Treoir / InstructionsA translation of the dialogue is available further down the page. Even if your knowledge of Irish is very limited, try reading the dialogue initially without looking at the translation – you should be able to guess the meaning of some of the phrases from the context. The Test Yourself! facility will be available again shortly. Once you’re familiar with the dialogue, you can click on the "Test yourself!" button to check your knowledge. Cúlra / BackgroundLiam is twenty-nine years old and lives in the Donegal Gaeltacht. He’s from a mixed farming background but now works as a shop manager in Letterkenny. *Bairbre, who is twenty-eight, is originally from Cavan, but now lives in Dublin, where she works as a nurse. She met Liam while attending an Irish course in Donegal over five years ago. They dated for two-and-a-half years but split up when discovered that had gone back to her former fiancée behind his back. Their separation was not amicable. *

Liam and Bairbre recently met for the first time in three years. They had dinner together, went back to her place later on and ended up sleeping together. A few weeks later Bairbre finally plucks up the courage and rings Liam to discuss the situation.

Dialogue 40

Susan: A Bhairbre, an bhfuil tú ceart go leor? Tá do ghuth ar crith.

Bairbre: Níl. Níl mé ceart go leor ar chor ar bith. Tá mé ...

Susan: Cad é a tharla? Ar inis tú an drochscéala do Noel?

Bairbre: Níor inis agus tá scéala níos measa agam anois – tá mé torrach.Susan: Torrach! Ó, a Bhairbre. Cathain a fuair tú sin amach?

Bairbre: Ag an deireadh seachtaine. Rinne mé tástáil le haghaidh toirchis sa bhaile agus chuaigh mé chuig an dochtúir maidin Dé Luain.

Susan: Tá sin dochreidte. Déarfainn go bhfuil Noel an-sásta go deo.

Bairbre: Níor inis mé dó go fóill ...

Susan: Cén fáth?

Bairbre: Mar is dóigh liom gur leanbh Liam atá ann.

Susan: Leanbh Liam! An bhfuil tú cinnte?

Bairbre: Tá mé go hiomlán cinnte mar ...Susan: Ná habair liom nár úsáid sibh frithghiniúint ar bith an oíche sin a d’fhan sé leat.

Bairbre: Níor úsáid – ar an drochuair. Ní raibh coiscíní ar bith leis mar nach raibh sé i gceist aige an oíche a chaitheamh liom. Tharla sé, go díreach.Susan: An raibh tú ag caint le Liam ó bhí an troid agaibh ar an ghuthán?Bairbre: Ní raibh.

Susan: Níl an dara rogha agat anois – caithfidh tú an scéal a mhíniú do Noel. Agus labhairt le Liam.

Bairbre: Ní féidir liom. Ní féidir liom.

Aistriúchán / Translation

Susan: Bairbre, are you alright? Your voice is shaking.

Bairbre: I’m not. I’m not alright at all. I’m ...

Susan: What happened? Did you tell Noel the bad news?

Bairbre: I didn’t and I have worse news now – I’m pregnant.Susan: Pregnant! O, Bairbre. When did you find that out?

Bairbre: At the weekend. I did a pregnancy test at home and I went to the doctor on Monday morning.

Susan: That’s unbelievable. I’d say Noel is really pleased.

Bairbre: I didn’t tell him yet ...

Susan: Why?

Bairbre: Because I think it’s Liam’s baby.

Susan: Liam’s baby! Are you sure?

Bairbre: I’m totally sure because ...Susan: Don’t tell me you didn’t use contraception that night he stayed with you.

Bairbre: We didn’t – unfortunately. He had no condoms with him because he didn’t intend staying the night with me. It just happened.Susan: Have you spoken to Liam since you had the fight on the phone?Bairbre: No.

Susan: You have no choice now – you’ll have to explain the story to Noel. And speak to Liam.

Bairbre: I can’t. I can’t.

Gramadach / GrammarAs we saw the last time, words that follow the simple preposition ar are often lenited. When a condition, a state, an emotion or a general location is being referred to, however, there is no lenition:

ar crith (shaking)

ar buile (furious)

ar meisce (drunk)Notice how a pronoun is not used when a Yes or No answer is being given in the past tense:

• Ar inis tú an drochscéala do Noel?

• Níor inis.

The pronoun mé is not used here since it would be superfluous. The same rule applies in the case of other tenses as well: - An rachaidh sé leat? (Will he go with you?)

• Rachaidh. (He will.)

• An bhfuil tú ceart go leor? (Are you alright?)

• Níl. (I’m not.)