Tá an-tóir ar Sea shanties ó chas fear an phoist in Albain The Wellerman ar Tik Tok.
Ach cad is Sea Shanty ann? Ón ainm, tá sé éasca a thuiscint. Shanty nó chantey nó chanty nó amhrán (smaoinigh ar chanter sa Fhraincis) agus an fharraige mar téama ann. Tuigeann daoine gur amhrán iad ann a chas mairnéalaigh is iad ag obair don chuid is mó acu.
Tá dream ann nach nglacann leis gur shanty é muna bhaineann sé le longa ag impireacht na Breataine. Tá chanties ann mar Oh, Riley, oh agus Paddy on the Railway a chas mairnéalaigh ar bord loinge agus níor bhain gach ceann acu leis an fharraige.
I measc na hamhráin oibre as Béarla againne tá Molly Malone, Mc Alpine’s Fusiliers, agus Hot Asphalt. Is iad amhráin oibre na hamhráin seo a chasadh daoine is iad ag obair, sa chistin, sa pháirc nó ar an bhfarraige mar shampla.
Tá neart againn as Gaeilge ar nós Ding Dong Dederó, Amhrán na Cuiginne, agus ‘Sé Ocaim mo Phríosún mar shampla.
Ach, ar ndóigh, más ag caint ar Sea Shanties atáimid, b’fhearr go mbeadh baint ag na hamhráin leis an bhfarraige. Rabhcháin Mhuirí an t-ainm atá aginne ar Sea Shanties.
Seo cuid de na hamhráin atá againn. B’fhéidir nach raibh longa mhóra ar nós longa na himpireachta againn ach bhí báid againn agus daoine ag obair iontu agus amhráin acu.
Seo cuid acu: Faoitín, Báidín Fheilimí, Tá na Báid, Mo Cheallaichín Fionn, Óró mo Bháidín, Thíos cois na trá dhom,
Cúmha an Oileán. Trasna na dtonnta.
Mar sin, tá ár Sea shanties againn, is cuma cad a cheapann daoine a cheapann go mbaineann siad le longa na Breataine amháin.
Bád beag is bád mór, bád beag is bád mór Bád beag is bád mór ag mo Cheallachín Fionn Bád beag is bád mór, bád beag is bád mór Is loingis faoi sheol ag mo Cheallachín Fionn.
A little boat and a big boat (repeat 3x) has my fair-haired Callaghan, A little boat and a big boat and a ship under sail
Óra chuaigh sé ag rith geallta, chuaigh s é a’rith geallta, Chuaigh sé ag rith geallta, mo Cheallachín Fionn Chuaigh sé ag rith geallta i sliogáinín bairneach Is bhuach sé trí gheall, mo Cheallachín Fionn
2. ‘Dul soir Cora Fhidhinse, ‘ dul soir Cora Fhidhinse ‘Dul soir Cora Fhidhinse ‘ sea chaith sé a stiúir. ‘Dul soir Cora Fhidhinse, ‘ dul soir Cora Fhidhinse ‘S ní phósadh sé anois nó go bhfágha sé bád nua.
Curfá
‘S nach fada uaim siar é, is nach fada uaim siar é ‘S nach fada uaim siar é, is ní fheicfidh mé i mbliana é ‘S go seoladh Dia aniar é, mo Cheallachín Fionn.
3. Tá capall is carr, tá capall is carr, Tá capall is carr i nGaillimh le mí Tá capall is carr, tá capall is carr, Ag iarraidh gléas bainse don Cheallachín Fionn.
4. Ag bun Chruaich na Caoile, ag bun Chruaich na Caoile, Ag bun Chruaich na Caoile is ea stríocann na báid. Ag bun Chruaich na Caoile, ag bun Chruaich na Caoile Agus siúd e siar Green, is tá bratach ina chrann.
5. Ag tóin Sceirde Mór, ag tóin Sceirde Mór, Ag tóin Sceirde Mór, tá soithigh mo lao, Ag tóin Sceirde Mór,, ag tóin Sceirde Mór, Agus raiceáladh ceann acu is tháinig sí i dtír.
Curfá
‘S nach fada uaim siar é, ‘s nach fada uaim siar é, ‘S nach fada uaim siar é mo Cheallachín Fionn? ‘S nach fada uaim siar é, is ní fheicfidh mé i mbliana é, ‘S go seoladh Dia aniar é, mo Cheallachín Fionn.
Bád beag is bád mór, bád beag is bád mór Bád beag is bád mór ag mo Cheallachín Fionn Bád beag is bád mór, bád beag is bád mór Is loingis faoi sheol ag mo Cheallachín Fionn.
6. Óra máistir báid mhóir é, óra máistir báid mhóir é, Óra máistir báid mhóir é mó Thomáisín Green. Ní chraitheann sé an smól ach oibríonn se an scód. ‘S nac shin drochmheas mór ar do Cheallachín Fionn?
