SEOSAMH WATSON COLLECTION NOTEBOOK
DATE: 8 July 1983
INFORMANT: JOHN (JACK) A. COLLINS (70s yrs.)
SOUTHWEST MARGAREE
Notes: JAC retired teacher; interested in Irish language, had visited Dublin and purchased Dinneen’s dictionary in Hodges Figgis bookshop). Tendency to correct pronunciation of sr- from [str-] to [sr-]. Both he and brother [name?] fluent, competent Gaelic-speakers. Informant and bro. illustrate how Irish surnames (as also Dunne, Farrell, Coady) are to be encountered among the last surviving Gaelic-speakers in Cape Breton. Many more have Irish family heritage on their mothers’ and grandmothers’ side. Their Irish forebears would often have come from Louisbourg or across from Newfoundland.
A
| abhainn n. | [˻ɑu˼i̯ɲ] ‘river’: gen. sg. aibhne [˻øi˼nə]; pl. aibhnichean, na h-aibhnichean [nə h˻øi˼niçən]. |
|---|---|
| acaire n. | ‘acre’: gen. pl. mòran acraichean do dh’fhearann. |
| achadh n. | ‘field’: tha ’n t-achadh sin [ha n tʰaxə ʃin] lom. |
| aig prep. | ‘at’: pron. 1sg.: don bhean agam [akəm], emph. agamsa [akəmsə]; 2sg. agad [akət]; 3sg.m. aige [ɛk ́ə], emph. aige-san [ɛk ́əsən]; 3sg. f. aice [ɛçk ́ə], emph. aice-se [ɛçk ́əʃə]; 1pl. againn [akiɲ], emph. againne [akiɲə]; 2pl. agaibh [akiv], emph. agaibhse [akivʃə]; 3pl. do na mnathan aca [axkə], emph. aca-san [axkəsən]. |
| aingeal n. | [æŋ ́k ́əʁ̫] ‘angel’: pl. ~glaichean [æŋ ́k ́ʁ̫içən], ainglean [æŋ ́k ́əliçən]. |
| air prep. | ‘on’: pron. 1sg. orm: choimhead e orm [xɔ̃ı̃t ɛ ɔrɔ̀m], emph. orm-sa [ɔrɔ̀msə]; 2sg. ort [ɔɽʂʈ] emph ort-sa [ɔɽʂʈsə]; 3sg.m. air [ɛŕ], emph. air-sean [ɛɽʂən]; 3sg.f. oirre [ɔrə], emph. oirre-se [ɔrəʃə]; 1pl. oirnn [ɔ:ɽɲ], emph. oirnne [ɔ:ɽɲə]; 2pl. oirbh [ɔrìv], emph. oirbhse [ɔrìvʃə]; 3pl. orra [ɔrə], emph. orra-san [ɔrəsən]. |
| àite n. | ‘place’: thàinig mi às àiteadh eile. |
| allt n. | [˻au˼ɫ̥t] ‘stream’: pl. alltan [˻au˼ʁ̫̊tən]. |
| an prep. | ‘in’: rel. anns: an cnoc anns a bheil mi [auns ə vɛl mi]; pron. 1sg. annam [anəm], emph. annam-sa [aumsə]; 2sg. annad [anət], emph. [aunət]; 3sg. m. ann [aun]; 3sg. f. innte [i:ɲʤə]; 1pl. annainn [aniɲ]; 2pl. annaibh [aniv]; 3pl. annta [aunt] / anntaibh [auntiv] |
| Anna pers. n. | [amə] ‘Ann’. |
| aodach n. | [ɯ:təx] ‘clothing’: aodach nan daoine. |
