A' Gabhail ri Cànan Mar a Tha E "The Essential Gaelic-English Dictionary" le Aonghas MacBhàtair; Birlinn, Beurla, £20.00 cruaidh lèirmheas le Peadar Morgan (teacs tùsail) ri fhaighinn aig www.gaelicbooks.net	Embracing a Language as It Is "The Essential Gaelic-English Dictionary" by Angus Watson; Birlinn, English, £20.00 hardback review by Peadar Morgan (translation) available at www.gaelicbooks.net
Dh'fhaodadh an lèirmheas seo a bhith gu math aithghearr, dìreach dà fhacal am fad: Ceannaich e. Theagamh gum biodh sin car lom, ge-tà, ach bu chòir cronachadh sam bith - fada nas fhasa dhan lèirmheasair leisg na moladh breithneachail - a bhith air fhaicinn an solas an dà fhacail ud.	This review could be very brief, just two words in length: Buy it. That might be a wee bit on the short side, though, but any criticism - much easier for the lazy reviewer than analytical praise - should be seen in the context of those two words.
Sin dà fhacal a dh'fhaodadh a bhith air an cleachdadh bho chionn ciad bliadhna dar a nochd a' chiad earrann dhen stòr dàta iongantach sin air a thrusadh à faclairean is teacsaichean is nuadh-fhaclan na 19 linn, gu ìre mhòr, leis a' Ghaidheal Ùr Eideard Dwelly. Cha robh fèill ro mhòr air na h-earrannan, ach tha iad air nochdadh fo aon chòmhdach gu minig bho 1930 agus tha an leabhar fhathast a' dol an clò. Gu dearbh tha Birlinn air deargadh ùr (le ro-ràdh beatha-eachdraidheil le Peter Berresford Ellis) fhoillseachadh aig an aon àm ri bhith a' foillseachadh an fhaclair ùr-nodha aig Gaidheal Ùr eile, Aonghas MacBhàtair.	These two words might have been used a hundred years ago when the first section of that amazing database drawn by New Gael Edward Dwelly from, in the main, the dictionaries, printed matter and neologisms of the 19th century first appeared. There wasn't much of a take-up for these partworks, but from 1930 on they have frequently appeared under one cover, and the book is still being printed. Indeed Birlinn has published a new impression (with a biographical introduction by Peter Berresford Ellis) at the same time as publishing the brand new dictionary from another New Gael, Angus Watson.
Bidh feum air Faclair Dwelly fhathast, agus bidh gus an latha buidhe sin a lorgar a' Holy Grail ud faclair coileanta eachdraidheil na Gàidhlig, mar acfhainn fheumail rannsachaidh. Ach an dèidh ciad bliadhna nach eil làn àm ann gum mol sinn faclair nas ùire do luchd cleachdaidh na Gàidhlig? Coimhead thusa ann an Dwelly airson na h-atharraichean a th' air tighinn air a' Bheurla rè na h-ùine sin fhaicinn, gun luaidh air a' Ghàidhlig.	There is still a need for Dwelly's dictionary as a useful research tool; a need which will be there until that fine day they find the Holy Grail of a complete historical dictionary of Gaelic. But after a hundred years is it not time that we recommend a newer dictionary to Gaelic users? Just look at Dwelly's to see the changes that have occurred in the English language over that time, never mind the changes in Gaelic.
Chan eil MacBhàtair air feuchainn ri stòr dàta eile a dhèanamh, ach faclair de dh'fhacail a thathas air mhaireann agus a thathar a' cleachdadh. Taghadh a th' ann, agus taghadh a tha dhìth air luchd ionnsachaidh gus beachd fhaighinn air dè as mò a chluinnear is a chithear agus - gu cudthromach - a dh'fhaodadh iad fhèin a chleachdadh is a bhith air an tuigsinn.	Watson hasn't attempted to compile another database, but a dictionary of words which are extant and which are in use. It represents a selection, but a selection is what is required by learners needing an idea of what they are most likely to hear or see and - importantly - that they might themselves make use of whilst making sure they will be understood.
