Strange request, but could you possibly help please.

[cmn]

I am presently learning Gaelic, however one of my friends has asked me to tr*nsl*t* a phrase into Gaelic, however I am having problems, I can't get the exact tr*nsl*t**n. The phrase is: 'There can only be one'. (yes, it is to do with THAT film lol!).

I can get 'May there be only one' not 'There can be only one' - is there a more literal tr*nsl*t**n of this phrase in Gaelic?

Any help regarding this would be greatly appreciated,

Many thanks in advance!
cmn

[cmn]

for whatever reason this board does not like the word tr*nsl*t**n, or English into Gaelic lol!

[Seonaidh]

Seadh, nuair a chumhnicheas mi, bidh mi a' sgrìobhadh "tronslotion" no rudeigin mar sin. Tha mi a' creidsinn gu bheil "eadar-theangachadh" càrt gu leòr. Dè am film? Cha bhi mi a' coimhead mòran fhilmichean. Dr. Who? Highlander? Dè mu dheidhinn take-off Highlander, canamaid "Lowlander"? Co-dhiù, "There can only be one":-
there - an sin, an siud
can - crogan
only - a-mhàin, ach
be - a bhith
one - fear, tè, a h-aon
Tagh. "An siud crogan a-mhàin tè"? Cha chreid mi! Mar as àbhaist sa Ghàidhlig, nuair a bhiomaid ag ràdh "only" le gnìomhair dòchasach sa Bheurla, bidh Gàidhlig a' cleachdadh gnìomhair àicheil le "ach" ("but"), beagan mar "I've nobbut a shilling to my name" (I have nought but a shilling...) So, feum dhutsa rudeigin mar "There cannot be but one" eadar-theangachadh.

O seadh, "can". Tha "crogan" a' ciallachadh "tin". Dè seòrsa "can" a th' ann? An e "is able to", no an e"is allowed to"? Mar "He can sing concert pitch A 440" = "is able to", "She can go out when the homework's done" = "is allowed to".

"There can only be one": an e Physical Impossibility or Multiplicity a th' ann, no an e It's Against The Rules a th' ann?

[GunChleoc]

Since there actually will only be one left in that film, you might say

Cha bhi ann ach aonar.

or maybe

Cha ghabh a bhith ann ach aonar.

[akerbeltz]

Hm I'd say
Chan fhaod ach aonan a bhith ann

The idea if I remember the film correctly is that the may only be one sword wielding maniac at the end, so person > aonan. GunChleoc's constructions work though the question really hinges on the answer to "in what sense" - there can only be one because it is only, say, physically possible for there to be one or that the rules say there can only be one?

Cha ghabh implies that it's not possible for some lack of ability.
Chan fhaod implies that it's not possible for some reason of permission/rule.

I think it's the second in the cases of our very strange pre-Cullodon English-speaking Highlander

[Seonaidh]

O seadh, Ackie-poos, "pre-Cùl Lodair English-speaking Highlander"? Mas e "Highlander" a th' ann - agus nochdadh gur e siud beachd a h-uile duine a th' air freagairt a sgrìobhadh - tha mi cinnteach gur ann am Beurla a bha e nuair a choimhead mi e. Agus, mar sin, bhiodh a h-uile duine a' bruidhinn sa Bheurla co-dhiù. Mar a bha ann an nobhail a leugh mi o chionn bhliadhnaichean - nobhail sa Chuimris, agus neach anns an nobhail ag ràdh "O, dw i ddim yn siarad Cymraeg o gwbl" (Chan eil mi a' bruidhinn Cuimris idir). Ge-tà, cha chiallaich an fhìrinn gur ann sa Bheurla a tha Liam Kneeson a' bruidhinn gun robh tòrr Gàidheal a' bruidhinn sa Bheurla mus tàinig Blàr Cùl Lòdair idir. Cia mheud de fhilmichean a tha sibh air faicinn mun Ròimh aosta far am bi an cast a' bruidhinn san Laideann? Chan eil cànan an Highlander a' ciallachadh dad sam bith mu dheidhinn cànan muinntir na Gàidhealtachd aig an àm siud.

[cmn]

Moran Taing! Many thanks for your help.

[akerbeltz]

'S e do bheatha!