Presenter: Derek MacAoidh (Derek MacKay)
[DEREK] Ciamar a tha thu? No, am bu chòir dhomh a ràdh, ciamar a tha sibh? Bidh sinn ag ràdh "thu" anns a' Ghàidhlig nuair a tha sinn a' bruidhinn ri aon duine agus "sibh" nuair a tha sinn a' bruidhinn ri barrachd air aon duine. Ach, bidh sinn cuideachd ag ràdh "sibh" ri aon duine nuair a tha sinn airson spèis a shealltainn dha no dhi.
Chan eil fios agamsa cò thu - no sibh - ach cumaidh mi orm le thu, ma dh'fhaodas mi. Ach, ma tha fios agad cò ris a tha thu a' bruidhinn, bu chòir beachd a bhith agad an e "thu" no "sibh" a bu chòir dhut a ràdh.
Can gu bheil fireannach òg - gabhaidh sinn Dòmhnall air - a' coinneachadh ri ministear eaglaise a tha còrr air 60 bliadhna a dh'aois, air an gabh sinn an tUrramach Coinneach MacLeòid. Chan eil Dòmhnall ro eòlach air an Urramach MacLeòid. Dè bu chòir dha a ràdh nuair a choinnicheas e ris?
A) Halò a Choinnich. Ciamar a tha thu?
No:
B) Halò a Mhaighstir MhicLeòid. Ciamar a tha sibh?
Obh obh. Nan canadh Dòmhnall A, bhiodh daoine ag ràdh gur e meaban a bh' ann - sin duine òg mì-mhodhail. Tha A dàna, leis gu bheil Dòmhnall a' cleachdadh a' chiad ainm aig an Urramach MacLeòid agus ag ràdh "thu". Tha B tòrr nas fheàrr. Bhiodh Dòmhnall a' cuimhneachadh air aois a' mhinisteir agus air an dreuchd aige.
Bidh daoine ag ràdh "sibh" nuair a tha iad a' bruidhinn ri duine nas sine na iad fhèin. B' àbhaist do dhaoine cuideachd a bhith ag ràdh "sibh" ri daoine aig an robh àite sònraichte anns a' choimhearsnachd, ged a bhiodh iad fhèin na bu shine na an fheadhainn a bha a' faighinn urram. Chan eil sin cho cumanta andiugh, ach bidh daoine fhathast a' toirt urram dhan aois.
Ach, dè cho sean a bharrachd ort fhèin a dh'fheumas daoine a bhith mus can thu "sibh" riutha? Mura h-eil iad mòran nas sine, dh'fhaodadh tu "sibh" a ràdh gus an cuir thu beagan eòlais orra is "thu" a ràdh an uair sin. Cha bhiodh cus diofair ann nan canadh tu "thu" bho thùs ged-tà.
Ach, le daoine a tha tòrr nas sine - fichead bliadhna no barrachd - feuch gun cleachd thu "sibh" nuair a choinnicheas tu riutha. Agus, 's dòcha gum biodh e na b' fheàrr "sibh" a ràdh fiù 's nuair a tha thu eòlach orra. Tha mi ag ràdh 's dòcha, oir tha cuid nas dèidheile air "thu", agus dh'fhaodadh iad iarraidh ort sin a ràdh. Tha "thu" neo-fhoirmeil.
Na gabh dragh ged-tà ma chanas tu "thu" ri duine a tha airidh air "sibh". Mura còrd e riutha, can gu bheil iad a' coimhead cho òg 's nach do smaoinich thu air "sibh" a ràdh.
Tapadh leat - no leibh - airson èisteachd. Bheir sinn sùil air cuid de na facail a bh' agam a-nis.
Spèis.
Bidh sinn cuideachd ag ràdh "sibh" ri aon duine nuair a tha sinn airson spèis a shealltainn dha no dhi.
Mì-mhodhail.
Bhiodh daoine ag ràdh gur e meaban a bh' ann - sin duine òg mì-mhodhail.
Urram.
Bidh daoine fhathast a' toirt urram dhan aois.
Neo-fhoirmeil.
Tha "thu" neo-fhoirmeil.
Airidh. (chan e àirigh, neo àraidh.)
Na gabh dragh ged-tà ma chanas tu "thu" ri duine a tha airidh air "sibh".
Sin e. Mar sin leat an-dràsta.
