Books and other items printed in Gaelic from 1841 to 1870 > Double grammar, of English and Gaelic, in which the principles of both languages are clearly explained

STYLE.
275
sound construction, and a
proper application of the
idiom of the language
spoken or written.
Propriety of Style, de¬
mands the selection of such
words as are best adapted
to convey the idea which
the speaker or writer in¬
tends to express.
Precision of Style, de¬
mands that neither more
nor less words be used than
the sense requires.
co-rianachadh glan, agus
ceart cho-chur nois na
cainnt a labhrar no sgri-
obhar, a ghnathachadh.
Tha Freagarrachd Staile,
ag iarraidh nam focal a’s
fir-fhreagarraiche gu giulan
na beachd a ta am fear-
labhairt a miannachadh
airis, a roghnachadh.
Tha Piingalachd Staile,
ag iarraidh gun na’s mo,
no na’s lugha dh-fhocalan a
i ghnathachadh, na tha ’n
I seadh a’ sireadh.
As the limits of this work will not admit of a very exten¬
sive exercise on Style, the following instances of improper expres¬
sions, which are of daily occurrence, are given to he corrected by
the learner.
Improper English Expressions I Seollairtean mi-cheart Bheurla
to be corrected :—• | gu ’bhi ceartaicbte:—
(The corresponding Gaelic expressions are correct.)
Agreeable to order—agreeably
A few broth—some
A novel fashion—new
A milk cow—milch
A mountaineous country—
mountainous
A tremendeous storm—tremen¬
dous
A stupendeous work—stupen¬
dous
A pair of partridges—a brace
Gu freagarrach do dh-6rdugh ;
a reir orduigh
Deur brota; beagan eun-bhrigh
Fasan ur; fasan nodha
Bo bhainne ; mart bainne
Duthaich bheanntail, dutch ard
Stoirm uamhasach; an-uair
Obair mhor, no anabarrach
Cupull chearcan-tomain
other languages, there can be no just reason to spurn at the borrowing of a word
from one language to enrich another, when circumstances require it. The
French words, depot, etiquette, eclat, soiree, &c. and the Latin words, aqua, dux,
genus, idem, &c. are now used by our literati as popular English words ; however,
we are not warranted in encouraging the use of foreign words in public speaking
or writing till they are thoroughly naturalized.
The word or words following the dash (—) are the proper ones.