New learners book!

[yellow-ceitidh]

then realized that TY misses out the 'mi' in 'Tha mi gu math', making it 'Tha gu math'.

Is that a problem? You'll very often hear the 'mi' dropped by speakers referring to themselves and now that I think on it I wouldn't consider it too unnatural for someone to answer a question referring to someone else in such a manner as long as there was no ambiguity re who was being referred to;

"Ciamar a tha thu a Choinnich?"
"Tha sgìth / toilichte / tinn / gu dòigheil"

Although if my ageing brain serves me correctly I read somewhere 'mi' is the only one that should be dropped in this manner.

It didn't explain it though, and I've been confused about that for a long time, thanks for explaining it.

[Coinneach Cìr]

It didn't explain it though, and I've been confused about that for a long time, thanks for explaining it.

Tha sin ceart gu leòr!

That's not a problem

[*Alasdair*]

It has been delayed again: http://www.birlinn.co.uk/book/details/S ... 841586441/

Jun '08

[deardron]

You'll very often hear the 'mi' dropped by speakers referring to themselves and now that I think on it I wouldn't consider it too unnatural for someone to answer a question referring to someone else in such a manner as long as there was no ambiguity re who was being referred to;

"Ciamar a tha thu a Choinnich?"
"Tha sgìth / toilichte / tinn / gu dòigheil"

Although if my ageing brain serves me correctly I read somewhere 'mi' is the only one that should be dropped in this manner.

It's looks like it's quite the same thing as when you omit 'I' in English, i.e. hope, don't know, wish etc.

[*Alasdair*]

July now...

Somehow i doubt we will ever see this...

[Níall Beag]

You'll very often hear the 'mi' dropped by speakers referring to themselves and now that I think on it I wouldn't consider it too unnatural for someone to answer a question referring to someone else in such a manner as long as there was no ambiguity re who was being referred to;

"Ciamar a tha thu a Choinnich?"
"Tha sgìth / toilichte / tinn / gu dòigheil"

Although if my ageing brain serves me correctly I read somewhere 'mi' is the only one that should be dropped in this manner.

It's looks like it's quite the same thing as when you omit 'I' in English, i.e. hope, don't know, wish etc.

Not quite.

In English you would not hear an exchange like this:
How are you?
Am good.

In Scots we might reply Aye, guid (=Yes, good), even though it's not a yes/no question.
The Gaelic form above seems more like the Scots pattern than the English "missing I".

[eideard]

In English you would not hear an exchange like this:
How are you?
Am good.

No, but you definitely will hear "How are you ? " "Good, thanks." And if you're in the southern US you'll also hear "A 'm good."

[Cèid]

And if you're in the southern US you'll also hear "A 'm good."

Nonsense. I've lived in the South for over 20 years, and I've never hear anyone say that. Southern Americans say "I'm good," as well as "I'm fine" (which is more common) and "I'm doing good/well/fine," usually followed by "thanks" or "thank you" because Southerners still value politeness as well as forming complete sentences. (A side note: While some wanna-be grammaticians might quibble over whether "I'm good" is "proper" English, actually it's prefectly fine, seeing in colloquial American English, one says "I'm well" to refer more specifically to one's present state of physical health. "I'm good/fine" or "I'm doing well/good/fine" are used more to express mood, mental/emotional state, or state of personal circumstances.)

Sorry, but while I'm not a native Southerner, I've come to have a lot of respect for them and for how well they have preserved "good" English in their colloquial speech, despite the common stereotypes about them or how other people consciously or unconsciously "mishear" Southerners due to their own personal biases.


Back to the topic: while it's great they're coming out (eventually) with a new learner's book, what I would really like to see is more intermediate materials available.

[*Alasdair*]

An t-Iuchar 15mh a-nis...
July 15th.

[*Alasdair*]

An t-Sultain a-nis...
September now...

[Níall Beag]

As I understand it, this doesn't indicate an intention to withdraw the book. I recall hearing (perhaps from our resident bookseller) that "low order" books get shuffled backwards routinely when demand for a popular title increases. No point resetting the presses for a couple of thousand Gaelic books when there's demand for a couple of hundred thousand Booker Prize winners!

This book'll probably appear when there's a bit of a lull in the bestsellers.

[Rù-ra]

The hold-up is apparently due to major delays with the final proof-reading. They are still waiting, and can't go to print until it has been properly proof-read.

[*Alasdair*]

15mh an t-Sultain a-nis.

A dh'aithgearr!
15th Sept.
Soon!

[Rù-ra]

The book is now ready, but they are still trying to find someone to do the recordings for the CD. So far, everyone they have asked either says no or is too busy to do the recordings straight away.

[*Alasdair*]

The book is now ready, but they are still trying to find someone to do the recordings for the CD. So far, everyone they have asked either says no or is too busy to do the recordings straight away.

Since you seem to have insider knowledge, are they planning on distributing the book on its own first, then the CD version later?