How are you?'
You will know the phrase ‘Ciamar a tha thu?’ But we have other ways of saying the same thing. That is the Litir’s subject this week.
In North Sutherland, people say ‘Cionnas a tha thu?’ It means the same as Ciamar a tha thu? And this is heard in a few places – ‘Dè mar a tha thu?’ Dè mar a tha thu?
People answer the question with ‘Tha gu math’ or ‘Tha gu math, taing’ or ‘Glè mhath, tapadh leat’, or something of that sort. Also, people answer with ‘Chan eil adhbhar a bhith [a’] gearain’. There’s no reason to complain. Chan eil adhbhar a bhith gearain. And they often say, ‘Chan eil guth ri ràdh’. There’s nothing to be said i.e. ‘I’m alright.’ Chan eil guth ri ràdh.
Are there other ways to ask somebody how they are? Well, yes. We’ll look at some of them. For every question, I’ll tell you a response that would be suitable.
Dè do chor? That’s pretty common. What’s your condition? Dè do chor? Cor math, tapadh leat. Cor math dha-rìribh.
Dè do thrum? What’s your trim? Dè do thrum? There’s no reason to complain.
Dè do bheò? What’s your living? Dè do bheò? Good enough, thanks.
Dè an saod a th’ ort? What’s your condition? Dè an saod a th’ ort? That’s not so common today. Also, Dè an sunnd a th’ ort? What’s your state of humour? Dè an sunnd a th’ ort? No dè fonn a th’ ort? What’s your state of mind? Dè fonn a th’ ort? Good enough, thanks.
Sometimes, a man will say to another man, ‘Ciamar a tha an duine?’ How’s the man? Ciamar a tha an duine? Often a person will say to another person, ‘Dè tha dol?’ ‘What’s doing?’ Dè tha dol? The other person replies with ‘Chan eil mòran’. Not much. Chan eil mòran.
What’s doing with yourselves today? Plenty, I hope!
‘Ciamar a tha thu?’
Bidh sibh eòlach gu leòr air an abairt ‘Ciamar a tha thu?’ Ach tha dòighean eile againn airson an aon rud a ràdh. Sin cuspair na Litreach an t-seachdain seo.
Ann an Dùthaich MhicAoidh, canaidh daoine ‘Cionnas a tha thu?’ Cionnas a tha thu. Tha e a’ ciallachadh an aon rud ri Ciamar a tha thu? Agus cluinnear seo ann an cuid de dh’àiteachan – ‘Dè mar a tha thu?’ Dè mar a tha thu?
Bidh daoine a’ freagairt na ceist le ‘Tha gu math’ no ‘Tha gu math, taing’ no ‘Glè mhath, tapadh leat’, no rudeigin dhen t-seòrsa sin. Cuideachd, bidh daoine a’ freagairt le ‘Chan eil adhbhar a bhith [a’] gearain’. There’s no reason to complain. Chan eil adhbhar a bhith gearain. Agus gu tric canaidh iad, ‘Chan eil guth ri ràdh’. There’s nothing to be said i.e. ‘tha mi ceart gu leòr’. Chan eil guth ri ràdh.
A bheil dòighean eile ann airson faighneachd de chuideigin mar a tha iad? Uill, tha. Bheir sinn sùil air feadhainn dhiubh. Airson gach ceist, innsidh mi dhuibh freagairt a bhiodh freagarrach.
Dè do chor? Tha sin cumanta gu leòr. What’s your condition? Dè do chor? Cor math, tapadh leat. Cor math dha-rìribh.
Dè do thrum? What’s your trim? Dè do thrum? Chan eil adhbhar a bhith gearain.
Dè do bheò? What’s your living? Dè do bheò? Math gu leòr, tapadh leat.
Dè an saod a th’ ort? What’s your condition? Dè an saod a th’ ort? Chan eil sin cho cumanta san latha an-diugh. Cuideachd, Dè an sunnd a th’ ort? What’s your state of humour? Dè an sunnd a th’ ort? No dè fonn a th’ ort? What’s your state of mind? Dè fonn a th’ ort? Math gu leòr, tapadh leat.
Uaireannan, bidh fear ag ràdh ri fear eile, ‘Ciamar a tha an duine?’ How’s the man? Ciamar a tha an duine? Gu tric, canaidh cuideigin ri neach eile, ‘Dè tha dol?’ ‘What’s doing?’ Dè tha dol? Bidh an neach eile a’ freagairt le ‘Chan eil mòran’. Not much. Chan eil mòran.
Dè tha dol agaibh fhèin an-diugh? Gu leòr, tha mi an dòchas!