7. ‘Sé Páidín na hAirde, ‘ sé Páidín na hAirde, ‘Sé Páidín na hAirde a chuir clár ina taobh. ‘Sé Páidín na hAirde, ‘ sé Páidín na hAirde, ‘Gus rigeáil sé amach í don Cheallachín Fionn.
8. ‘S nach fada uaim siar é, ‘s nach fada uaim siar é, ‘S nach fada uaim siar é mo Cheallachín Fionn? ‘S nach fada uaim siar é, is ón gClochlán aniar é, ‘S go seoladh Dia aniar é, mo Cheallachín Fionn.
9. ‘Sé mac Mháinín Mór é, ‘sé mac Mháinín Mór é, ‘Sé mac Mháinín Mór é, ‘sé mac Mháinín Mór é As Baile Iorrais Mhóir e, mo Cheallachín Fionn.
10. Bhí punt do Dhaideo is bhí punt do Mhamó ‘S bhí punt do Dhaideo ag mo Cheallachín Fionn. Bhí punt do Dhaideo is bhí punt do Mhamó Is an chuid eile len ól ag mo Cheallachín Fionn.
11. Is iúdáil í adail í, iúdáil í adail í Iúdáil í adail í,, soithigh mo lao. Iúdáil í adail í, iúdáil í adail í Iúdáil í adail í, mo Cheallachín Fionn.
It happens from time to time. Pegasus pulls up, the girth breaks, and I get flung back on the gravel of Anglo-Saxon, as Michael Hartnett would put it. This is one of those occasions. Today I write in English. Gabh mo leithscéal.
This is the story of Alex Salmond, a new political party, and what happens when hope and history do not rhyme. It is a cautionary tale of the reduction of a language to a tool for political gain, of deep misunderstandings of the voice of the land, of distortions of culture.
Alex Salmond announced the formation of his new political party ALBA on Friday, the 26th March 2021 with a clear demonstration that he does not even know how to pronounce the word. Here is a recording of the phrase ann an Alba (in Scotland). Listen for the last word. It has three syllables, not two as you might think if you only look at the word thinking of English pronunciation rules. Alex messed up the pronunciation, pronouncing it as an English speaker who does not know the rules of the language would. People were not happy about it.
Does it matter that he pronounced the word wrong? Yes. It does. The voice of a people matters. When asked to correct it, he doubled down and dug himself into a deeper hole. It is not pronounced Alba (two-syllable) in English because Alba is not English. It is Scottish. That is really important.
The English translation of Alba is Scotland. Alba is not an English word. Anglicizations are neither one language nor another. They are lazy mispronunciations and bad spellings because people do not care enough to pronounce words as they are in the original language. Anglicizations are also weapons of Empire that literally demean languages. They strip a language of meaning, genuine sounds, beauty. Anglicizations are cruel abominations. The fact that Alex does not understand this is deeply troubling.
If Alex was trying to impress by saying he knew how to pronounce Alba because he had learned the name of a boat, it was really sad. Is he saying that his knowledge of the language extends only to a phrase or two he picked up here and there? This is his investment in the language of the land? He forms his party with a name in a language he does not really know?
Should we forgive this? We all make mistakes. Why not just ignore this and move on? Well, it matters. Words matter. Meanings matter. Identity matters. That is the point of a party for independence.
Alex mentions the word ancient is his explanation in the interview above and that is another red flag. Far too many people use the word ancient to suggest that the language is obscure, lost in the mists of time, unfathomable, and (what they really mean is) long and best forgotten. It is a word heard often from those who think the language is useless and inferior but want to sound like they are not racist, like they care.
It is not that the word ancient is wrong. It’s not. People should be proud of the ancient nature of the language. It is wonderful. Be aware of how that term ancient is used against the language, however. When talking about the ancient nature of the language, don’t forget to mention that it is a modern world language too. Understand how words are used as weapons and be clear that you know the value of Scottish and support this modern, growing, living language. What a pity Alex didn’t use this opportunity to declare a committment to learn more of the language.
So, a secret vowel revealed the depth of Alex’s lack of understanding. A vowel you cannot see in the spelling if you look at it with English as your guide.
The ‘secret’ vowel in Alba, the Scottish word for Scotland is not a secret to those who know the language, of course. For many people around the world now, those who have dipped their toes into learning Scottish for the first time on Duolingo, the mispronunciation of Alba is obvious. For those who have studied the role of empire in destroying cultures, the mispronunciation of Alba is a major cringe moment. If you are going to call your party a name in a language you do not speak, at least get the pronunciation right as a basic courtesy. Show it respect.
Do sing along with the chorus: Alba
If you have grown up in an Anglicized world where you turn on the TV and constantly hear it pronounced wrong by the BBC and other English-speaking voices of the media that so dominate our lives, you are likely to pronounce it as Alex Salmond did. The wrong way. With two syllables. It begs the question why Alex thought it was ok to use an Anglicized pronunciation of Alba, a distortion of a word as the name of his party. It is not a small mistake. It will take real committment to fix this. I wonder if Alex has it in him to do this, to learn.
