Saturday 30 April 2011

Tak a luk

Gleek
Skeely
Jook
Keek or keekit








Thurs mere fur takin a luk but I cannea mind them. Aa additions welcum

Thursday 28 April 2011

How the world wags

In researching some of these 'aul sayins' two things, at least, have become clear. One the poverty of language that was cited as one of the main the reasons for so many of the proverbs in rural Ulster is a complete misunderstanding of the wit and economy of language possessed by the Ulster-Scots. And two that the hamely tongue is in many ways much closer to middle English that much of todays so called standard English. Indeed this is the second time this week that my research has turned up direct links between the works of Shakespeare and an aul sayin.

This iz yin ma great granda use tae say

You wag bush an I'll wag wae ye.

Which means what ever you do I'll go along with it. The word wag is used here in pretty much the same context as in Shakespeare's - As You Like It: 2.7.21
"...And then he drew a dial from his poke,
And looking on it with lack-lustre eye,
Says very wisely, “It is ten o’clock:
Thus we may see,” quoth he, “how the world wags.”


Did ye iver think in a blog aboot aul Ulster-Scots sayins thur bae sa much Shakespeare?

Wednesday 27 April 2011

A Wather update

A wheen o days ago I gein oot a wather warnin an tould ivery yin no tae 'cast a cloot till Mays oot.'


Fur tha 'wun wud clean corn.'

Weel tha latin phrase "docendo discimus" iz a great yin fur aa bloggers. Fur an aul han tould me that this sayin, like a locth o yins, cums fae agriculture. Tae be mere precise tha aul threshing barns.

A Threshing Barn













The extract below is from The crooked lake review blog, entitled 'Remember the Old Fanning Mill' by Richard Palmer (reproduced with permission)


Before the introduction of threshing machines, grain was removed from the stalk heads by trampling or flailing. This operation was done usually on a wooden floor in a barn. Threshing barns were built for the purpose of storing grain sheaves from harvest time until the slack winter season when the fully mature grain could be separated from the dry straw. These barns were built around a central threshing floor where the bundles of ripened grain could be spread to a uniform thickness and treaded upon by hooves of horses or oxen or pounded by farm hands using wooden flails to loosen grain kernels from heads of the cereal plant stalks.

When most of the kernels had been loosened from the grain heads, the straw was lifted off with forks and stored for use as bedding for livestock. The remaining material on the threshing floor was scooped up to be winnowed when there was a breeze. Threshing barns usually had wide doors which could be opened at either end of the center section to allow a favorable wind to waft through the building. The chaff, bits of straw and the loose grain from the threshing floor were put in a winnowing basket or tray and tossed upward into a breeze where currents of air carried the straw pieces, lighter chaff and dust farther away, as the heavier kernels of grain fell more directly downward into a basket or onto a blanket.

An I jist fun oot ma great granny haed a trashing barn,

Tuesday 26 April 2011

A guid danner

A guid danners hard tae bait















Tha Danner

Tae danner doon loast loanins
Whur time hangs thick as stoor
An squinted een can aft times gleen
aa that came befur

Tae lay agin a warm stane wa
That croons a drumlins heid
Betwixt the plan o God an man
An free fae unco need

Tae weave tha breakers fickle pad
Whur swells rise up ageen tha lan
And in there wak learn tae tak
Solace fae thur tireless plan

Tae turn yinst mere an heid fur hame
Noo tha day iz gan
Oor peace new-made wae him wha said
Be still, an know I am.

© D. Gibson

Sunday 24 April 2011

Gie ma heid peace

Tha nicths sayin is an aul version o racsint yin Gie ma heid peace
Noo tha guid thing aboot this yin iz it can bae used fur man or beast.

Awa an lee doon an cla mowl' ower yersel
















Note: mowl' is loose earth or the dust (coom) of peat.

Saturday 23 April 2011

Cuddle Doon

Tha follain aul poem wus gien tae me bye a freen o ma mither's. An it's gye apt.













'Cuddle Doon' - The bairnies
by
Alexander Anderson


The bairnies cuddle doon at nicht,
 Wi' muckle faucht an' din—
"O, try and sleep, ye waukrife rogues,
 Your faither's comin' in"—
They never heed a word I speak;
 I try to gi'e a froon,
But aye I hap them up, an' cry,
 "O, bairnies, cuddle doon."


Wee Jamie wi' the curly heid—
 He aye sleeps next the wa'—
Bangs up an' cries, "I want a piece"—
 The rascal starts them a'.
I rin an' fetch them pieces, drinks,
 They stop awee the soun',
Then draw the blankets up an' cry,
 "Noo, weanies, cuddle doon."