Tha cuid a dh'fhaclan is a chiallan cumanta a dhìth; feadhainn ùra gu sònraichte, leithid gleans, ri linn (san t-seagh a chionn), pioghaid (nas cumanta na pearraid air parrot, ged as e magpie a bu chiall dha bho thùs), burraidh mar bully. Ach tha meall fhaclan is chiallan ùra ann, cho math ri pailteas de dh'eisimpleirean cleachdaidh à cainnt is à òrain, a' riochdachadh, mar a chanas MacBhàtair fhèin, "as rich a cross-section of the Gaelic language as possible in the space available, giving due weight both to the new contexts of our times and to the riches of the past, as well as to both colloquial and more formal language."	There are some common words and senses lacking; some new ones in particular, such as gleans [gloss], ri linn (with the sense of because), pioghaid (more common than pearraid for parrot, though primarily magpie), burraidh as a bully. But a large number of new words and senses are included, as well as plenty of examples of use from speech and song, representing, as Watson himself says, "as rich a cross-section of the Gaelic language as possible in the space available, giving due weight both to the new contexts of our times and to the riches of the past, as well as to both colloquial and more formal language."
Gus beachd a thoirt dhan leughadair air dè am modh cainnte a th' ann, tha am faclair a' toirt beachd air dè tha traidiseanta, me tuath air tenantry, no na chainnt neo-fhoirmeil, me dè tha thu a' minigeadh?, no na chailc bhon Bheurla, me dè mu dheidhinn? "what about it?" (ged nach eil aig deireadh an latha air a shealltainn mar chailc, gu h-annasach). "Many regret the decline of the pithy, idiomatic Gaelic of the past, and find the Gaelic used today in administration, journalism and broadcasting pale and fushionless in comparison - but a dictionary has to embrace a language as it is," arsa MacBhàtair.	In order to give the reader an idea of what speech register is being dealt with, the dictionary suggests what is traditional, eg tuath for tenantry, or what is "familiar", eg dè tha thu a' minigeadh? [what do you mean?], or a calque from English, eg me dè mu dheidhinn? [what about it?] (though surprisingly aig deireadh an latha is not shown as a calque). "Many regret the decline of the pithy, idiomatic Gaelic of the past, and find the Gaelic used today in administration, journalism and broadcasting pale and fushionless in comparison - but a dictionary has to embrace a language as it is," says Watson.
Agus ma tha e deònach facal Albannach a chleachdadh gun nàire na chuid Beurla - mar bu chòir - is deòin leis cuideachd Scots a chur gu feum mar mhìneachadh air grunnan fhaclan far a bheil sin iomchaidh. Mar a chanas e fhèin, tha seo a' cuideachadh Albannaich gus an car as lugha ann an ciall nam facal seo a thuigsinn. Tha e cuideachd a' cur dreach an latha an-diugh ri mìneachadh, me cùlaist: Dwelly "back wing to dwelling", MacBhàtair "scullery, back kitchen, utility room".	And if happy to unselfconsciously use a Scots English word in his introduction - as indeed he should be - he is also willing to make use of Scots in explaining, where appropriate, the meaning of a number of words. As he says himself, "this can give a Scot a clearer idea of some shades of meaning of these words." He also adds a modern twist to explanations, eg cùlaist: Dwelly "back wing to dwelling", MacBhàtair "scullery, back kitchen, utility room".
Air uairean ge-tà, tha faclan aige ann an riochd fhallsa (gheibhear Iapan no Seapan, ach sa bhitheantas chan fhaighear An t-Seapan ach ann am faclairean eile); ach air uairean ann an riochd a bu chòir dhaibh ged nach eil tric (An t-Seic air an Czech Republic - an dèidh a bhith a' dèanamh dìmeas air Slobhaigia airson cho fada le An t-Seic air Czechoslovakia, a-nis gu bheil an t-Seic fa leth agus an t-ainm ceart is cothromach tha na meadhanan air cùl a chur ris!).	Sometimes, however, he has words in a false guise (Iapan and Seapan [Japan] might be encountered, but in normal use you will only find An t-Seapan in other dictionaries); but again sometimes he gets it right even if against common practice (An t-Seic for the Czech Republic - after slurring Slovakia for so long by calling Czechoslovakia "Czechia", now that Czechia is separate and the name An t-Seic right and proper, the media have deserted it!).
