Friday, January 09, 2009

Friday Flash Fiction: Yn Gondoleyr

Another first this week. As far as I know, this is the first SF story ever translated into Manx. One of my great-great-great-grandmothers was Manx and I went to the Isle of Man for a holiday when I was 3. I remember a big red water wheel and a cattery.

This is a translation of The Gondolier.


Yn Gondoleyr
By Gareth D Jones

Translated by Robard y Charlsalagh

Skeab gob doo my ghondoley dy rea trooid ushtaghyn kiune ny ammyryn. Va’n baatey s’keylley shoh er chooney lhiam dy mie ’syn obbyr aym rish ymmodee bleeantyn, as er n’arraghey troailtee trooid bollee ushtey yn valley ard fo laueyn stiuree sheelogheyn my henn ayraghyn.

Va’n ghrian goll dy lhie harrish yn valley ard feer henn, as va’n ushtey myr rybban doo currit ny lhie eddyr troggalyn cumir ass clagh-gheinnee. Hayrn mee stiagh ennal dowin jeh fynneraght yn ’astyr beg.

Row ynnyd ny s’aaley na balley ard yindyssagh shoh ny ammyryn? Choud’s haink yn baatey dy aashagh gys e voaral, scuirr mee dy yeeaghyn seose lesh aigney jeant magh gys speyryn conghorraghey yn Vart.

Yn Jerrey

12 comments:

Anonymous said...

She skeeal beg mie shen! Gura mie ayd, ghooinney! "Kied" elley da'n Ghaelg! Ren mee fakin marrantys beg ny ghaa ayns shen (wahll, er lhiam dy vel ad nyn marrantyssyn) - b'olk lhiat dy choyrlin kiartaghey?

A great little story, thanks. Another first for the Manx! I did notice a couple of little errors there (at least, I think they're errors) - would you mind if I suggested a correction?

Gareth D Jones said...

Thanks Shimmin. Yes' I'm happy to receive corrections. Translations are never an exact science.

Anonymous said...

Hi Gareth. Yes, when someone's written in one language it's difficult to say what they'd have written in another that offers different possibilities. Especially avoiding interference from what I'd write myself. This is what I would suggest:

Skeab gob doo my ghondoley dy rea trooid ushtaghyn kiuney ny hammyryn. Va’n baatey s'keylley shoh er chooney lhiam dy mie ’syn obbyr aym rish ymmodee bleeantyn, as er n’arraghey troailtee trooid bollee ushtey yn ard-valley fo laueyn stiuree heelogheyn jeh my hennayraghyn.

Va’n ghrian goll dy lhie harrish yn shenn ard-valley, as va’n ushtey myr rybban doo currit ny lhie eddyr troggalyn cumir ass clagh-gheinnee. Hayrn mee stiagh ennal dowin dy fynneraght yn ’astyr beg.

Row ynnyd erbee ny s’aaley ayn na ard-valley yindyssagh ny hammyryn shoh? Choud’s haink yn baatey dy aashagh gys e voaral, scuirr mee dy yeeaghyn seose lesh aigney jeant magh gys speyryn conghorraghey yn Vart.


I can explain the changes if you want, depends how much you're interested in the Manx itself.

Anonymous said...

Er lhiams nagh nee marranyn ny mynphunkyn shen. Myr sampleyr, cha nel yn 'h' roish yn ylrey goll er screeu dy cadjin (ga dy vel eh ny share lhiam).

Anonymous said...

Er lhiams nagh nee marranyn ny mynphunkyn shen. Myr sampleyr, cha nel yn 'h' roish yn ylrey goll er screeu dy cadjin (ga dy vel eh ny share lhiam).

Anonymous said...

Gow shiu my leshtal! Chrig mee er chramman daa cheayrt!

Anonymous said...

S'feer shen, y Rob. Gow my leshtal. Cha nel shen agh my chliaghtey hene.

Y fer va boirey orrym, shen "balley ard feer shenn". Va'n raa "Row ynnyd...?" clashtyn beggan quaagh dou chammah, agh foddee nagh row marrantys echey. Cha nel ny fir elley scanshoil. T'eh jeeaghyn nagh nod mee scapail my chummaght hene ny yei.

Anonymous said...

Gareth, do you mind us commenting in Manx? I've just realised it might not be polite.

Gareth D Jones said...

No, I don't mind. Assuming it's not rude. :o)

Anonymous said...

Cheers. As an explanation, "balley ard" means "high-up town", whereas "ard-valley" means "city". Also, "shenn" is unusual in going before the noun.

Nice to see you're doing more Manx stories.

Shimmin Beg said...

Gareth, do you have a system for sending in translations? I've had a go at "The Last Adam" because I really liked that one.

Gareth D Jones said...

Hi Shimmin,

You can email me the story and I'll post it on the site here. I'm glad to have found a responsive audience. :o)