Blair Collection > Popular tales of the West Highlands > Volume 4

348
A PLEA FOR GAELIC.
Keltic language is at tlie foundation of the classical
tongues. An eccentric Gaelic schoolmaster is quoted in
the West of Scotland Magazine, who used to spout in-
telligible Gaelic imitations of Latin authors for hours
— such as, " Arma virumque cano." " Airm a's fir se
chanum." The dominie said he was cracked, but there
was method in his madness.
The folloAving words which I have gathered from
books and from my friends appear to bear upon Gaelic—
68th Psalm, 4th verse, " Extol him that rideth upon the heavens
by his name JAH.
English. Sanskrit. Plionetic Gaelic. Englisli, &o.
God . . • Deva
shine . . Div
heaven . . Dyo DjeeA. YeeA God (Vocative)
djaw . . . breath
Day . . . Dyu an dew . . to-day
an djay . . yesterday
djee . . . day
tjays . . . heat
djArs. . . shine
djAlAnAch . lightening
Light. . . jwàla geeAl . . white
geeAlvAn . fire
geeAlAch . moon
glAn . . . clear glancing
flame . . . jwala djAlrAch . shining
light . . . heli lies . . . light, a gleam
solus . . . light
soileir . . clear
Sun . . . heli
house. . . Griha greeAnAn . house, dwelling
greeAn . . Sun (fa^m)
grai . . . love
heaven . . nabhas nyeav . . heaven holy
smoke . . nabholaya — nyel ... a cloud
nyeoil . . clouds
moon . . kledu