Presenter: Derek MacAoidh (Derek MacKay)
[DEREK] How are you? Or should I say, how are you? We say "thu" in Gaelic when we are talking to one person and "sibh" when we are talking to more than one person. But we also use "sibh" when addressing one person when we want to show respect to him or her.
I don't know who you are, but I'll continue to use "thu", if I may. But if you know who you're talking to, you should have an idea of whether you should use "thu" or "sibh".
Say a young man - let's call him Dòmhnall - is meeting a church minister who is over 60 years of age, who we will call the Reverend Kenneth MacLeod. Dòmhnall doesn't know Reverend MacLeod very well. What should he say when he meets him?
A) Hello, Kenneth. How are you?
Or:
B) Hello, Mister MacLeod. How are you?
Oh, my. If Dòmhnall said A, people would say he was a brat - a rude young man. A is cheeky (impudent, arrogant), because Dòmhnall uses Reverend MacLeod's first name and also says "thu". B is much better. Dòmhnall would be aware of the minister's age and also of his position.
People say "sibh" when they are talking to someone who is older than themselves. People also used to say "sibh" to people who held an important position within the community, even if they themselves were older than the person being shown deference. That is less common these days, but people still show respect for elders.
But how much older than you does someone have to be before you say "sibh" to them? If they aren't much older, you could say "sibh" until you get to know them better and then begin to use "thu". It wouldn't really matter if you used "thu" from the beginning, though.
But with people who are much older - twenty years or more - remember to use "sibh" when you meet them. And it might be better to use "sibh" even when you do know them better. I say might, because some people prefer "thu", and they may ask you to say that. "Thu" is informal.
Don't worry though, if you say "thu" to someone who is worthy of "sibh". If they don't like it, say they look so young that you didn't even think of saying "sibh"!
Thank you for listening. Let's take a look at some of the words I used.
Respect (esteem).
We also say "sibh" to one person when we want to show respect for him or her.
Rude (impolite).
People would say he was a brat - that's a rude young man.
Respect (deference).
People still show respect for elders.
Informal.
"Thu" is informal.
Worthy. (not shieling or ladder)
Don't worry if you say "thu" to someone who is worthy of "sibh".
That's all. Goodbye for now.
Presenter: Derek MacAoidh (Derek MacKay)
[DEREK] Ciamar a tha thu? No, am bu chòir dhomh a ràdh, ciamar a tha sibh? Bidh sinn ag ràdh "thu" anns a' Ghàidhlig nuair a tha sinn a' bruidhinn ri aon duine agus "sibh" nuair a tha sinn a' bruidhinn ri barrachd air aon duine. Ach, bidh sinn cuideachd ag ràdh "sibh" ri aon duine nuair a tha sinn airson spèis a shealltainn dha no dhi.
Chan eil fios agamsa cò thu - no sibh - ach cumaidh mi orm le thu, ma dh'fhaodas mi. Ach, ma tha fios agad cò ris a tha thu a' bruidhinn, bu chòir beachd a bhith agad an e "thu" no "sibh" a bu chòir dhut a ràdh.
Can gu bheil fireannach òg - gabhaidh sinn Dòmhnall air - a' coinneachadh ri ministear eaglaise a tha còrr air 60 bliadhna a dh'aois, air an gabh sinn an tUrramach Coinneach MacLeòid. Chan eil Dòmhnall ro eòlach air an Urramach MacLeòid. Dè bu chòir dha a ràdh nuair a choinnicheas e ris?
A) Halò a Choinnich. Ciamar a tha thu?
No:
B) Halò a Mhaighstir MhicLeòid. Ciamar a tha sibh?
Obh obh. Nan canadh Dòmhnall A, bhiodh daoine ag ràdh gur e meaban a bh' ann - sin duine òg mì-mhodhail. Tha A dàna, leis gu bheil Dòmhnall a' cleachdadh a' chiad ainm aig an Urramach MacLeòid agus ag ràdh "thu". Tha B tòrr nas fheàrr. Bhiodh Dòmhnall a' cuimhneachadh air aois a' mhinisteir agus air an dreuchd aige.
Bidh daoine ag ràdh "sibh" nuair a tha iad a' bruidhinn ri duine nas sine na iad fhèin. B' àbhaist do dhaoine cuideachd a bhith ag ràdh "sibh" ri daoine aig an robh àite sònraichte anns a' choimhearsnachd, ged a bhiodh iad fhèin na bu shine na an fheadhainn a bha a' faighinn urram. Chan eil sin cho cumanta andiugh, ach bidh daoine fhathast a' toirt urram dhan aois.
