Читать книгу Reading the Gaelic Landscape онлайн

23 страница из 56

Plate 3: Ardeonaig - Beinn Ghlas and Beinn Labhair, Tom a’ Bhuachaille is on the left middle ground of the picture

Plate 4: Glen Beith - Beinn Mhùrlag, Stùc a’ Chroin and Beinn Odhar, Tom Cadalach is on the right middle ground of the picture behind the sheep

Correct pronunciation can also help with meanings. How do we know what Balloch, near Loch Lomond, means if we do not know that the original Gaelic form is Bealach, meaning pass and pronounced BYAHluch, stressing the first syllable? If we did not know the sound of the name, we could conclude that Balloch had a quite different meaning of Town of the Loch, like Baile an LOCH, near Inverness, which is pronounced with the stress on loch and, confusingly, also anglicised as Balloch.

If the spelling of Gaelic names is incorrect on maps and in guides, how can we be sure if the anglicised prefix kil means a church (cill), a wood (coille) or the back of something (cùl), which are completely different things? If Auchtertyre is spelled thus, or as Ochtertyre, how do we know if the name refers to a field, ach[adh], or the upper part, uachdar, of the land - two differing types of place? This example shows another problem with corrupted Gaelic orthography. It is inconsistent, and inconsistencies have no rules. Throughout the text this book will identify and correct many common corruptions of Gaelic spelling. Like the introduction of bilingual road signs, it is hoped that this will promote a more grounded and deeper understanding of the landscape.