadh._ An indeclinable Adjective, always placed before its Noun.
_Shaighdear._ Nom. sing. of the mas. noun _saighdear_, a soldier, in the
aspirated form, because preceded by the Adj. _deadh_. Gram. p. 145. {176}
_Gu._ A proper Preposition, to, for.
_Aobhach._ An Adject. of the first Declension, joyous, having an _h_ before
it, because preceded by the Prep. _gu_. Gram. p. 161. _Gu h-aobhach_,
joyfully, cheerfully, an adverbial phrase. Gram. p. 109.
_Suilbhear._ An Adject. cheerful. _Gu_ is to be supplied from the former
phrase; _gu suilbhear_, cheerfully, an adverbial phrase.
_An d[`a]il._ An improper Preposition, to meet, to face, to encounter; made
up of the proper Prep. _ann_, in, and the Noun _d[`a]il_, meeting. Gram. p.
121.
_Gach._ An indeclinable Adj. Pronoun, each, every.
_Tuiteamais._ Gen. sing. of the mas. Noun _tuiteamas_, an occurrence,
accident, governed in the Gen. case by the improp. Prep. _an d[`a]il_
(Gram. p. 161), derived from the Verb _tuit_. Infinitive _tuiteam_, to
fall, befal.
_A._ Nom. sing. Relative Pronoun, who, which.
_Thig._ Fut. Affirm. of the irregular Verb _thig_, come.
_'N._ Contracted for _ann_, a proper Prep., in.
_A._ Possessive Pronoun, his.
_Chrannchur._ Mas. Noun, a lot; governed in the Dat. by the Prep. _ann_; in
the aspirated form after the adject. Pron. _a_, 'his'--compounded of
_crann_, a lot, and _cur_, casting, the Infinitive of the Verb _cuir_, to
put, cast.
_Ach._ Conjunction, but. Hebr. [Hebrew: AD].
_'S._ for _is_, Pres. Indic. of the Verb _is_, I am. _'S e a 's_ it is
[that] which is.
_N[`o]s._ Noun mas., custom, habit.
_Do._ Prep. to.
_An._ the article, the.
_Droch._ indeclinable Adject. bad; always placed before its Noun.
_Shaighdear._ mas. Noun, soldier; governed in the Dative by the Prep. _do_;
in the aspir. form after the Adject. _droch_. {177}
_A bhi._ for _do bhi_ or _do bhith_, Infinit. of the irregular Verb _bi_,
to be.
_Gearan._ Infin. of the obsolete Verb _gearain_, to complain, _ag_ being
understood; _ag gearan_ equivalent to a present Participle, complaining.
Gram. p. 86.
_'S._ for _agus_, conjunction, and.
_A' talach._ for _ag talach_, complaining, repining; Infin. of the obsolete
Verb _talaich_, to complain of a thing or person.
_Air._ Prep. on.
_Gach._ Adject. Pron. indeclin. each, every.
_L[`a]imh._ dat. sing. of the fem. Noun _l[`a]mh_, a hand; governed in the
Dat. by the Prep. _air_, on. _Air gach l[`a]imh_, on every hand.
_Beadaidh._ Adject. nice, fond of delicacies, saucy, petulant.
_Ri._ Prep. to, at.
_L[`i]nn._ Noun fem. an age, period, season. _Ri l[`i]nn_, during the time
of any event, or currency of any period; _ri l[`i]nn Fhearghuis_, in the
time, or reign of Fergus; _gu faigheamaid s[`i]th r' ar l[`i]nn_, that we
may have peace in our time.
_Socair._ Noun fem., ease, conveniency; governed in the Gen. by the Noun
_l[`i]nn_.
_Is._ for _agus_, Conjunct. and.
_Diombach_, or _di[`u]mach_. Adject. displeased, indignant; derived from
the Noun _diom_ or _di[`u]m_, indignation.
_Ann._ Prep. governing the Dat. in.
_Eiric._ Noun femin., requital, compensation; governed in the Dat. by the
Prep. _ann_.
_Caoimhneis._ Gen. sing. of the mas. Noun _caoimhneas_, kindness; governed
in the Gen. by the noun _eiric_, derived from the Adject. _caomh_, gentle,
kind.
_Lag-chridheach._ Adject. faint-hearted; compounded of the Adject. _lag_,
weak, and _cridhe_, the heart.
_Ri._ Prep. to, at. {178}
_Am._ Noun masc., time; governed in the Dat. case by the Prep. _ri_, and
preceded by _h_. Gram. p. 161.
_Cruachais._ Gen. sing. of the mas. Noun _cruachas_, hardship, strait;
governed in the Gen. by the noun _am_; compounded of the Adject. _cruaidh_,
hard, and _c[`a]s_, danger, extremity.
_Agus._ Conjunct., and.
_D[`i]blidh._ Adject., feeble, silly.