| ar poss. adj. 1pl. | ‘our’: ar n-athair [ər nɑhər ́]. |
| arm n. | [aràm] ‘army’. |
| às prep. | ‘out of, from’: pron. 1sg. asam [asəm], emph. asam-sa [asəmsə]; 2sg. asad [asət]; 3sg. f. [aʃʧə], emph. [aʃʧəsə]; 1pl. asainn [asiɲ]; 2pl. asaibh [asiv]; 3pl. asta [astə]. |
B
| bainis n.f. | ‘wedding feast’: gen. sg, bainse, latha na bainse [ʁ̫a nə p˻ãĩ˼ʃə] pl. bainsean [p˻ãĩ˼ʃən]. |
|---|---|
| ban-rìogh n. | [p˻au˼nri:ɣ] ‘queen’: pl. ban-rìoghan [p˻au˼nri:ɣən]. |
| beag adj. | ‘small’: do dhuine beag [tə ɣuɲə pek]; m. gen. sg. bhig, taigh an duine bhig [ən duɲə vik ́]; f. gen. sg. bheag, taigh na caillich bheag [nə kʰaʎiç vek]; eireaball na nathair bheag [nə nahir ́ vek]. |
| bean n.f. | ‘wife’: don bhean agam [tən vɛn akəm]; pl. mnathan: do na mnathan aca [tə nə mrãhən axkə]. |
| beathach n. | ‘animal’: pl. beathean [pɛhən]. |
| beinn n.f. | ‘mountain’: gen. sg. na bainneadh [nə peɲəɣ]; pl. beinnean [peɲən]. |
| bi vb. | ‘be’: pres. dep. bheil: an cnoc anns a bheil mi [auns ə vɛl mi]; past. dep. robh: an cnoc far an robh mi [far ən ro mi]. |
| bliadhna n. | ‘year’: pl.: bliadhnaichean [pl˻iə˼niçən]. |
C
| cailleach n. f. | ‘old woman’: gen. sg. taigh na caillich bheag [nə kʰaʎiç vek]; pl. cailleachan. |
|---|---|
| càirdeach adj. | ‘related’: tha esan càirdeach rium [ha ɛsən kʰa:ɽsʧ̨ə [sic] ri̯um]; fear [fɛr] càirdeach ‘relative’. |
| caol n. | ‘narrow[ing of leg/ arm (?)]: an caol [əŋ kʰɯ:ʁ̫]. |
| caraid n. | ‘friend’: pl.: caraidean [kʰariʧən]. |
| cat n. | ‘cat’: an cat [əŋ kʰaht]. |
| ceann n. | [k ́ʰ˻ɛu˼n] ‘head’: ceann a’ choin; pl. cinn [k ́ʰi:ɲ] cinn nan coin. |
| cearc tomain n. | [k ́ʰar̥kh tʰomɛɲ] ‘partridge’. |
| ceàrdach n. | [k ́ʰɛ:ɽʂʈəx] ‘smithy, forge’: pl. ceàrdaich [k ́ʰ́ɛ:ɽʂʈiç]. |
| cha | SEE creid. |
| cho advb. | [xo] ‘as’: cho mòr. |
| clach n.f. | [kʰʁ̫ax] ‘stone’: gen. sg. clach, truimead na clach [kʰʁ̫ax], cruas na claicheadh [nə kʰʁ̫ai̯çəɣ]. |
| cliath n. | ‘wooden frame’: pl. cliathan [kʰl˻iə˼-ən]; also clèith [kʰle:i]̯. |
| cnàmh | [kʰrã:v]. ‘bone’: pl. cnàmhan [kʰrã:-ũn] / cnàimh [kʰr˻ãĩ˼v]. |
| cnàmhadh | ‘pain’: an cnàmhadh [əŋ kʰrã:vəɣ]; Ò Dhia an cnàmhadh a tha anns na glùinean agam! |
| cnoc n. | ‘hill’: ’s e siud an cnoc [ʃit əŋ kʰrɔ̃xk]. |
| coille n. | [kʰøʎə] ‘wood[land]’: dat. sg. anns a’ choille [˻au˼ns ə xøʎə]. |
