Fòram na Gàidhlig

So I was sitting today and wondering something about language, well more about people to be honest. In relation to cuss words and does every language have them. I don't know a lot about languages, but I do understand that every culture has their own version of what they consider taboo. Like Japan for example, almost everything is an insult if you're not careful, and most of there insults when deliberate are judged by class, virtually versions of the word "you" is used i.e. kisama or omae, which derive insult because they are impolite ways of referring to you as a person or lower in position than you want to be regarded and reflect that in the characters used to represent them. English on the other hand derives all of it's insults from either bigotry or sex. Does Gaidhlig have cuss words? What seed in the Gaidhlig culture has been considered in such a way that it's became a "bad word". If a native Gaidheal cracks his thumb with a hammer, whats considered expressive enough to sum up that emotion? I know I'd scream 'ah ya ducker' only it'd be less avian in nature.

Also, interestingly, would I even be offended? Because the way the Japanese cuss seems kinda weak to me, but they obviously feel differently.

*crackle of the intercom* all ADULT humans, this is your local normal person speaking, we are now descending and are currently above our final destination of planet hilariously disappointed, we should be landing shortly if you could please take your seats for the remainder of the flight, THE current temperature is about -500C, thank you for flying "air seriously no one wants to tackle this lol"? *crackle of the intercom*


Severely misplaced judgment on my part it would seem. The implications hahahahahaa, the implications!

I can't close this, but never mind, seriously. The fact that the views double since my one reply showed up on the board is so psychosocial that it makes me want to take a shower

Relax, not everything happens instantaneously here

Of course Gaelic speakers swear, just like any other language. They might not always share the fact with you openly as there are fairly strong prohibitions. Put it the other way, I know for a fact Cantonese is full of swear words but I know few as my mother would never teach me any.

The usual suspects show up, religion, bodily functions, animals... mind, in terms of insults the tradition was more towards cursing than swearing. I was talking to someone the other day who came out with the colourful phrase laigh gun èirigh oirre agus leac air a beul. Pretty harsh I'd say

iomchaidh gu lèor, tapadh leibh

!!!!!!!!!!!!

Jason, remember the vast majority of people on here are learners too, however advanced, and probably not qualified to answer your question. They were probably all hoping some kind native speaker would come on and tell them too!
Nothing psychotic about it!

My Gaelic-speaking grannie would not have either used a swear-word herself or taught me one. We also never used English swear words when I was growing up, in a small, largely Presbyterian, Highland community. It was considered both immoral and vulgar, something only poor deprived southern incomers did...

Can't do much right in this forum can I =P

I could explain but I don't see a point, I'm having a gid auld laugh about it though

guess i'm just not very good at this

which is awfy funny considering my gaelic is coming along nicely

I'm just used to a rougher kind of dialogue, wee bit a banter ken whit a mean, hahaha don't get it here, bludy egg shells seems like

right good laugh though

christ, deprived southern, no for aff

we'll get there

The 'poor deprived southerner' was also humourously intended, Jason, hence the smiley. (This one: )

Don't know where you're seeing eggshells - simple, factual (not reproachful) point made to offer at least one explanation to the lack of response you'd commented on. Can't help you with Gaelic swear words myself for that reason - never learned them - hard though that may be for well-travelled young people today to believe.

Banter is perfectly fine, so go ahead, although as we see it's not always clear that that's what it is when only written, not spoken. (Especially given how international we are on here! )

Just keep in mind most of the people on this forum - including myself - are learners. So, we don't have all the answers to every question. I myself enjoy a good banter just as much as the next person, and I can also have quite the potty mouth in private

You could do a search in the Stòr-dàta for *!, that should turn up a few interesting expressions

let me see...

heard a famous Uist singer blurt this one out having to a retake while recording a song for TV

càc a' choin! - shit of the dog!

Insults

sgàird a th' annad.... - you are diarrhaea, in particular a beast's diarrheoa (how do you spell diarrheoa ?)
chan eil annad ach tròc! / tròc duine a tha thu ann! - you are garbage/crap
meaban duine - insignificant person
ablaich gun fheum.... - rotten carcase of no use


etc etc there are plenty more.....was this what you were after?

jasonleitch wrote:
Also, interestingly, would I even be offended? Because the way the Japanese cuss seems kinda weak to me, but they obviously feel differently.

Don't know where you got that idea from..i lived in japan for 8 years and I learnt a few sweary insults while there!

kusotare - くそたれ！（shithead, bastard)
aho - あほ (idiot, considered less strong in kansai dialect, stronger in kanto dialect/standard japanese )
baka - ばか　(idiot, kanto dialect, standard japanese)
kuso! くそ！ Shit!

ahondare 　あほんだれ　(idiot shithead)
bakatare ばかたれ

Loads more where those came from!

An Gobaire wrote:sgàird a th' annad.... - you are diarrhaea, in particular a beast's diarrheoa (how do you spell diarrheoa ?)

diarrhoea sa Bheurla, diarrhea san Aimeireaganais, diarrhée san Fhraingis, διάρροια sa Ghreugais, diaré san Nirribhis agus hasmenés san Ungairis

An Gobaire wrote: let me see...

heard a famous Uist singer blurt this one out having to a retake while recording a song for TV

càc a' choin! - shit of the dog!

Insults

sgàird a th' annad.... - you are diarrhaea, in particular a beast's diarrheoa (how do you spell diarrheoa ?)
chan eil annad ach tròc! / tròc duine a tha thu ann! - you are garbage/crap
meaban duine - insignificant person
ablaich gun fheum.... - rotten carcase of no use


etc etc there are plenty more.....was this what you were after?

Would it be usual to just shout "càc" as an expletive say after stubbing your toe or something?

What short term would you use if you were swearing at someone on the TV? The emotional equivalent of calling out "arsehole" (though the actual meaning might be different).

Do people using Gaelic use swear words in a friendly manner among their friends at all? Such as old friends greeting each other after not having seen each other in a while with a, "How've you been, you old bastard?"

a chaca, in the vocative case, yes.