16/02/2007

A bheil sibh measail air luchan? Is toigh leam fhìn iad. Bha tè aig mo nighinn mar pheata nuair a bha i òg. Bha i snog is glan – an luch a tha mi a’ ciallachadh – ged a bha mo nighean snog is glan cuideachd – uill, a’ chuid a bu mhotha dhen ùine.

’S iomadh seanfhacal a th’ againn ann an Gàidhlig co-cheangailte ri luchan. Mar eisimpleir, is bean-taighe an luchag na taigh fhèin – the little mouse is mistress in her own house. Is bean-taighe an luchag na taigh fhèin. Agus cha mhurtar an luchag fon chruaich-fheòir. Ged a tha cruach-fheòir mòr is trom, agus luch a’ fuireach foidhpe, cha dèan cuideam na cruaiche cron air an luch. Is dòcha gu bheil dòighean againn airson a bhith beò eadhon ged a tha gnothaichean an t-saoghail a’ bualadh oirnn gu trom. Cha mhurtar an luchag fon chruaich-fheòir.

Agus tha claisneachd mhath aig luchan. Canaidh daoine – an rud a bhios sàmhach, cha chluinn na luchan e. An rud a bhios sàmhach, cha chluinn na luchan e.

Bidh luchan a’ nochdadh ann an samhlaidhean cuideachd. Mar eisimpleir, cho umhal ri luch fo spòg a’ chait. As humble as a mouse beneath the cat’s paw. Chì sibh nuair a bhiodh abairt mar sin feumail ann a bhith a’ bruidhinn air daoine. Cho umhal ri luch fo spòg a’ chait.

Cuideachd, thathar a’ dèanamh dheth gum bi an luch ri mèirle – gum bi i bradach. Uill, dh’fhaodadh sin a bhith fìor, ceart gu leòr. Agus tha an abairt seo ann: tha thu cho breugach ’s a tha an luch cho bradach. Tha thu cho breugach ’s a tha an luch cho bradach.

Agus seo agaibh rann do chloinn anns a bheil luch an sàs – agus cat a bhios a’ sealg nan luchan. Seo mar a tha an rann a’ dol:

Thuirt an luch bheag, ’s i san toll,

Dè am fonn a th’ air a’ chat ghlas?

Fonn math is deagh shaod

Gum faodadh tusa tighinn a-mach.

Is mòr m’ eagal ron dubhan chrom

A th’ agad ann am bonn do chas,

Mharbh thu mo phiuthar an-dè

’S fhuair mi fhìn air èiginn às

An do ghreimich sibh air na faclan gu lèir? Seo an rann a-rithist. Tha an luch bheag agus an cat glas a’ bruidhinn ri chèile.

Thuirt an luch bheag, ’s i san toll,

Dè am fonn a th’ air a’ chat ghlas?

Fonn math is deagh shaod

Gum faodadh tusa tighinn a-mach.

Is mòr m’ eagal ron dubhan chrom

A th’ agad ann am bonn do chas,

Mharbh thu mo phiuthar an-dè

’S fhuair mi fhìn air èiginn às

Uill, bha freagairt aig a’ chat don ghearan sin. Mar a chanadh iad ann am Beurla Lunnainn, “it weren’t me, gov!” Seo na thuirt an cat:

Cha mhis’ a bha sin ach cat Iain Ruaidh

A b’ àbhaist a bhith a’ ruagadh chearc,

Ghoid i an càis’ a bha sa chliabh

’S dh’ith i ’n t-iasg a bha sa phreas.

Seo an rann bheag sin a-rithist.

Cha mhis’ a bha sin ach cat Iain Ruaidh

A b’ àbhaist a bhith a’ ruagadh chearc,

Ghoid i an càis’ a bha sa chliabh

’S dh’ith i ’n t-iasg a bha sa phreas.

Saoil an do ghabh an luch ris na thuirt an cat? Canaidh daoine – tha fios aig an luch nach eil an cat a-staigh. Tha fios aig an luch nach eil an cat a-staigh. Ach a bheil fios aice nuair a tha cat ag innse breug? Chan eil mi cho cinnteach mu dheidhinn sin.

Faclan na Litreach: claisneachd: sense of hearing; samhlaidhean: similes.

Abairtean na Litreach: a’ chuid a bu mhotha dhen ùine: most of the time; ged a tha cruach-fheòir mòr is trom, agus luch a’ fuireach foidhpe: although a haystack is large and heavy, with a mouse living under it; eadhon ged a tha gnothaichean an t-saoghail a’ bualadh oirnn gu trom: even though wordly matters are weighing heavily upon us; chì sibh nuair a bhiodh abairt mar sin feumail: you can [will] see when a phrase like that would be useful; ri mèirle: involved in stealing; dè am fonn a th’ air a’ chat ghlas?: what form is the grey cat in?; fonn math is deagh shaod: good form and good condition; gum faodadh tusa tighinn a-mach: that you might come out; is mòr m’ eagal ron dubhan chrom [the mouse is now speaking]: great is my fear of the bent hook [claw]; ann am bonn do chas: at the bottom of your feet; mharbh thu mo phiuthar an-dè: you killed my sister yesterday; fhuair mi fhìn air èiginn às: I only just escaped myself; ri chèile: to each other; cha mhis’ a bha sin ach cat Iain Ruaidh: that wasn’t me but red-haired John’s cat; a b’ àbhaist a bhith a’ ruagadh chearc: that used to be chasing hens; ghoid i an càis’ a bha sa chliabh: she stole the cheese that was in the creel; dh’ith i ’n t-iasg a bha sa phreas: she ate the fish that was in the cupboard; ag innse breug: telling a lie.

Seanfhaclan na Litreach: is bean-taighe an luchag na taigh fhèin: the little mouse is mistress in her own house; cha mhurtar an luchag fon chruaich-fheòir: the mouse is not murdered (killed) under the hay-stack; an rud a bhios sàmhach, cha chluinn na luchan e: what is silent, the mice won’t hear; cho umhal ri luch fo spòg a’ chait: as humble as a mouse beneath the cat’s paw; tha thu cho breugach ’s a tha an luch cho bradach: you are as lying as the mouse is thieving; tha fios aig an luch nach eil an cat a-staigh: the mouse knows the cat’s not in the house.