| coimhead vb. | ‘look’: past choimhead e orm [x˻ɔ̃ı̃˼t ɛ ɔrɔ̀m] leis an t-sùilmhòr. |
| coimhears(t)nach n. | ‘neighbour’: [kʰ˻ɔ̃ĩ˼-əɽʂʈnəx]; pl. coimhearsnaich [kʰ˻ɔ̃ĩ˼-əɽʂʈniç]. |
| coinneal n. | [kʰøɲəʁ̫] ‘candle’: pl. coinnealan [kʰøɲəʁ̫ ən] / coinnleachan (?) [kʰ˻ø̃ ı̯̃˼-əxən] / coinnlean [kʰ˻ø̃ĩ˼ʎən]. |
| crann n. | ‘plough’: pl. croinn [kʰr˻øi˼ɲ]. |
| craobh n. | ‘tree’: pl. craobhan [kʰrɯ:vən]. |
| creid vb. | ‘believe’: fut. dep. cha chreid mi e [xa xrɛʧ mi ɑ] mur (‘unless’) faic mi e. |
| crìoch n. | [kʰr˻i·ə˼x] ‘end’: crìoch na litir [ʎiʧər ́]; pl. crìochan. |
| cruas n. | [kʰr˻uə˼s] ‘hardness’: cruas na claicheadh. |
| cruimh n. | [kʰrøi̯v] ‘maggot’: pl. cruimhean [kʰrøi̯vən]. |
| cù n.m. | ‘dog’: gen. sg. ceann a’ choin [k ́ʰ˻ɛu˼n ə xɔɲ]: pl. trì choin [tʰri: xɔɲ]; gen. pl. cinn nan coin [k ́ʰi:ɲ nəŋ kʰɔɲ] (informant uncertain of response.) |
| cuirm n. | [kʰurìm] ‘party’. |
| cumhaingead n. | [kʰui̯ŋ ́k ́ət] ‘narrowness’. |
| cumhang adj. | ‘narrow’: cpv. nas cumhainge [nas kʰu-iŋ ́k ́]. |
D
| dath n. | [ta] ‘colour’: dath na sùil mhòr [ta nə su:l võ:r]. |
|---|---|
| de prep. | ‘of’: pron. 3pl.: dhiubh, ’s e as sine dhiubh [ʃɛ əs ʃi:nə ju]. |
| dèan vb. | ‘do’: fut. dep. an dèan thu sin? [əɲ ʤ˻ia˼n u ʃin]; cha dèan [xa ʧ˻ia˼n] esan / iadsan. |
| deoch n. | ‘drink’: pl. deochan [ʧɔxən]. |
| Dia n. | ‘God’: Ò Dhia! an cnàmhadh a tha anns na glùinean agam. |
| do prep. | [tə] ‘to’: do dhuine beag [tə ɣuɲə pek]; mòran acraichean do dh’fhearann; with art. sg.: don bhean [tən vɛn] agam; with art. pl.: do na mnathan aca [tə nə mrãhən]. |
| domhain adj. | [tohiɲ] ‘deep’; cpv. nas doimhne [nas t˻øi˼ɲə]. |
| Dòmhnall pers. n. | ‘Dan’: gen. taigh Dhòmhnaill [tʰøi̯ ɣõ:hiʎ]. |
| dorcha adj. | [tɔrɤ̀xə] ‘dark’: cpv. nas dorcha. |
| druim n. | ‘back’: gen. sg. droma [tromə]. |
| dubh adj. | ‘black’: supltv. bu duibhe. |
| duine n. | ‘man, person’: do dhuine beag [tə ɣuɲə pek]; gen. sg. taigh an duine bhig [ən duɲə vik ́]; pl. daoine ‘people’, gen. pl. aodach nan daoine [nən dɯ:ɲə]. |
E
| e | SEE faigh. |
|---|---|
| eabar n. | ‘mud’. |
| eagal n. | [ɛkəʁ̫] ‘fear’: le eagal ‘in case’; eagal am beatha [ɛkəʁ̫ əm bɛhə] / [bɛhɛ] |
| eireaball n. | ‘tail’: eireaball [ɛrɤ̀pəʁ̫] / [urùpəʁ̫] na nathair bheag. |
