650: Taisbeanadh Obar Bhrothaig (2)
Litir sheachdaineach do luchd-ionnsachaidh le clàr-fuaime, tar-sgrìobhadh is mìneachadh. A weekly letter to Gaelic learners with audio, transcription and explanation.
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Taisbeanadh Obar Bhrothaig (2)
Thug mi earrann de Thaisbeanadh Obar Bhrothaig dhuibh an t-seachdain sa chaidh. Bha an earrann a leugh mi ann an Laidinn. Mar as trice, ’s e am pios a chluinneas sinn – chan ann airson glòr, no airgead no urram a tha sinn a’ sabaid, ach airson saorsa. Ach thagh mi earrann eile a tha, do na Gàidheil, a cheart cho cudromach, chanainn. Seo i, air a h-eadar-theangachadh gu Gàidhlig (m’ eadar-theangachadh fhèin): An toiseach chuir iad an teicheadh air na Breatannaich, sgrios iad na Cruithnich agus, ged a dh’fhuiling iad ionnsaighean gu leòr bho na Nirribhich, na Dànaich is na Sasannaich, ghabh iad smachd air an dùthaich le buaidh gu leòr agus spàirn mhòr .
Tha sinn mar Ghàidheil a’ coimhead oirnn fhèin mar shluagh a bha bunaiteach do stèidheachadh na h-Alba mar rìoghachd. Ach chan ann mar sin a tha sinn air ar tomhas aig amannan le feadhainn eile. ’S iomadh cunntas a leugh mi de dh’eachdraidh na h-Alba, anns am bi na Gàidheil a’ dol à fianais ro na cogaidhean neo-eisimeileachd. Togaidh iad ceann a-rithist gu goirid ann an Cogaidhean nan Seumasach anns an ochdamh linn deug. Ach bha sinn ann fad na h-ùine agus bha sinn bunaiteach do stòiridh na h-Alba!
Agus bha sinn bunaiteach do dh’fhèin-aithne nan Albannach aig àm nuair a bha Alba ann an cunnart a dhol à bith. Tha sin air a dhearbhadh le Taisbeanadh Obar Bhrothaig. Dh’fhaodamaid a ràdh gu bheil cuid dhen eachdraidh anns an làmh-sgrìobhainn rudeigin cugallach. Thathar ag ràdh gun tainig na h-Albannaich à Scithia Mhòr, tron Mhuir Thireniach agus Colbhan Hercules gu ruige an Spàinnt mus tàinig iad a dh’Alba. Uill, ma dh’fhaodte ...
Agus an ath phìos cuideachd: chuir [na h-Albannaich] an teicheadh air na Breatannaich, sgrios iad na Cruithnich … Tha deagh theans ann gun do ghabh sliochd nan sluagh sin a’ Ghàidhlig mar chànan, seach gun deach iad à bith no gun do theich iad uile-gu-lèir air sàilleabh sabaid. Agus, ged a bhitheadh e fìor ri ràdh, gun do dh’fhuiling [na h-Albannaich] ionnsaighean gu leòr bho na [Lochlannaich] is Sasannaich, tha e fìor cuideachd gu bheil gu leòr de dh’Albannaich an-diugh aig a bheil sinnsirean Lochlannach is Sasannach. Sheatlaig iad nar measg.
Carson, ma-thà, a tha an earrann a thagh mi cho cudromach? Tha, a’ chionns gu bheil e a’ sealltainn mar a bha uaislean na h-Alba a’ cleachdadh nan Gàidheal airson dearbhadh gun robh na h-Albannaich nan sluagh fa leth bho mhuinntir Shasainn. Tha iad ag ainmeachadh nam Breatannach, nan Cruithneach, nan Lochlannach is nan Sasannach, agus a’ dèanamh soilleir nach robh na slòigh sin Albannach.
Agus, dè an sluagh a th’ air fhàgail de na slòigh mhòra a chruthaich Alba? Tha na Gàidheil. Ceart no ceàrr an eachdraidh, bha fèin-aithne Ghàidhealach aig uaislean na h-Alba anns a’ cheathramh linn deug. Eadhon an fheadhainn aig an robh Beurla, a rèir choltais.
Tha sin inntinneach oir bha an sgaradh eadar Gàidhealtachd is Galltachd, eadar Gàidheal is Gall, a’ tighinn am bàrr mun àm sin. ’S dòcha gun do thachair cogadh nan neo-eisimeileachd dìreach ann an àm, mus do chaill mòran de na Goill an tuigse gu robh na Gàidheil bunaiteach do dh’Alba. No ’s dòcha gun robh cuid de dh’uaislean na Beurla dìreach a’ gabhail brath air a’ Ghàidhlig airson adhbharan poilitigeach, gun a bhith dìleas dhi.
Faclan na Litreach: Taisbeanadh Obar Bhrothaig: The Declaration of Arbroath; fèin-aithne: identity; sinnsirean: ancestors; sgaradh: division, split; Goill: non-Gaels.
Abairtean na Litreach: chan ann airson glòr … a tha sinn a’ sabaid, ach airson saorsa: it not for glory…that we are fighting, but for freedom; a cheart cho cudromach, chanainn: just as important, I’d say; sgrios iad na Cruithnich: they destroyed the Picts; ged a dh’fhuiling iad ionnsaighean: although they suffered attacks; bunaiteach do stèidheachadh na h-Alba: basic to the establishment of Scotland; chan ann mar sin a tha sinn air ar tomhas: that’s not the assessment that’s made of us; ’s iomadh cunntas a leugh mi: it’s many an account I’ve read; a’ dol à fianais ro na cogaidhean neo-eisimeileachd: disappearing before the wars of independence; togaidh iad ceann a-rithist ann an Cogaidhean nan Seumasach: they appear again in the Jacobite wars; ann an cunnart a dhol à bith: in danger of going out of existence; dh’fhaodamaid a ràdh: we could say; rudeigin cugallach: somewhat shaky; sliochd nan sluagh sin: the descendants of those peoples; sheatlaig iad nar measg: they settled among us; ceart no ceàrr an eachdraidh: whether or not the history is correct; a’ gabhail brath air: taking advantage of; gun a bhith dìleas dhi: without being loyal to it.
Puing-chànain na Litreach: The section of the Declaration of Arbroath considered in the Litir has been translated into English as follows: Most Holy Father and Lord …we find that among other famous nations our own, the Scots, has been graced with widespread renown. They journeyed from Greater Scythia by way of the Tyrrhenian Sea and the Pillars of Hercules, and dwelt for a long course of time in Spain among the most savage tribes, but nowhere could they be subdued by any race, however barbarous. Thence they came, twelve hundred years after the people of Israel crossed the Red Sea, to their home in the west where they still live today. The Britons they first drove out, the Picts they utterly destroyed, and, even though very often assailed by the Norwegians, the Danes and the English, they took possession of that home with many victories and untold efforts; and, as the historians of old time bear witness, they have held it free of all bondage ever since. The history is questionable but the self-expression of identity is clear – the framers of the document were identifying with the Gaels as founders of Scotland. Perhaps we need to remind some of our fellow Scots of that!
Gnàthas-cainnt na Litreach: chuir iad an teicheadh air na Breatannaich they drove the Britons out.
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Litir do Luchd-ionnsachaidh
This letter corresponds to Tha an Litir seo a’ buntainn ri An Litir Bheag 346
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