1097: Raibeart Armstrong (2)
Litir sheachdaineach do luchd-ionnsachaidh le clàr-fuaime, tar-sgrìobhadh is mìneachadh. A weekly letter to Gaelic learners with audio, transcription and explanation.
Tha an litir ag obrachadh leis an fhaclair. Tagh an taba ‘teacsa Gàidhlig’ agus tagh facal sam bith san teacsa agus fosglaidh am faclair ann an taba ùr agus bidh mìneachadh den fhacal ann. The letter is integrated with the dictionary. Select the tab ‘Gaelic text’ and choose any word and the dictionary will open and you will see the English explanation of the Gaelic word.
Raibeart Armstrong (2)
Bha mi ag innse dhuibh mu Raibeart Armstrong a chruthaich faclair Gàidhlig ann an ochd ceud deug, fichead ʼs a còig (1825). Bha fèill air an fhaclair. Bha rudan aige, ge-tà, a tha a’ coimhead annasach an-diugh, gu h-àraidh mar a bha earrann aige air na daoine a nochdas ann an dàin Oisein – co-dhiù na dàin a ‘chruthaich’ Seumas Bàn, no ‘Ossian MacPherson’.
Bha beachd inntinneach aig Armstrong air siostam litreachaidh na Gàidhlig. Bha e a’ leantainn an t-siostaim aig dithis sgoilearan. B’ iad sin an t-Oll. Urr. Iain Stiùbhart à Lus, a dh’eadar-theangaich an Seann Tiomnadh, agus an t-Oll. Urr. Iain Mac a’ Ghobhainn à Ceann Loch Cille Chiarain a sgrìobh sailm.
Ge-tà, bha aon riaghailt litreachaidh a’ cur dragh air. B’ e sin ‘ caol ri caol agus leathann ri leathann’. Bha Armstrong a’ cumail a-mach gur e siostam Èireannach a bh’ ann, agus gun do ghabh na Gàidheil Albannach ris ro luath. Bha e dhen bheachd gun robh e a’ cur am falach nan ceanglaichean eadar faclan Gàidhlig agus feadhainn ann an cànanan eile.
Gu mì-fhortanach dha, nochd faclair Gàidhlig eile dìreach trì bliadhna an dèidh an fhaclair aige fhèin. B’ e sin an Dictionarium Scoto-Celticum aig Comunn Gàidhealach na h-Alba. ʼS iongantach mura rinn sin cron air an uiread de na faclairean aige fhèin a chaidh a reic.
Chaidh dà urram a bhuileachadh air – Faclairiche Gàidhlig Rìoghail don Rìgh agus dotaireachd à Oilthigh Chill Rìmhinn. Ach cha robh tuarastal sam bith co-cheangailte ri fear seach fear dhiubh sin. Chuir Armstrong mòran dhen airgead aige fhèin a-steach don fhaclair, agus chaill e tòrr.
Nuair a leig e dheth a dhreuchd ann an ochd ceud deug, leth-cheud ʼs a dhà (1852), bha an suidheachadh ionmhais aige cugallach. Bha e pòsta, le triùir nighean. Gu fortanach, bha caraidean aige anns an riaghaltas, agus fhuair e peinnsean poblach luach seasgad not (£60). Air dha bàs fhaighinn ann an Surraidh ann an ochd ceud deug, seasgad ʼs a seachd (1867), fhuair a bhanntrach peinnsean luach leth-cheud not (£50) bhon Bhanrigh.
Thòisich mi air an t-sreath seo mu Raibeart Armstrong, le bhith ag innse dhuibh mu alt anns an iris ‘An Gàidheal’ o chionn faisg air ceud bliadhna. Bha an t-ùghdar ag innse dhuinn gun robh oileanaich ceud bliadhna roimhe air Siorrachd Pheairt ainmeachadh mar an t-àite a b’ fheàrr airson na Gàidhlig agus a dualchais. Anns an alt, chaidh Peairteach cliùiteach Gàidhealach eile ainmeachadh – an t-Urr. Alasdair Stiùbhart. Sgrìobh esan an leabhar ‘Elements of Gaelic Grammar’.