_Uchd._ Noun mas. breast, chest; hence it signifies an ascent, a steep; in
the Dat. case, preceded by _h_, after the Prep. _ri_: _ri h-uchd_, in
ascending, breasting, encountering, assailing.
_Feuma._ Gen. sing. of the Noun mas. _feum_, necessity, exigency; governed
in the Gen. by the Noun _uchd_.
* * * * *
_Extract from an old Fingalian Tale or Legend._
Dh' imich Garbh mac Stairn agus Dual a dh' fhaicinn Fhinn agus a threun
fheara colgach, iomraiteach ann an gniomharaibh arm. Bha Fionn 's an [`a]m
sin 'n a thigheadas samhraidh am Buchanti. 'N an turus d'a ionnsuidh, ghabh
iad beachd air gach gleann agus faoin mhonadh, air gach allt agas caol
choirean. Ghabh iad sgeul de gach coisiche agus gach fear a thachair 'n an
c[`o]ir. Ann an gleann nan cuach agus nan lon, chunnaic b[`u]th taobh
sruthain; chaidh a steach, dh' iarr deoch; dh' eirich ribhinn a b' aluinne
snuadh a dh' fh[`a]ilteachadh an turuis le s[`i]th. Thug i biadh dhoibh r'a
itheadh, dibhe ri [`o]l; dh' iarr an sgeul le cainnt thl[`a]. Bhuail gaol o
a s[`u]il an Garbh borb, agus dh' innis cia as doibh. "Thainig sinn o
th[`i]r nan crann, far an lionor sonn--mac righ Lochlainn mise--m' ainm
Garbh na'm b' aill leat--esan Dual, o th[`i]r nam beann, a thuinich ann
Albainn o thuath--a ghabhail cairdeis gun sg[`a]th agus aoidheachd o 'n
[`a]rd righ Fionn, sud f[`a]th ar turuis a Chiabh na maise--ciod am bealach
am buail sinn? seol ar cos gu teach Fhinn, bi dhuinn mar i[`u]l, is gabh
duais." "Duais {179} cha do ghabh mi riamh, ars an nighean bu bhl[`a]ithe
s[`u]il 's bu deirge gruaidh; cha b' e sud [`a]bhaist Theadhaich nam beann
['e]ilde, 'g am bu lionor d[`a]imheach 'n a thalla, 'g am bu tric tathaich
o thuath--ni mise dhuibh i[`u]l." Gu gleann-s[`i]th tharladh na fir; gleann
an tric guth feidh is loin; gleann nan glas charn is nan scor; gleann nan
sruth ri uisg is gaoith. Thachair orra buaghar bho, is rinn dhoibh i[`u]l;
thug dhoibh sgeul air duthaich nan creag, air fir agus air mnaibh, air
f[`a]s shliabh agus charn, air neart feachd, air rian nan arm, air miann
sloigh, agus craobhthuinidh nam Fiann.
_In English._
Garva the son of Starno and Dual, went to visit Fingal and his brave
warriors, renowned for feats of arms. Fingal was at that time in his summer
residence at Buchanti. On their journey thither, they took a view of every
valley and open hill, every brook and narrow dell. They asked information
of every passenger and person that came in their way. In the glen of
cuckoos and ouzles they observed a cottage by the side of a rivulet. They
entered; asked drink, a lady of elegant appearance arose and kindly bade
them welcome. She gave the food to eat, liquor to drink. In mild speech she
inquired their purpose. Love from her eye smote the rough Garva, and he
told whence they were. "We are come from the land of Pines, where many a
hero dwells--the son of Lochlin's king am I--my name is Garva, be pleased
to know--my comrade is Dual, from the land of hills, his residence is in
the north of Albion. To accept the hospitality and confidential friendship
of the mighty prince Fingal, this is the object of our journey, O Lady
fair[120]; say, by what pass shall we shape our course? Direct our steps to
the mansion of Fingal, be our guide, and accept a reward." "Reward I never
took," said the damsel of softest eye and rosiest cheek; "such was not the
manner of [my father] Tedaco of the hill of hinds; {180} many were the
guests in his hall, frequent his visitors from the North,--I will be your
guide." The chiefs reach Glenshee, where is heard the frequent voice of
deer and elk; glen of green mounts and cliffs; glen of many streams in time
of rain and wind. A keeper of cattle met them, and directed their course.
He gave the information concerning the country of rocks; concerning its
inhabitants male and female; the produce of moor and mount; the military
force, the fashion of the armour; the favourite pursuits of the people; and
the pedigree of the Fingalians.
* * * * *
_Extract from Bishop_ CARSUEL'S _Gaelic translation of the
Confession of Faith, Forms of Prayer, &c., used in the Reformed
Church of Scotland_; Printed in the year 1567.
(_From the Epistle Dedicatory._)