But ere five minutes gang, wee Rab
 Cries oot, frae 'neath the claes,
"Mither, mak' Tam gi'e owre at ance,
 He's kittlin' wi' his taes."
The mischief's in that Tam for tricks,
 He'd bother half the toon;
But aye I hap them up an' cry,
 "O, bairnies, cuddle doon."


At length they hear their faither's fit,
 An', as he steeks the door,
They turn their faces to the wa',
 While Tam pretends to snore.
"Ha'e a' the weans been gude?" he asks,
 As he pits aff his shoon.
"The bairnies, John, are in their beds,
 An' lang since cuddled doon."


An' just afore we bed oorsel's,
 We look at oor wee lambs;
Tam has his airm roun' wee Rab's neck,
 An' Rab his airm roun' Tam's.
I lift wee Jamie up the bed,
 An', as I straik each croon,
I whisper, till my heart fills up,
 "O, bairnies, cuddle doon."


The bairnies cuddle doon at nicht
 Wi' mirth that's dear to me;
But sune the big warl's cark an' care
 Will quaten doon their glee.
Yet, come what will to ilka ane,
 May He who rules aboon
Aye whisper, though their pows be bald,
 "O, bairnies, cuddle doon."



Abain is Cuddle Doon recited by Jean Weir (fae tha low country).


Meaning of the Scotch words:


muckle faught - lots of fighting
waukrife - wakeful
hap - wrap
aye - always
bairnies - children
a piece - bread sandwich
weanies - small children
gie ower - stop
kittlin - tickling
steek - closes
shoon - shoes
straik - stroke
cark - fret
ilka - each and every
aboon - above
pows - heads


Note: than wurds abine are fae a newspaper clipping gien tae me bye ma mother. Therefore I dinnae know wha tae attribute it tae.

Friday 22 April 2011

Yin I dinnae know

An guid freen o mine axt me tha nicth did I know oucth aboot Balbriggan, tha auld name fur Ballyfrenis.  An I wus able tae direct him tae tha work o a much wiser man than masel.
How an niver it brocth tae mind an aul sayin that I herd years ago.

Come in Balbriggan I know yer knock.

I hinnae a clue aboot wut it means or whur its fae. If oniebodie oot there knows onithin aboot it. I wud be gye glad tae hear fae ye.

Thursday 21 April 2011

It Baits Me

This iz anither aul sayin I herd at hame. Noo dependin an wha ye listen tae. Its ither fae Co. Londonderry or Co. Offaly. Baith hae a Banagher.

Either way its an Anglo-Irish expression that has found its way into the Ulster-Scots vocabulary. In the context in which I have heard it used I would tend to favour the former county as the source.
This aul sayin is used when something beats or surpasses everything else.

That baits Banagher


Waterfalls at Banagher Glen, near Dungiven, Co L/Derry

Wednesday 20 April 2011

Wather warnin

Noo I know ware ainly gien yin or twa guid days ivrey year, but ma grannie aa said,

'Dinnae cast a cloot till Mays oot.' 

Noo maebe I'm wrang but I'll garentee ye befur Mays oot well hae at least yin coul day whun tha 

wun wud clean corn.


Tuesday 19 April 2011

A Bit Mere

Following on from one of last weeks postings Literary connections or mere Edyecatshin. Where I wrote about one of my Uncle's aul sayins     'As fu as an egg's fu o meat.' 
Well tha nicht I he'd mind o anither yin in tha same vein.


As full (fu) as tha eye o a pick














Abin's proof that yinst tha hannles in it's brave an full. 


Other sayins which might be employed to show that someone has reached their capacity are:
As full as forty cats and As full as a po
However the last one is used mostly to indicate someone's level of inebriation and not how much they have had to eat.


Note: I am indebted to Liam Logan for the last two sayins.

Sunday 17 April 2011

Tae aa slounges

If yer iver stuck wae a lazy slounge. Here's tha richt form o address.

"What are ya daein? Stannin thonner wae yer twa airms tha yin lenth".













You can let me know if it works.

Thursday 14 April 2011

Yin o ma ain

This was one of the first poems I wrote in the hamely tongue. I had originally intended it to be a lament and indeed the first 2 verses were written after I had returned from few days 'at hame' in the low country. As I drove through  Graba, Portavoigie and Cloghey. I was dismayed by the rash of new housing that betrayed my childhood memories. Therefore the reference to Exodus 2:22.  However I am not naturally inclined to the dirge so I put the poem aside unfinished. Which was a good job as a few months later, after association with a few stout souls such as Mr Anderson and Mr Thompson, I held a more positive outlook for the future which is reflected in third verse.
If onniebodie wud like tae send me a wheen o thur ain rhymes or screvins in the hamely tongue, I wud be happy tae post them on ma blog.
