Bha fèill air an leabhar sin aig an àm. Tha lethbreac dhen dàrna eagran agam fhìn, a nochd ann an clò ann an ochd ceud deug ʼs a dhà-dheug (1812). Ach nochd ceathramh eagran dheth ann an ochd ceud deug, ochdad ʼs a sia (1886).
Cò bh’ ann an Alasdair Stiùbhart? Rugadh e sa mhansa ann am Blàr Athall ann an seachd ceud deug, seasgad ʼs a ceithir (1764). Bha athair cliùiteach airson cho math ʼs a bha a’ Ghàidhlig aige. Bha e fìor mhath mar shearmonaiche. Chaochail e ann an seachd ceud deug is ochdad (1780).
Tha e coltach nach deach Alasdair a sgoil. Fhuair e a chuid foghlaim aig an taigh, agus aig uncail dha. Ach abair gun robh comas inntinn aige. Cluinnidh sibh tuilleadh mu dheidhinn an-ath-sheachdain.
Faclan na Litreach: riaghailt litreachaidh: spelling rule; Faclairiche Gàidhlig Rìoghail: Gaelic Lexicographer Royal; a bhanntrach: his widow; lethbreac: copy; eagran: edition.
Abairtean na Litreach: Bha fèill air an fhaclair: the dictionary was well received; a tha a’ coimhead rudeigin annasach an-diugh: that look a bit strange today; mar a bha earrann aige air na daoine a nochdas ann an dàin Oisein: that he had a section on the characters that appear in the poems of Oisean (Ossian); a’ leantainn an t-siostaim aig dithis sgoilearan: following the system of two scholars; an t-Oll. Urr. Iain Stiùbhart à Lus, a dh’eadar-theangaich an Seann Tiomnadh: the Rev. Dr. John Stewart of Luss, who translated the Old Testament; an t-Oll. Urr. Iain Mac a’ Ghobhainn à Ceann Loch Cille Chiarain a sgrìobh sailm: the Rev. Dr. John Smith of Campbeltown who wrote psalms; ʼs iongantach mura rinn sin cron air: that probably damaged, lessened; an uiread de na faclairean aige fhèin a chaidh a reic: the number of his own dictionaries that were sold; chaidh dà urram a bhuileachadh air: two marks of esteem were bestowed upon him; dotaireachd à Oilthigh Chill Rìmhinn: a doctorate from the University of St Andrews; cha robh tuarastal sam bith co-cheangailte ri fear seach fear dhiubh sin: there was no income whatsoever connected to either of those; bha an suidheachadh ionmhais aige cugallach:his financial circumstances were poor; pòsta, le triùir nighean:married, with three daughters; fhuair e peinnsean poblach: he got a civil list pension; chaidh Peairteach cliùiteach Gàidhealach eile ainmeachadh: another renowned Gaelic speaking Perthshire man was named; rugadh e sa mhansa ann am Blàr Athall: he was born in the manse in Blair Atholl; fìor mhath mar shearmonaiche: excellent as a preacher; abair gun robh comas inntinn aige: by gosh, he had a sharp mind.
Puing-chànain na Litreach: : caol ri caol agus leathann ri leathann: slender to slender and broad to broad . This is a basic Gaelic spelling rule which is often known today as leathann ri leathann is caol ri caol ; it is usually referred to by its Gaelic name, even when speaking English. It means that, on either side of a consonant or consonant group, both vowels should be either broad (a, o, u) or slender (e, i). Armstrong was not a massive fan. He wrote, ‘... we ought to write deanaibh, not deanibh ... This mode of spelling is a modern invention ... introduced by the Irish, and adopted by the Gael, with ... more precipitation than propriety.’ Despite his misgivings, Armstrong adhered to the rule!
Gnàthas-cainnt na Litreach: : Air dha bàs fhaighinn ann an Surraidh: after he died in Surrey.
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Litir do Luchd-ionnsachaidh
This letter corresponds to Tha an Litir seo a’ buntainn ri An Litir Bheag 793
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