Tattoo translation help

[seasaidhlinne]

I have wanted a gaelic tattoo for some time I really love this saying
"Sky above me, Earth below me, Fire within me"
I have tried to translate it myself but struggle with grasping the basic grammar(I also studied french for several years obligatory in Canada schools and learned zilch language not my strong suit). Anyone want to give me a hand?

[Nathan]

ok - so the problem with translating is that expressions don't have the same impact in every language. One of the cool things about your quote is the poetic use of "me" three times. The first two being literal and the third being metaphorical. In Gaelic, the personalization is implied by the "m" at the end of the preposition. Eg. agat (at you) agam (at me) etc... tu/thu = you mi = me but they get combined into the word.

I'd be VERY hesitant to tattoo this on myself until I ran it by several native Gaidhlig speakers, not just for accuracy but for the nuance of how they take its meaning. My attempt at translation is just a start. Don't put this on your skin forever without checking it out further.

I'm a student of Gaidhlig, but sadly, it's not my first language because a couple of generations ago, my people moved from the Gaidhlig rural communities of Cape Breton to the coal mines of the industrial area and used Gaidhlig as a language the kids couldn't understand at home rather than passing it on. There was a view that it was old fashioned and people were embarrassed by it, I'm sad to say.

Thankfully, that wasn't the case everywhere and there are still native speakers and tradition bearers for me to learn from.

My best guess would be: Speur os cionn, talamh fodham (agus) teine annam.

The connotation of fodham (below/beneath me) can mean "of lower status than I" or "subordinate to me" so this may not get your point accross at all.

You might wish to try the St. Anne's Gaelic College in Cape Breton, the Nova Scotia Gaelic Council or the Celtic Studies department at St. Frances Xavier University. A quick phone call might get you to a professor or native speaker whom you can run it by.

Neloon on here seems to have some Gaidhlig as well... He might be able to help or point you in the right direction...

[Nathan]

Bump. Anyone else want to weigh in?

[Sammac]

Wish I could help. But I do like that saying alot.

[Katia]

Out of curiosity, is this from St. Patrick's lorica? It has that sort of "feel" to it. If so, its "flow" may be okay in Gaelic (though possibly it would be in Irish Gaelic?)... and also may be Google-able to find it in one of the Gaelic languages.

[castledangerous]

That's not from St Patrick's Breastplate or Lorica, but it has that feel. This page has the Lorica in English and Irish about half way down:

http://www.druidry.org/board/dhp/vie...p?f=73&t=16904

[seasaidhlinne]

I actually am not sure where it's from only that to me in sort of covers that feeling of my heritage and my life struggles and my warrior spirit

[Nathan]

Try contacting this guy:

Hector Mac Neil Eachann Mac Nèill
Gaelic Program Director Fear-Stiùiridh Na Gàidhlig
The Gaelic College A' Cholaisde Ghàidhlig
Box 80, Englishtown Bocsa 80, Baile Nan Gall,
NS, Canada Alba Nuadh, Canada
B0C 1H0 B0C 1H0
Phone: (902) 295-3411
Facs: (902) 295-2912
http://www.gaeliccollege.edu