| Eoghain pers. n. | [ɛu̯-an ́] ‘Hugh’. |
| esan pron. 3sg, m. emph. | [ɛsən]: cha dèan esan. |
F
| faic vb. | ‘see’: fut.: chì thu / thusa e [çi: u / usəɣ ɑ]; fut. dep.: mun faic mise e [mɤn fai̯çk miʃəɣ ɑ]; cha chreid mi e mur faic mi e [mɤr fai̯çk mi ɑ]. |
|---|---|
| faigh vb. | ‘get’: fut. dep. mum faigh mis’ e! [mɤm fai̯ miʃ ɑ]. |
| far pron. rel. | ‘where’: an cnoc far an robh mi [far ən ro mi]. |
| fearann n. | [fɛrən] ‘land’; mòran acraichean do dh’fhearann. |
| fiadh n. | [f˻iə˼ɣ] ‘deer’: pl. fèidh [fe:i̯]. |
| fiodh n. | [fiɣ] ‘wood [material]’: gen. fiodh, bòrd fiodh. |
| fuaim n. | ‘sound’: pl. fuaimean [f˻uə˼i̯mən]. |
| fuaran n. | [f˻uə˼ran] ‘well’ (alternative term to tobair) : pl. fuarain [f˻uə˼rɛɲ]. |
G
| gàirdean n. | [ka:ɽʂʈʆən] ‘arm’. |
|---|---|
| gaoth n. | ‘wind’: pl. gaothan [kɯ:hən]. |
| gèadh n. | [k ́˻ia·˼ɣ] ‘goose’: pl. geòidh [k ́ɛ-˻oi˼]. |
| gèadh n. | ‘goose’: an gèadh [əŋ ɡ ́˻ia˼ɣ]. |
| geall n. | [k ́˻ɛu˼ʁ̫] ‘promise’: pl. geallichean [k ́˻ɛu˼ʁ̫içən]. |
| geamhradh n. | ‘winter’: pl. geamhraichean [k ́˻ãũ˼riçən]. |
| glac vb. | [kɫɑxk] ‘take’: ipv. 2sg. glac [ʃin] sin! |
| gleann n. | ‘valley’: pl. glinn [kli:ɲ]. |
| gloinne n. | ‘glass’: pl. gloinneachan [kɫɔɲəxən]. |
| glùin n. | ‘knee’: Ò Dhia! an cnàmhadh a tha anns na glùinean agam. |
| gob n. | [kɔp] ‘beak’: pl. goban [kɔpən]. |
| greim n. | ‘bite, grip’: pl. greimean [kr˻øi˼mən]. |
I
| iad pron. 3pl. | tha iad [˻i:a˼t] a’ dol. (Stressed form?) iadsan [˻iətsən˼] pron. 3pl. emph.: cha dèan iad; tha iad a’ dol. |
|---|---|
| ise pron. 3sg. f. emph. | tha ise [iʃəɣ] a’ dol. |
L
| làmh [ʁ̫ã:v] n.f. | ‘hand’: dat. sg. na làimh [ɫ˻ãĩ˼v]; pl. làmhan , na ~ [nə ʁ̫ã:hun]. |
|---|---|
| lampa n. | ‘lamp’: pl. ~aichean. |
| le prep. | ‘with, by’: le ~ eagal ‘in case’; pron. 1sg. leam [ʎ˻øu˼m]; 2sg. leat [ʎɛht]; 3sg. m. leis [lɛʃ]: dh’fhalbh e ~ [ɣɔɫàv a lɛʃ]; 1pl. leinn [ʎi:ɲ] (rinn [ri:ɲ] also given); 2pl. leibh [l ́i:v] (sic); 3pl. emph. leotha-san [l ́ɛhɔ̝ sən]. |
| leaba [ʎɛpə] n. | ‘bed’: gen. ~dh [ʎɛpəɣ], aodach [ɯ:təx] ~dh ; pl. ~ichean [ʎɛpiçən]. |
| leacann (lethcheann) [ʎɛxkən] n. | ‘cheek’. |
| leas n. | : cha ruig thu ~ [ha rui̯k ́ u ʎɛs] thu ‘you don’t need to’. |
| leathad [ʎehət] n. | ‘breadth, width’. |