Chan eil tàire ga dèanamh air na diofar dhualchainntean. Tha MacBhàtair air a bhith a' còmhnaidh anns an Eilean Sgitheanach; chaidh ath-leughadh a dhèanamh air an obair aige le Ailean Boyd, aig a bheil Gàidhlig Thiristeach agus a tha fuireach ann an Uibhist; agus tha Gàidhlig mhòr Leòdhasach anns a h-uile h-àite co-dhiù. Tha fiù 's Gàidhlig tìr-mòr - cainntean Cinderella na 20 linn - a' faighinn cothrom beag bìodach, le co-dhiù am facal a-bhàn [sìos].	There is no prejudice against the various dialects. Watson himself has lived in Skye; the proof-reading of his work was done by Ailean Boyd, who has Tiree Gaelic and lives in Uist; and the numerically-strong Gaelic of Lewis is omnipresent anyway. Even main- land Gaelic - the Cinderella dialects of the 20th century - get a wee look-in, with at least the word a-bhàn [down].
Mar fhaclair tha an leabhar furasta a chleachdadh (clò mòr, le iomsgaradh eadar facail chinn is eisimpleirean agus teacs; leabhar tiugh cruaidh ach gu h-iongantach aotrom), ach tha barrachd air faclair againn an seo. 'S e tèasaras a th' ann cuideachd, is mòran dhe na mìneachaidhean le tar-iomradh gu facail eile. Tha seo fìor fìor fheumail; agus a' cur ris an fheum seo, tha an t-ùghdar tric a' toirt stiùireadh, ann a bhith gar treòrachadh gu iomradh eile, air dè as cumanta no as ainmige, as traidiseanta no as ùr-fhasanta.	As a dictionary the book is easy to use (big print, with contrast between the headwords and examples and the text; a thick, hardback book that is surprisingly light), but we are dealing here with more than just a dictionary. It is also a thesaurus, with many of the explanations being cross-referenced to other words. This is extremely useful; and to enhance this use, the author often provides guidance, in directing us to another entry, as to what is relatively common or uncommon, relatively traditional or less traditional.
Tha sin a' leigeil le MacBhàtair faclan ùra is faclan iasaid a chur an cèill ged a tha faclan eile fhathast gan cleachdadh aig cuid, mar sòfa an taca ri langasaid. Ach ged a tha, uaireannan, dìreach uaireannan, tha an cleas seo a' cur cus cuideim air an fhacal "traidiseanta" - chan eil itealan (an taca ri plèana) air èirigh à traidisean an t-sluaigh, agus ged as e fìor àrsaidh fhacal a th' ann an caogad, a bheil e fìor ri ràdh gu bheil e traidiseanta ma chaidh a thoirt am bith a-rithist bho chionn grunnan bhliadhnaichean a dh'aon rùn airson cleachdadh anns na sgoiltean?	That allows Watson to include new words and loan words, such as sòfa beside langasaid. However sometimes, just sometimes, this tactic puts too much stress on the word "traditional" - itealan (beside plèana) has not risen out of a popular tradition, and though caogad [fifty] is a word with a very long history, is it true to say that that it is traditional if it was artificially brought back into being a number of years ago for use in the schools?
