Fòram na Gàidhlig

Don't worry, I'm not troubled by lenition this time.

But I can't make out whether these are simply interchangeable or whether you traditionally use droch (or deagh) with some nouns and dona (or math) with others - or whether perhaps they are usually interchangeable but there are a few exceptions in which using one of these would seem quite unidiomatic.

The most important difference in terms of usability is that 'droch' and 'deagh' are ONLY used directly before the noun (and lenite it where possible).

'S e droch naidheachd a th' ann. It's bad news.
(or, less common, 's e naidheachd dhona a th' ann.)

BUT, if you really want to say 'the news is bad':
Tha an naidheachd dona.

The same system applies to 'deagh' and 'math'.

There are subtle differences in meaning and register too, but the ability of 'droch' and 'deagh' to precede the noun lends them emphasis, so they are often used in emphatic situations, i.e. particularly bad or good.

The frontal positions also means they lend themselves to compound nouns and adjectives, e.g.

droch-nàdarrach: bad-natured
deagh-aithnichte: well-known

And both 'droch' and 'deagh' are used a lot in spoken/colloquial Gaelic.

Think that's enough to be going on with!
Consult Colin Mark's dictionary for idiomatic usage.

Mòran taing! That's just what I wanted to know - and, moreover, you made me look up the Colin Mark dictionary in GoogleBooks and... ged a tha faclair Aonghais MhicBhatair agam mu thràth, tharraing mi am fear le Cailean Marc aig Amazon cuideachd - tha e coltach gu bheil tòrr fiosrachaidh ann a bharrachd air ea**r-thea******idhean!

I think that droch and deagh are also more emphatic - I would be inclined to say that they have a stronger meaning than dona and math.

something could be dona but if it was worse it would be droch, then uabhasach etc etc

Na na na Horo - if it was worse it'd be nas miosa...

Cofaidh mi a-nis...dè ma dheidhinn? "A' cofadh" - "having a coffee"...

Chofainn cuideachd, ach tha mi air cupa a ghabhail o chionn leth-uair

I suppose it's about whether it's really intrinsically bad/good or not.

Good news isn't really "news that is good". It's just "good news" -- it can't be anything else.

But other things.... welll....

Good point, Niall.

@Seonaidh: When Horoghellaidh says worse, he means very bad as such, and not worse in comparison to something else. Just like saying "Bad news" in English with a strong emphasis on "bad".

cheers GC - exactly what I meant - baaaaad news now all I need is someone to explain the 'cofaidh' thing...

horogheallaidh wrote:now all I need is someone to explain the 'cofaidh' thing...

I took it as a wordplay on "cofaidh"=coffee and the suffix -(a)idh for the future tense, hence "cofaidh mi=I will [have a] coffee" (so I said "chofainn cuideachd=I would coffee too" ).

A bheil sin ceart, a Sheonaidh, or was I off the target?

Airsply so, a Dhonnchaidh. Mar a thachras, tha mi air cofadh an-dràsta...

Seadh a Ghunch - is Horo - bha fios agam air a' chuid a chiallaich - cha robh mi ach tarraing cas.

Mar as trice, a Sheonaidh!

Seonaidh wrote: Seadh a Ghunch - is Horo - bha fios agam air a' chuid a chiallaich - cha robh mi ach tarraing cas.

cha robh mi ach a' tarraing asad.

Posted: Wed Jun 03, 2009 9:32 am Post subject:
Mar as trice

Mar as àbhaist.

Bha mi airson ràdh "often" is chan ann "always" no "usually"

hmm, ach chan urrainn dhuit "mar is trice" a chleachdadh san t-seagh seo. Chanainn sa rudeigin mar "mar is dual dhuit" .

Mar is trice, bidh mi a' cluich badminton oidhche ardaoin.

I usually play badminton on thursday evening.

Bidh mi a' cluich badminton oidhche ardaoin gu tric.

I often play badminton on thursday evening.

Dùrachdan.