| lios [ʎis] n. | ‘garden’. |
| litir [ʎiʧər ́] n.f. | ‘letter’: gen.sg. crìoch na ~ [nə ʎiʧər ́]. |
| lom adj. | ‘bare, empty’: bha ’n taigh sin ~ [ʁ̫˻ɔu˼m]; tha ’n t-achadh sin ~. |
| luing [ɫ˻ɤi˼ŋk ́] (long) n. | ‘ship(?)’. |
M
| mac [mɑxk] n. | ‘son’. |
|---|---|
| marbh adj. | ‘dead’: pl. as n. na mairbh [nə maràv] (?). |
| milis [mil ́iʃ] adj. | ‘sweet’: cpv., supltv. milse [mi:ʎʃə]. |
| mise pron. 1sg. emph. | : tha ~ [miʃəɣ] a’ dol. |
| mise | SEE faigh. |
| mòr | ‘big, large’: f. dat. sg. leis an t-sùil mhòr [lɛʃ ən thu:l võ:r]; gen. pl. dath na ~ mhòr [ta nə su:l võ:r]; cpv. nas motha nas mo. |
| mòran n. | ‘a lot, many’: ~ acraichean do dh’fhearann. |
| muc mharadh [muxk vãrəɣ] n. | ‘whale, dolphin’. |
| muing [m˻øi˼ŋ ́g ́] n. | ‘[horse’s] mane’. |
| muir n.f. | ‘sea’: gen. maradh , seòladairean na maradh [nə marəɣ]. SEE ALSO muc mharadh. |
| mun / mum | SEE faigh , till. |
N
| nàbaidh n. | ‘neighbour’: pl. ~ean [na:p˻iə˼n]. |
|---|---|
| namhaid [navɛʧ] n. | ‘enemy’: pl. naimhdean nai̯ʧən. |
| nathair n.f. | ‘snake’: gen. sg. eireaball na nathair bheag nə [nahir ́ vek]. |
| nighean [ɲ˻i·ɑ˼n] n.f. | ‘girl, daughter’: pl. ~an [ɲ˻i:ɑ˼nən], nighnean [ɲi:nən]. |
| nighneag [ɲi:nak] n.f. | ‘little/ young girl’. |
| niod (nead) [ɲɩt] n. | ‘nest’: pl. ~an [ɲɩtən]. |
O
| oidhche n. | ‘night’: pl. ~ean [ø-içən]. |
|---|
P
| pìob ciùil [phip k ́hu: ʎ] n. | ‘bagpipe’. |
|---|---|
| poll n. | ‘mud’: am ~ [əm ph˻ɔu˼ʁ̫] . |
| preas n. | ‘bush’: pl. ~an [phrɛsən]. |
R
| raon [ʀɯ:n] n. | ‘range’: ~ mòr , mòran acraichean do dh’fhearann ; pl. raointean [ʀɯ:nʧhən] ‘prairies’. |
|---|---|
| reamhar [rɛhur] adj. | ‘fat’; cpv. nas ~aire [nas r˻ɛ̃ũ˼r ́ə]. |
| ri prep. | ‘to, at, by’: pron. 1sg. rium [r ́i̯um], emph. rium-sa [r ́i̯u:msə]; 2sg. riut [ri̯u:ht], emph. riut-sa [ri̯u:htsə]; 3sg. m. ris [r ́iʃ], emph. ri-sean [r ́isən] (sic); 1pl. rinn [r ́˻øi˼ɲ]; 2pl. ribh [ri:v]; 3pl. riutha [r ́i̯u-u]. |
| rìogh [ʀi:ɣ] n. | ‘king’: pl. ~an [ʀi:ɣən]. |
| ruig vb. | ‘reach’: fut. dep. cha ~ thu leas [ha rui̯k ́ u ʎɛs] ‘you don’t need to’. |
| ruith [rui̯ʔ] vb. | ‘run’: ipv.2sg. na ruith ! [nah (sic) rui̯]; fut. dep. cha ruith [xa rui̯]. |
S
| sàmhach [sã:həx] adj. | ‘quiet’. |
|---|---|
| samhradh n. | ‘summer’: dat. sg. anns an t-~ [ans ən thãũrəɣ]; pl. ~aichean [s˻ãũ˼riçən]. |