For those interested in learning Scottish, may I suggest a good starting point here. Enjoy the journey.
For those who want to know how to identify this ‘secret’ vowel in Irish, please check out Eleanor agus an Guta Rúnda. That article is written in Irish.
A side note:
Every country has at least one blind spot. Ireland has not dealt with the fact that it is a theocracy. America cannot get a handle on its gun problem. In this debate about the Alba Party and the problem with Anglicizations, I have watched those who argue vehemently that the language should be called Gaelic and not Scottish suddenly use Scottish in their explanation as to where Alex went wrong. I don’t think they even noticed they were doing it and that is very interesting to me. When we cast off Anglicizations and give respect to our indigenous languages, hope dòchas and history (or at least heritage) dualchas rhyme. Scottish (Gàidhlig), Irish (Gaeilge), Manx (Gaelg). Translations: good. Anglicizations: bad. As Aretha said, it’s all about respect. Words and how we say them matter.
Also, how about treating English like Scottish was treated? You know, so people can understand what is wrong with putting a language down:
Tháinig na héin le chéile le déanaí thar Loch Aininn ag an Muileann gCearr le rá linn go raibh orainn teacht le chéile le éalú ó namhaid.
Ar scáth a chéile a mhairimid. Ealta an Ghaeilge ar Murmuration agus déanann na héin seo nuair a bhíonn namhaid thart le éalú, le chéile le luas agus le neart le cur le chéile.
Covid an namhaid is mó againn faoi láthair agus caithfidh an tír ar fad mascanna a chaitheamh is fanacht amach ó dhaoine eile fhad is a thugaimid aire dá chéile ar líne.
A Pheigín na gcarad ‘s a Pheigín mo chroí, cé hé an fear fada úd [ag dul] timpeall an tí? Oh, Peigín my friend and Peigín, my heart, who is that tall man [going] around the house?
Ó a hó, ó aí a hó a, ó aí nó, a Pheigín mo chroí. Oh a ho, oh ay a ho a , oh ay no, Pegeen my heart.
A Pheadair na gcarad ‘s a Pheadair mo chroí, sin é do mhaicín nach bhfaca tú riamh. Peadar my friend and Peadar my heart, that is your little son whom you never saw.
Ó a hó, ó aí a hó a, ó aí nó, a Pheadair mo chroí. Oh a ho, oh ay a ho a , oh ay no, Peadar my heart.
Muise, shiúil mise thall agus shiúil mise thiar, ach féasóg ar leanbh ní fhaca mé riamh! Well, I walked over there and I walked in the west, but a beard on a baby I have never before seen!
Ó a hó, ó aí a hó a, ó aí nó, a Pheigín mo chroí. Oh a ho, oh ay a ho a , oh ay no, Pegeen my heart.
Muise, a Pheadair mo chara ‘s a Pheadair mo chroí, tá scór bliain caite ó d’fhág tú mo thigh. Oh Peadar my friend and Peadar my heart, twenty years have passed since you left my house.
Ó a hó, ó aí a hó a, ó aí nó, a Pheigín mo chroí. Oh a ho, oh ay a ho a , oh ay no, Peigín my heart.
CEOL
A Pheadair mo chara, ‘s a Pheadair mo chroí, éirigh i do sheasamh ‘gus réitigh greim bídh. Peigín my friend and Peigín my heart, Rise up now and prepare some food.
Ó a hó, ó a Peadair mo chroí. Peigín mo chara is a Pheigín mo chroí, níl ins an teach agam greim mine buí. Oh a ho, oh Peadar my heart. Pegeen my friend and Pegeen my heart. I have not a grain of yellow meal in the house.
Ó a hó, ó aí a hó a, ó aí nó, a Pheigín mo chroí. Oh a ho, oh ay a ho a , oh ay no, Peigín my heart.
‘S a Pheadair mo chara ‘s a Pheadair mo chroí, in íochtar mo mhála tá cáca mine buí. And Peadar my friend and Peadar my heart, in the bottom of my bag there is a yellow meal cake.
Ó ó, a Pheadair mo chroí. Peigín mo chara s Peigín mo chroí, tá an cáca seo ‘at lán de ghineachaí buí. Ah Peadar my friend. Pegeen my friend and Pegeen my heart, this cake you have is full of golden guineas!
Ó a hó, ó aí a hó a, ó aí nó, a Pheigín mo chroí. Oh a ho, oh ay a ho a , oh ay no, Peigín my heart.
A Pheadair, mo chara, suífidh muid síos is ná fhágfas an baile chúns mhairfeas mé arís. Oh Peadar my friend, we sill sit down. and never leave home again for as long as I live.
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