Tha a' chorra laigse ann, mar eisimpleir ag ràdh gur ionann sèithear (mar as trice cruaidh) is cathair (mar as trice a-nis bog no rìoghail 7c) agus a' leum (aon ghnìomh) agus a' leumadaich (uair is uair), gun tar-iomradh eadar granaidh is seanmhair, às aonais nan riochdan gun a(-) dhe a cheana, a-bhàn 7c, às aonais nan coimeasach neo-riaghailteach do doirbh is duilich. Agus tha am faclair ag ràdh gu bheil neach na "PC alternative" air fear- (nach eil air bean- cuideachd?); poileataics ann no às, nach eil a' chiall iomlan air a call le bhith a' mìneachadh leithid fear-ciùil mar "musician" 7c gun iomradh air gnè an neach?	There is the occasional lapse, for example saying that sèithear (usually a hard chair) and cathair (now usually a throne or comfy chair) are identical, that a' leum [making a jump] and a' leumadaich [repeated jumping] are identical, providing no cross-reference between granaidh and seanmhair [grandmother], an absence of the forms without a(-) of a cheana, a-bhàn etc, an absence of the irregular comparatives for doirbh and duilich. And the dictionary states that neach is a "PC alternative" for fear- (is it not for bean- too?); politically correct or not, is the full im-port not lost in describing the likes of fear-ciùil as "musician" etc without reference to the sex of the individual?
Air an làimh eile, tha laigsean fhaclairean eile air an seachnadh (me a' faithneachadh an taca ri ag aithneachadh, bàthaich f an taca ri bàthach b) agus tha gnàthasan cainnte fìor mhath rin lorg ann (me thrus e a mhuilchinnean; b' fhada leam e).	On the other hand, the lapses in other dictionaries are avoided (eg a' faithneachadh beside ag aithneachadh [recognising], bàthaich m beside bàthach f [byre]) and there are some fine examples of idiom to be found in it (eg thrus e a mhuilchinnean [he rolled up his sleeves]; b' fhada leam e [I found it tedious]).
Chaidh an leabhar an clò mus faighte stiùireadh litreachaidh bho Fhaclair na Pàrlamaid (Cothrom 28, 10-12), mar sin gu mì-fhortanach chan eil an stràc ga shealltainn air litrichean mòra. Ach tha am faclair gu ìre dìonte bho atharrachaidhean a bh' ann is ri teachd le bhith tric a' cur dà dhòigh litreachaidh a-staigh far a bheil beachdan air atharrachadh no air dealachadh - cha bhiodh seo freagarrach ann am faclair Beurla gu Gàidhlig, ach theagamh gu bheil leisgeul ann an seo. Chan eil leisgeul ann airson a' chorra mhì-chunbhalachd san teacs nach eil air a chòmhdachadh leis a' bhrat seo (me Gallda/Gallta, a(-)rèir, a(-)thaobh), ach chan eil iad bitheanta.	The book went to print before orthographic guidance could be got from the Parliamentary Dictionary (Cothrom 28, 10-12), so unfortunately there is no length mark on capital letters. But the dictionary is to some extent "past- and future-proof" by often putting in two ways of spelling where views have changed or differed - this would not be suitable in an English to Gaelic dictionary, but perhaps there is an excuse for it here. There is no excuse for the occasional inconsistency in the text not covered by this policy (me Gallda/Gallta, a(-)rèir, a(-)thaobh), but these are not frequent.
Tha MacBhàtair a' cur a shaothrach an suarachas le bhith ag ràdh gur ann dhan neach ionnsachaidh a tha i ach gun robh e an dòchas gum biodh e gu feum "the fluent learner, and perhaps even the native speaker". Ann an saoghal dà-chànanach na Gàidhlig bidh e sin gun teagamh - thuirt Dwelly a leithid ri MacBhàtair mu fhaclair fhèin - agus bidh sinn uile a' dèanamh fiughair mhòr ris an fhaclair Beurla gu Gàidhlig air a bheil, a rèir seacaid an leabhair, an t-ùghdar ag obair an-dràsta.	Watson undersells his work when he says that it is aimed at the learner but that he hopes "the fluent learner, and perhaps even the native speaker, will find value and interest here also". In the bilingual world of Gaelic they will undoubtedly do that - Dwelly expressed similar low ambitions for his own dictionary - and we should all look forward with anticipation to the English-Gaelic dictionary on which the author, according to the book's jacket, is currently working.

You can find more articles in the archive under Gaelic Column and information on the organization at C.L.I.