| saoghal n. | ‘life’: pl. saoghail [sɯ:i̯ʎ]. |
| saor adj. | ‘cheap’: cpv.: na bu shaoire [na pə sɯ:r ́ə]. |
| sealg [ʃɛʁ̫ àk] n.f. | ‘hunt’; dat.sg. air an t-seilg [ɛr ən ʧhɛl ́èk ́]. |
| sealgair [ʃɛʁ̫àkɛr ́] n. | ‘hunter’. |
| sealladh [ʃɛʁ̫əɣ] n. | ‘view, sight’: pl. ~aichean [ʃɛʁ̫içən]. |
| seann adj. | ‘old’: cpv. nas sine [nas ʃi:nə]; supltv. ’s e as sine uile [ʃ ɛ əs ʃi:nə ju ul ́ə]. |
| seas vb. | ‘stand’: fut. dep. cha sheas [xa hɛs]. |
| seòladair n. | : pl. ~ean na maradh [ʃ˻ɛu˼ʁ̫ ətar ́ən nə marəɣ] ‘[sea-going] sailors’. |
| sibh pron. 1pl. | : tha ~ [ʃi:v] a’ dol ; emph. sibhse , tha sibhse [ʃi:ʃəɣ] [] [] . |
| sin | SEE glac. |
| sinn pron. 1pl. | : tha ~ [ʃi:ɲ] a’ dol ; emph. sinneadh , tha sinneadh [ʃiɲəɣ] a’ dol. |
| siud pron. deict. | ‘yon, that’: ’s e ~ [ʃit] an cnoc. |
| sleamhain [slɛʔuɲ] adj. | ‘slippery’: cpv. nas sleamhna [nas sl˻ɛu˼nə]. |
| snaidhm n. | ‘knot’: pl. ~ean [sn˻øi˼mən]. |
| sùil n.f. n. | ‘eye’: dat. sg. leis an t-sùil mhòr [lɛʃ ən thu:l võ:r] gen. pl. dath na ~ mhòr [ta nə su:l võ:r]. |
T
| taigh n. | ‘house’: ~ Dhòmhnaill [thøi̯ ɣõ:hiʎ]. |
|---|---|
| talamh n.f. | : gen. sg. ~lmhain , na ~ [nə thaɫàviɲ]. |
| teanga n. | ‘tongue’: pl. ~aichean. |
| teth [t ́he] adj. | ‘hot’: cpv. nas ~ [nas t ́he] / nas teotha [nas t ́h˻eo˼]. |
| teud [ʧhe:t] n. | ‘cord’: an ~ [ən ʧhe:t]. |
| thusa pron. 2sg. emph. | : tha ~ [usəɣ] a’ dol. |
| till vb. | ‘return’: fut. dep. cha ~ [xa ʧhi:ʎ]; mun ~ mi [mɤn ʧhi:ʎ mi]; mura ~ mi [mɤrə ʧhi:ʎ mi]. |
| tobair n. | ‘well’: pl. ~braichean [thopəriçən]. |
| toll n. | ‘hole’: pl. tuill [th˻uï˼ʎ]. |
| tom [tɔ̃ũm] n. | ‘bush’. |
| tonn [tɔ̃ũn] n. | ‘wave’. |
| trì [thri]: num. | : ~ choin [thri: xɔɲ]. |
| trom adj. | ‘heavy’: cpv.: na bu troime [na pə thr˻øi˼mə]. |
| truimead [thr˻øi˼mət] n. | ‘weight’: ~ na clach. |
U
| uile [ul ́ə] adj. | ‘all’: ’s e as sine ~ [ʃɛ əs ʃi:nə ju ul ́ə]. |
|---|---|
| uisge n. | ‘water’: pl.: ~gichean [uʃk ́içən]. |
| ur poss. adj. 2pl. | ‘your’: air ur n-athair [ɛr ər nɑhər ́]. |
| title | Southwest Margaree Notebook |
| writers | John (Jack) A. Collins |
| internal date | 1983.0 |
| display date | 1983 |
| publication date | 1983 |
| level | |
| parent text | Summer 1983 |