I do wonder if there is any other language as "muddy" as English. The etymologies tend to be so shrouded in mysteries. German doesn't seem to really have this problem to the same extent, I can't say for other languages.
Actually, while English is a “bastard” language —i.e. in the Germanic family and really just Plattdeutch but with much of its vocabulary coming from Latin (through Norman French), I find the etymology is usually very clear when I look them up. The Oxford English Dictionary, which cites first known uses of English words as well their etymology, and when unabridged is 28 volumes, illustrates this point. What’s more alarming for me is how often the etymology of English words go back to a power-over way of relating to the world, connected to property, obligation, class and demands. I have written about this frequently in The Gaelic Effect! It is sad for me for example that “husband” is about property ownership (and not human connection) and that “please” goes back to debt…and risk of imprisonment.
I watched the video and read your text and my mind expanded. At 43 years of age, I'm reconnecting with an undeveloped part of my emotional side that I didn't know was there. There was no room for emotions growing up: it wasn't even in the language I learned from a young age. I catch myself now rephrasing my inner dialogue from "I am <unhappy|sad|anxious" to I "feel ..." in Dutch. Maybe that's why I have huge difficulties trying to even start learning Irish, it feels so utterly foreign, but I feel amazed reading snippets. Just don't know how to pronounce it either haha!
Yes, at first the pronunciation can be a little overwhelming, but trust me if you stick with it, you’ll get the hang of it! What’s beautiful about Irish pronunciation is that every sound is pronounced. Even when you have a word with multiple vowels, if you listen to a native speaker they’re actually pronouncing every single one of those vowels. And yes, I Irish is much more connected to feelings in my opinion. If you’ve been reading my blog regularly, I think you’ll know what I mean! I’m glad you found the video and commentary helpful. I find that little chain that you talked about is powerful self: shifting from I am X to. I am feeling X.
I really appreciate that Irish expressions of feelings use the preposition "on" to remind us we are not our feelings; rather, they come over us like a wave, and we can ride them and use them for great self-awareness. It's so sad for me that English reinforces static identification with feelings!
Really enjoyed today’s writing. I have a question. I was born in Canada but am of mixed European roots (Scottish/English/Hungarian). I’ve been learning a little of one of the Indigenous languages of this land, Ojibway. And similar to Gaelic, there is an incredible depth to it, far beyond most English words. There is a phrase in Ojibway that when translated to English is “All My Relations.” My understanding is it speaks to & honours the depth of relationship between all-beings & how we are all interdependent & part of a miraculous web of life. I believe it is said with the upmost gratitude for how “All my relations” also supports us as humans & how in turn we must honour those relations & have a responsibility to that. Learning Ojibway is what’s got me interested in Gaelic which I imagine at least some of my ancient ancestors would have spoken. Do you know if there is a Gaelic phrase that may speak to something similar to “All my relations” in the context I just described? Thanks for considering!
Hi Chris! Thank you so much for reading and I very much appreciate your question. Let me sit with this and also speak to some friends who are native speakers and more fluent than I am. If you haven’t already, I recommend that you read the essays I wrote on togetherness in Irish (le chéile) and the one that I wrote about the meitheal and clachans. These all speak to how much interdependence matters in indigenous Irish culture and how collaboratively people lived together. In indigenous Irish culture it was believed that everything in the world is alive, including inanimate objects, so I would not be surprised if there’s something in the Irish language that speaks to recognizing and appreciating all beings and/or about all life as one web.
I do wonder if there is any other language as "muddy" as English. The etymologies tend to be so shrouded in mysteries. German doesn't seem to really have this problem to the same extent, I can't say for other languages.
Actually, while English is a “bastard” language —i.e. in the Germanic family and really just Plattdeutch but with much of its vocabulary coming from Latin (through Norman French), I find the etymology is usually very clear when I look them up. The Oxford English Dictionary, which cites first known uses of English words as well their etymology, and when unabridged is 28 volumes, illustrates this point. What’s more alarming for me is how often the etymology of English words go back to a power-over way of relating to the world, connected to property, obligation, class and demands. I have written about this frequently in The Gaelic Effect! It is sad for me for example that “husband” is about property ownership (and not human connection) and that “please” goes back to debt…and risk of imprisonment.
I watched the video and read your text and my mind expanded. At 43 years of age, I'm reconnecting with an undeveloped part of my emotional side that I didn't know was there. There was no room for emotions growing up: it wasn't even in the language I learned from a young age. I catch myself now rephrasing my inner dialogue from "I am <unhappy|sad|anxious" to I "feel ..." in Dutch. Maybe that's why I have huge difficulties trying to even start learning Irish, it feels so utterly foreign, but I feel amazed reading snippets. Just don't know how to pronounce it either haha!
Powerful in itself. Ugh I used voice recognition. I need to check it more closely before I hit Send!
Yes, at first the pronunciation can be a little overwhelming, but trust me if you stick with it, you’ll get the hang of it! What’s beautiful about Irish pronunciation is that every sound is pronounced. Even when you have a word with multiple vowels, if you listen to a native speaker they’re actually pronouncing every single one of those vowels. And yes, I Irish is much more connected to feelings in my opinion. If you’ve been reading my blog regularly, I think you’ll know what I mean! I’m glad you found the video and commentary helpful. I find that little chain that you talked about is powerful self: shifting from I am X to. I am feeling X.
Change not chain lol
I really appreciate that Irish expressions of feelings use the preposition "on" to remind us we are not our feelings; rather, they come over us like a wave, and we can ride them and use them for great self-awareness. It's so sad for me that English reinforces static identification with feelings!
Really enjoyed today’s writing. I have a question. I was born in Canada but am of mixed European roots (Scottish/English/Hungarian). I’ve been learning a little of one of the Indigenous languages of this land, Ojibway. And similar to Gaelic, there is an incredible depth to it, far beyond most English words. There is a phrase in Ojibway that when translated to English is “All My Relations.” My understanding is it speaks to & honours the depth of relationship between all-beings & how we are all interdependent & part of a miraculous web of life. I believe it is said with the upmost gratitude for how “All my relations” also supports us as humans & how in turn we must honour those relations & have a responsibility to that. Learning Ojibway is what’s got me interested in Gaelic which I imagine at least some of my ancient ancestors would have spoken. Do you know if there is a Gaelic phrase that may speak to something similar to “All my relations” in the context I just described? Thanks for considering!
Hi Chris! Thank you so much for reading and I very much appreciate your question. Let me sit with this and also speak to some friends who are native speakers and more fluent than I am. If you haven’t already, I recommend that you read the essays I wrote on togetherness in Irish (le chéile) and the one that I wrote about the meitheal and clachans. These all speak to how much interdependence matters in indigenous Irish culture and how collaboratively people lived together. In indigenous Irish culture it was believed that everything in the world is alive, including inanimate objects, so I would not be surprised if there’s something in the Irish language that speaks to recognizing and appreciating all beings and/or about all life as one web.
This is great, Dian! Thank you 😊 🙏