Sgeul #1: "Nataili agus Seachdain na Gàidhlig"

Halò a chàirdean còire!

Am mìos seo, ’s ann nì ùr a bhios sinn a’ feuchainn. Sna làithean a dh’fhalbh, bha cothroman ann do luchd-ionnsachaidh na Gàidhlig a bhith cruthachail le bhith a’ sgrìobhadh sgeulachdan goirid.

Leis gu bheil e coltach nach eil an aon seòrsa de chothrom ann tuilleadh (no is dòcha gu bheil iad doirbh ri lorg), bidh sinne a’ feuchainn iomairt ùr an seo far an leugh thu sgeulachd ghoirid a h-uile mìos le neach-ionnsachaidh na Gàidhlig! Bidh an-còmhnaidh an sgeulachd fhèin, eadar-theangachadh gu Beurla agus clàradh (le Andy againn) rim faighinn, gus a’ bhuannachd as motha a thairgsinn dhan neach-leughaidh.

Mar sin, mas e neach-ionnsachaidh na Gàidhlig a th’ annadsa cuideachd, ’s tu airson pàirt a ghabhail, bidh sinn a’ cur a h-uile fiosrachadh cudromach a-mach aig toiseach a’ mhìos, le cuspair eadar-dhealaichte gach turas. Anns an eadar-àm, seo blasad a sgrìobh Andy fhèin do Sheachdain na Gàidhlig 2024.

Seo dhuibh “Nataili agus Seachdain na Gàidhlig”.

[Gàidhlig]

B’ e Seachdain na Gàidhlig ann an Dùn Èideann a bh’ ann, agus bha tòrr thachartasan Gàidhlig a’ dol sa phrìomh-bhaile.

Nam measg, bha seisean a’ dol ann an sràid Victoria. ’S e cearcall-còmhraidh a bh’ ann. Bha boireannach òg os cionn an tachartais seo; ’s e Nataili an t-ainm a bh’ oirre.

Ged nach robh Gàidhlig aig Nataili on ghlùn, bha i air dol tro fhoghlam tro mheadhan na Gàidhlig. Mar sin, bha Gàidhlig mhath, shoilleir aice. Agus bha ùidh mhòr aice ann an cànain agus lìonraidhean sòisealta co-dhiù.

Nise, bha Nataili na suidhe ann an cafaidh beag ann an sràid Victoria. Bha i a’ feitheamh ris a’ chiad duine a thigeadh a-steach. Bha e 2:58f, ach cha robh duine sam bith ann fhathast.

Na gabh dragh—bidh cuideigin a’ tighinn a-steach, smaoinich i rithe fhèin. ’S e Seachdain na Gàidhlig a th’ ann.

Às dèidh greis, bha e 3:05f. Bha an cafaidh fhathast falamh. ’S e briseadh-dùil a tha seo, ars Nataili rithe fhèin. Ach dh’fhan i foighidneach. Feumaidh gu bheil na trèanaichean fadalach, smaoinich i.

Mu dheireadh thall, aig 3:20f, thàinig dithis bhoireannach a-steach, agus triùir cloinne aca. Thug a’ chiad bhoireannach sùil air Nataili:

“Err…feasgar math! Seachdain na Gàidhlig, an seo?”

Sheas Nataili, ’s i làn toileachas. “Seadh! ’S e Seachdain na Gàidhlig a tha seo.”

Choisich i timcheall a’ bhùird agus chuir i a làmh a-mach. “Haidh, is mise Nataili!”

“Halò! Is mise Anita,” thuirt am boireannach. “Gabh mo leisgeul: tha mo Ghàidhlig briste.”

“O, na gabh dragh!” fhreagair Nataili, le gàire. “’S fheàrr Gàidhlig bhriste na Gàidhlig sa chiste!”

[Beurla]

It was World Gaelic Week in Edinburgh, and there were lots of Gaelic events going on in the capital city.

Among them, there was a session going on in Victoria Street. It was a conversation circle. A young woman was in charge of this event; her name was Natalie.

Although Natalie wasn’t a native Gaelic speaker, she had been through GME (Gaelic-medium education). As such, she had good, clear Gaelic. And she had a big interest in languages and social networks anyway.

Now Natalie was sitting in a small café in Victoria Street. She was waiting for the first person who would come in. It was 2:58pm, but no-one was there yet.

Don’t worry—someone’ll come in, she thought to herself. It’s World Gaelic Week.

After a while, it was 3:05pm. The café was still empty. This is disappointing, Natalie said to herself. But she remained patient. The trains must be late, she thought.

Finally, at 3:20pm, two women came in, accompanied by three children. The first woman took a look at Natalie:

“Err…good afternoon! World Gaelic Week, here?”

Natalie stood up, brimming with happiness. “Yes! This is World Gaelic Week.”

She walked around the table, and she put her hand out. “Hi, I’m Natalie.”

“Hello! I’m Anita,” the woman said. “My apologies: my Gaelic is broken.”

“Oh, don’t worry!” Natalie answered, with a smile. “Broken Gaelic’s better than no Gaelic at all!”

xxx