Tadhg does his best Gil Grissom ImpressionI was a lazy wagon in college, as an undergrad at least. I'm paying for it now. I pulled my socks up a little (under duress) when I undertook to do an MA (because I didn't fancy leaving college and having to get a job) but not quite enough to atone for my previous bone-idleness. Now that I'm out in the big bad world and trying to earn a living for myself I've discovered that my brain atrophies at at frightening rate when I'm not studying, so last year I decided to bite off more than I can chew take on a part-time postgrad course. I love it, but as I studiously avoided tutorials for oh, 3 years or more, I'm just about keeping my head above water grammar-wise. So I've decided to get a little help this year in the form of an advanced grammar class. Which is where I was subjected to this:
Amhrán an Ghaeilgeora Mhóir
(Mac Dhonnagáin)
Mura bhfuil an tuiseal ginideach agat
Agus smacht ar do chuid “h”annaí
Níl suim dá laghad agam ionat
Mar is cinnte go mbrisfidh tú mo chroí
Ach más Gaeilgeoir snasta blasta thú
Is má thuigeann tú cúrsaí gramadaí
Tar trasna na páirce móire chugam
Táim anseo i dtóin an tí.
(Mac Dhonnagáin)
Mura bhfuil an tuiseal ginideach agat
Agus smacht ar do chuid “h”annaí
Níl suim dá laghad agam ionat
Mar is cinnte go mbrisfidh tú mo chroí
Ach más Gaeilgeoir snasta blasta thú
Is má thuigeann tú cúrsaí gramadaí
Tar trasna na páirce móire chugam
Táim anseo i dtóin an tí.
Translated (roughly, and not by me) as:
If you don’t have a good grasp of the genitive case
And your “h”s aren’t in good shape
I have no interest in you
Because you’re sure to break my heart
But if you’re a polished, skilled Irish speaker,
And if you’re well across the grammar
Come across the big field to me,
I’m here in back of the house
As if reading it and underlining the finer points of the grammar wasn't punishment enough, we then had to listen to it. You can do the same yourself if so inclined here. A quote on the website boldly proclaims that "This classic recording from 1988 was greeted with horror by Irish-language purists when first released". I can't say I'm surprised, Irish-language purists have ears just like the rest of us so they were bound to find it offensive.
Would that I hadn't been such a dosser in college the first (or second) time around.
Would that I hadn't been such a dosser in college the first (or second) time around.
