The Irish Language - Grammar, Pronunciation, Games, Myths, Poetry and more

Re: Translation needed for 'resistance'

tararrr — Mon, 28 Jul 2014 22:06:36 GMT

Thank you very much for the replies, I think 'seas an fód' will work.

I have tattoos, and tattoos have been around for centuries so they're certainly not a fad! I didn't ask for opinions on tattoos so I'm confused as to why you had to voice your opinion on them. Please don't be so patronising. Opinions on what someone does with their own body are best kept to yourself.

Thanks again.

Re: Translation needed for 'resistance'

Dale D — Mon, 28 Jul 2014 19:42:42 GMT

In reply to the original post...

The word "síochán" means "peace" so "síochánta" means "peaceful" or "passive", according to my online Irish/English dictionary. I suppose that to be peaceful or passive could convey a connotation of immovable or being fixed in place. However, "passive" also has the connotation of letting things through!

My opinion: Tatoos may be popular, but there's something to be said for "resisting" popular fads. Some people consider it "body art." I consider it body grafitti, and when someone tags my white vinyl fence, we clean it off. Consider carefully what you do to, and with, your body. It's the only one you'll ever get.

Dale D

Re: Translation needed for 'resistance'

seano — Sat, 26 Jul 2014 12:52:20 GMT

Haigh Dale, Yes, I deal quite a bit with scientific texts, so friotaíocht is resistance, friotachas is resistivity, and friotóir is a resistor (not a fritter). I believe the difference between the first two is that resistance depends on amount, while resistivity is the intrinsic quality of resistance of a substance regardless of how much of it there is. But don't quote me on that ...

Re: Translation needed for 'resistance'

Dale D — Sat, 26 Jul 2014 00:57:18 GMT

Hey, seánó! Since we're discussing the word "resistance" I was wondering if you know what the proper terms would be in Irish for "resistance" and "resistor" in the field of electronics. I wouldn't be surprised if that field makes extensive borrowings as Béarla, but since I've done a lot of work in that field, I'm curious to know about some of the terminology. It would also be interesting to know about words like "transistor" which are what I call "composite" words that steal little bits and pieces from here and there to get their meaning across. Actually the word "transistor" in English is quite elegant in expression the functions of the device, but that's another subject....

Just curious if you know about anything in that field.

Thanks!

Dale D

Re: Translation needed for 'resistance'

seano — Fri, 25 Jul 2014 20:57:01 GMT

Hi Tararrr, The problem is that people tend to think that a word is a thing. They are so used to using the words in their own language that the idea that other languages might have other words or express things in other ways doesn't cross their mind. Resistance comes from Latin and originally meant 'holding back'. In English, it is used in biology, law enforcement or history. In Irish, there are various ways of expressing resistance, but most of the natural ways would use a phrase (in modern Irish, anyway - Old Irish was different in structure). For example, 'there was a lot of resistance to the new law' would be 'chuir an pobal in aghaidh an dlí nua'. There is a newly composed word which stands for resistance in the historical sense (such as The French Resistance), which is frithbheartaíocht. This is composed of a number of elements. Beart means an act or action, beartaíocht is an abstract noun from this (acting), and frith means against or anti, so it means to act against. But this is a dictionary word, not the kind of thing a native speaker would use. Mostly, a native speaker would talk about standing their ground against something - an fód a sheasamh. For your tattoo, you might choose something like SEAS AN FÓD, stand your ground.

However, if you're looking for an old Irish expression meaning 'resistance', there was this word, frithchathugud, which can be found here:

http://edil.qub.ac.uk/dictionary/results-new.php?srch=resistance&dictionary_choice=edil_2012

This might be your best bet if you're going to write it in ogham. If there's anything you want clarified, get back to us. As I'm sure you know, you don't want to make a mistake with something as permanent as a tattoo. As many people have done in the past! I put a link on another piece of advice for someone getting a tattoo here. I suggest you check that out, as it shows about seven badly botched Irish language tattoos! Slán go fóill!

Translation needed for 'resistance'

tararrr — Tue, 22 Jul 2014 12:39:29 GMT

Hi I am looking for the correct Irish word meaning to oppose or withstand a force. I have been told a few different words,

'friotaíocht' - resistance

'frithbheartaíocht' - resistance

'seasamh' - to take a stand

'síochánta' - I thought this meant 'peace'?

I'm confused about which word is correct.

I would also be looking for the Old Irish origin of the word, since I want to translate it to ogham for a tattoo.

Any help would be appreciated, thank you.