Oor ain strange lan

Na mere the taak way herd as weans,
Noo aa but gan frae freenly hames,
Loast amang mere recent claims,
Left ahind an mossy stanes.

An mere than taak is loast an gan,
For aftin wurds prescribe the maun,
An leeves iz noo at dailygan,
Strangers in oor ain strange lan.

Yet still anaw a wheen are fun,
Who held their ain whun aa gave grun,
An kept alive their faithers tongue,
In hapes of better times tae cum.

© D. Gibson

Yin fur tha aul farmers

I aftin herd my granda remark that so and so's shoes wur:

Shinin like a new harra pin

I asked him yin time what a harra pin was an he tould me that it wus fur breakin up hard grun

Fur aa no aquaited wa agriculture thons a harro (In English a harrow) wi it's pins.










Harrow

c.1850
39"L x 122"W x 10"H
This is one half of a double frame "Scotch" harrow. Iron spikes protrude from the wooden frame to till and smooth the soil.
Second only to the plow for the preparation of soil before planting, harrows smooth out rough, clumpy soil to ensure an even planting. During the 19th century there were primarily two types of harrows used, the square harrow and the bifurcate (or triangular) harrow. A square harrow was used to even out fields already free of obstacles (such as tree stumps) and could cover more ground than a bifurcate harrow. A bifurcate harrow was more easily used in a field that had obstacles because it was smaller, sturdier and easier to maneuver. By the turn of the century the iron spiked harrow had been replaced by the disk harrow, which is still in use today.

Wednesday 13 April 2011

Guid advice fur folk fond o thur bed

Yin o my granda's aul sayins.

"Them 'at gets the name o' early risin' can lie aa day."























One of the earliest recorded versions of this aul sayin (that I hae cum across) appears in 'Rustic Proverbs Current in Ulster'. From The Ulster Journal of Archaeology, 1st Series, Vol. II, 1854. Where it gives it's meaning as:

In any quality for which a man is celebrated an occasional deficiency will not affect his reputation.

I wud tend tae attributed a mere sleckit meanin tae it: Yinst ye hae bamboozeled folk in tae thinking yin thing ye can dae tha opposite.

Noo a days I think my yin's closer tae tha mark.

Tuesday 12 April 2011

Yin fur bedtime

Tha days aul sayin is useful aroon this time o nicht. (8pm)

Whun I wus a wean and sittin quait as a moose in the hopes o stayin up a ween mere minutes. My faither wud tak a luk at tha clock on tha mantle an say.

Ricth weans It's time ta heed fur tha haul tha mason made.





















Of course this sayin can be used to direct weans ta oany dure at oaney time o tha day.

Monday 11 April 2011

Yin fur whun yer doon

It's a lang loanin wae nae turnin. ( It is a long road that has no end)

Usually soken as encouragement when things are not going well. Just as a long road eventually has a turning, problems also eventually have a solution, even though one might have to wait.

  "How'd yer team da this week
  "Nae guid. They whur bait again" 
  "Dinnae worry. It a lang loanin wae nae turnin"



Sunday 10 April 2011

Literary connections or mere Edyecatshin

An aul sayin that was a favourite of my uncle James was:

As fu as an egg's fu o meat.

"Did ye get enough ta ate?"
"I maun I did. I'm as fu as an egg's fu o meat"
















Several years later (whilst studying for my A level English) I came across what I believe to be the origin of this sayin in Romeo and Juliet:

MERCUTIO (Act 1)
"Thy head is as fun of quarrels as an egg is full of meat, and yet thy head hath been beaten as addle as an egg... " etc.

This aul sayin (or at least a similar version) also crops up in W. G. Lyttle's Daft Eddie or The Smugglers of Strangford Lough

Chapter VII
"But then," he retorted, laughing again; "yer jist like a' the rest o' the weemin', as fu' o curiosity as an egg's fu' o' meat..."


Note: I am indebted to the Ulster-Scots poet Wilbert MaGill for the wonderful phonetic translation of Edyecatshin.

Saturday 9 April 2011

A handy yin if yer stuck wi a continental breakfast.

Tha day's aul sayin

As hard as tha habs (thon breeds as hard as tha habs)

If there are no children present in the room this phrase can be extended to:

As hard as tha habs o hell

The hab (in English hob or hob-stone) is the stone forming a simple hab at either side of a fireplace.

Friday 8 April 2011

Yin that'll stan ye in guid stead

Today's aul sayin is a favourite of my mothers.

I'll gie it tae ye the way I herd it as a ween

Aye ricth han your story tell
When wi a bosom crony
But aa keep something ta yorsel
Ye dinne tell ta onnie

Those of you who are familiar with Rabbie will of course have recognised this, as a local version of the first 4 lines of verse five of Burn's, Epistle to a Young Friend the version that appears in most books of Burn's poetry is given below.

