Seanfhaclan Gàidhlig – Gaelic Proverbs
A’ mhuir is an t-iasgach – the sea and fishing
Nuair a bha mi a’ sgrìobhadh am pìos beag mu Balla Chanongate, far an robh an dà sheanfhacal air an gràbhaladh, bha cuimhne agam gun do dheasaich mo bhràthair-màthar, Willie ’W. A’. Ross, is e fhèin à Bail’ a’ Chnuic, leabhar beag le cruinneachadh sheanfhaclan Gàidhlig: A Little Book of Gaelic Proverbs . Chan eil e an clò tuilleadh ach gheibhear e fhathast cleachdte, m.e. tro www.AbeBooks.co.uk. Thàinig leabhar feumail eile a-mach san eadar-àm, A Collection Of Gaelic Proverbs And Familiar Phrases, deasaichte le Alexander Nicholson, agus tha cuid eile air an eadar-lìon, ma ghooglas sibh.
Mar ann an cànan sam bith, tilgidh na gnàth-fhaclan a’ mhuinntir is a’ choimhearsneachd air ais far am bi iad gan cleachdadh. Mar sin chì sinn eisimpleirean nan raointean eadar-dhealaichte mar mhuir is iasgach, thìr, dhachaigh is phòsadh a.m.s.a.a. Seo taghadh cuid dhiubh ceangailte ris a’ mhuir is an an iasgach a chòrd rium, agus a tha a’ cur an cèill dòigh-bheatha nam bailtean againn fhìn anns na laithean a chaidh seachad – ’s dòcha gum bi cothrom san àm ri teachd airson dèiligeadh ri feadhainn eile:
Am fear d’ an dàn a’ chroich, cha tèid gu bràth a bhàthadh.
Who is born to be hanged will never be drowned.
Bàthaidh toll beag long mhòr. A little hole will sink a big ship.
Eiridh tonn air uisge balbh.
A wave will rise on quiet water.
Dèan maorach fhad ‘s a bhios an tràigh ann.
Dig your bait while the tide is out.
An nì a thig leis a’ ghaoith, falbhaidh e leis an uisge.
What comes with the wind will go with the water.
Chan iongnadh boladh nan sgadan a bhith den t-soitheach sam bi iad.
It’s no wonder if the cask smells of the herrings that it holds.
Chan eil tuil air nach tig traoghadh. Every flood will have an ebb.
Is ann an ceann bliadhna a dh’innseas iasgair a thuiteamas.
It is at the year’s end that the fisher can tell his luck.
***
When writing about the quotations on the Canongate Wall, with the 2 Gaelic proverbs, I was reminded of the Little Book of Gaelic Proverbs edited by my uncle, W.A. Ross of Hilton – now out of print but still obtainable on the internet, and a newer book of proverbs edited by Alexander Nicholson. You can also find a lot by googling. As in all languages, proverbs reflect the realities of life in the community, and I have selected a few (above) which have to do with the sea and fishing, and remind us of days gone by on the Seaboard. Maybe another time we can look at those connected to other aspects of life. But for the moment, this is a good one to finish on…
Na abair do sheanfhacal gus an toir thu do long gu caladh. Don’t quote your proverb till you bring your ship to port.