Ach, dè cho sean a bharrachd ort fhèin a dh'fheumas daoine a bhith mus can thu "sibh" riutha? Mura h-eil iad mòran nas sine, dh'fhaodadh tu "sibh" a ràdh gus an cuir thu beagan eòlais orra is "thu" a ràdh an uair sin. Cha bhiodh cus diofair ann nan canadh tu "thu" bho thùs ged-tà.
Ach, le daoine a tha tòrr nas sine - fichead bliadhna no barrachd - feuch gun cleachd thu "sibh" nuair a choinnicheas tu riutha. Agus, 's dòcha gum biodh e na b' fheàrr "sibh" a ràdh fiù 's nuair a tha thu eòlach orra. Tha mi ag ràdh 's dòcha, oir tha cuid nas dèidheile air "thu", agus dh'fhaodadh iad iarraidh ort sin a ràdh. Tha "thu" neo-fhoirmeil.
Na gabh dragh ged-tà ma chanas tu "thu" ri duine a tha airidh air "sibh". Mura còrd e riutha, can gu bheil iad a' coimhead cho òg 's nach do smaoinich thu air "sibh" a ràdh.
Tapadh leat - no leibh - airson èisteachd. Bheir sinn sùil air cuid de na facail a bh' agam a-nis.
Spèis.
Bidh sinn cuideachd ag ràdh "sibh" ri aon duine nuair a tha sinn airson spèis a shealltainn dha no dhi.
Mì-mhodhail.
Bhiodh daoine ag ràdh gur e meaban a bh' ann - sin duine òg mì-mhodhail.
Urram.
Bidh daoine fhathast a' toirt urram dhan aois.
Neo-fhoirmeil.
Tha "thu" neo-fhoirmeil.
Airidh. (chan e àirigh, neo àraidh.)
Na gabh dragh ged-tà ma chanas tu "thu" ri duine a tha airidh air "sibh".
Sin e. Mar sin leat an-dràsta.
Presenter: Derek MacAoidh (Derek MacKay)
[DEREK] How are you? Or should I say, how are you? We say "thu" in Gaelic when we are talking to one person and "sibh" when we are talking to more than one person. But we also use "sibh" when addressing one person when we want to show respect to him or her.
I don't know who you are, but I'll continue to use "thu", if I may. But if you know who you're talking to, you should have an idea of whether you should use "thu" or "sibh".
Say a young man - let's call him Dòmhnall - is meeting a church minister who is over 60 years of age, who we will call the Reverend Kenneth MacLeod. Dòmhnall doesn't know Reverend MacLeod very well. What should he say when he meets him?
A) Hello, Kenneth. How are you?
Or:
B) Hello, Mister MacLeod. How are you?
Oh, my. If Dòmhnall said A, people would say he was a brat - a rude young man. A is cheeky (impudent, arrogant), because Dòmhnall uses Reverend MacLeod's first name and also says "thu". B is much better. Dòmhnall would be aware of the minister's age and also of his position.
People say "sibh" when they are talking to someone who is older than themselves. People also used to say "sibh" to people who held an important position within the community, even if they themselves were older than the person being shown deference. That is less common these days, but people still show respect for elders.
But how much older than you does someone have to be before you say "sibh" to them? If they aren't much older, you could say "sibh" until you get to know them better and then begin to use "thu". It wouldn't really matter if you used "thu" from the beginning, though.
But with people who are much older - twenty years or more - remember to use "sibh" when you meet them. And it might be better to use "sibh" even when you do know them better. I say might, because some people prefer "thu", and they may ask you to say that. "Thu" is informal.
Don't worry though, if you say "thu" to someone who is worthy of "sibh". If they don't like it, say they look so young that you didn't even think of saying "sibh"!
Thank you for listening. Let's take a look at some of the words I used.
Respect (esteem).
We also say "sibh" to one person when we want to show respect for him or her.
Rude (impolite).
People would say he was a brat - that's a rude young man.
Respect (deference).
People still show respect for elders.
Informal.
"Thu" is informal.
Worthy. (not shieling or ladder)
Don't worry if you say "thu" to someone who is worthy of "sibh".
That's all. Goodbye for now.