Aye free, aff-han', your story tell,
When wi' a bosom crony;
But still keep something to yoursel',
Ye scarcely tell to ony:

I love this piece of advice. To me encapsulates the Ulster-Scots ethos of stern, practical, level headedness. Burns is full of gems like this.

If your are unfamiliar with his work there are many free PDF copies of his poems and songs online.

Find below the full version of Robert Burn's - Epistle to a Young Friend
Many a young man leaving home to make his way in the world would --- da weel ta heed Burn's guid advice.




















Epistle to a Young Friend

I Lang hae thought, my youthfu' friend,
A something to have sent you,
Tho' it should serve nae ither end
Than just a kind momento:
But how the subject-theme may gang,
Let time and change determine;
Perhaps it may turn out a sang:
Perhaps turn out a sermon.

Ye'll try the world soon my lad;
And, Andrew dear, believe me,
Ye'll find mankind an unco squad,
And muckle they may grieve ye.
For care and trouble set your thought,
Ev'n when your end's attained;
And a' your views may come to nought,
Where ev'ry nerve is strained.

I'll no say, men are villains a';
The real, harden'd wicked,
What hae nae check but human law,
Are to a few restricked;
But, och! mankind are unco weak,
An' little to be trusted;
If self the wavering balance shake,
It's rarely right adjusted!

Yet they wha fa' in fortune's strife,
Their fate we shouldna censure;
For still, th'important end of life
They equally may answer;
A man may hae in honest heart,
Tho' poortith hourly stare him;
A man may tak a neibor's part,
Yet hae nae cash to spare him.

Aye free, aff-han', your story tell,
When wi' a bosom crony;
But still keep something to yoursel',
Ye scarcely tell to ony:
Conceal yoursel' as weel's ye can
Frae critical dissection;
But keek thro' ev'ry other man,
Wi' sharpen'd, sly inspection.

The sacred lowe o' well-plac'd love,
Luxuriantly indulge it;
But never tempt th' illicit rove,
Tho' naething should divulge it:
I waive the quantum o' the sin,
The hazard of concealing;
But, och! it hardens a' within,
And petrifies the feeling!

To catch dame Fortune's golden smile,
Assiduous wait upon her;
And gather gear by ev'ry wile
That's justified by honour;
Not for to hide it in a hedge,
Nor for a train attendant;
But for the glorious privilege
Of being independent.

The fear o' hell's a hangman's whip,
To haud the wretch in order;
But where ye feel your honour grip,
Let that aye be your border;
Its slightest touches, instant pause--
Debar a' side-pretences;
And resolutely keep its laws,
Uncaring consequences.

The great Creator to revere,
Must sure become the creature;
But still the preaching cant forbear,
And ev'n the rigid feature:
Yet ne'er with wits profane to range,
Be complaisance extended;
An atheist-laugh's a poor exchange
For Deity offended!

When ranting round in pleasure's ring,
Religion may be blinded;
Or if she gie a random sting,
It may be little minded;
But when on life we're tempest-driv'n--
A conscience but a canker,
A correspondence fix'd wi' Heav'n,
Is sure a noble anchor!

Adieu, dear, amiable youth!
Your heart can ne'er be wanting!
May prudence, fortitude, and truth,
Erect your brow undaunting!
In ploughman phrase, ``God send you speed,''
Still daily to grow wiser;
And may ye better reck the rede,
Than ever did th' adviser!

Robert Burns

Thursday 7 April 2011

Wildlife Edyecatshin

Singin like a Lintie  (maun he was singin like a Lintie)


A phrase which is used to describe someone who is engaged in an enthusiastic performance of a particular song. Usually but not always this person posesses a fine singing voice. They may or may not have attained their enthusiasm as a result of imbibing the local beverages.

Here's a lintie (in English a linnet)

Wednesday 6 April 2011

Yin fur whun yer put apon

Tha aul dug fur tha hard road, an tha pup fur tha pad.
















Meaning those with more experience are better suited to the more difficult tasks in life.

Aftin quoted at hame whun poor aul daddy iz bate. Closely followed by - Na rest fur tha wickit.

Tuesday 5 April 2011

First Post

Fae the Han o a Low Country Lad is intended as a celebration of the Ulster Scots Language.
A repository for aul sayins, colloquialisms, proverbs, humour and maybe even a ween o rhymes. In short all of those elements which provide the richness, colour and humour of hamely tongue.

With that in mind I will end this post as I intend to close all subsequent ones with an appeal for, supporters of the Hamely Tongue to email me with, any aul sayins or bits o rhymes which they are familiar with [ to ] anaulhan@gmail.com

An Aul Han