Gaelic sign blunder

[HenryT]

From the Daily Record

Original article found:
http://www.dailyrecord.co.uk/news/sc...6908-23837686/

A FIRE brigade have been left embarrassed when they found out they chose the wrong Gaelic name for a new training base.

Strathclyde Fire & Rescue called their newly-opened £22million centre in Cambuslang, near Glasgow, “Uaill” because it means pride.

However, amused Gaelic speakers pointed out the word has a double meaning and is more accurately translated as vanity or arrogance.

They called for the base to be renamed “prois” – another word for pride.

Cambuslang resident John Summers said: “Gaelic originates as a mainly spoken language, with numerous dialects and variations.

“Lots of words have several meanings and connotations, depending on which part of the country you are in.

“While uaill can be translated to mean pride, it is mainly used in a negative context. The more common use and translation of uaill is to describe arrogance and vanity.

“This is not what Strathclyde Fire & Rescue wish their values to be. Surely a hasty rethink is in order.”

One experienced firefighter who has worked in Cambuslang said: “When we first heard about it we thought it was a joke. When we found out the meaning of the word we were quite embarrassed.”

The fire brigade tried to pour cold water on the mistake.

A spokesman said: “Just as it does in English, pride has more than one meaning in the Gaelic language.

“For us, it represents our service values of professionalism, respect, integrity, dedication and excellence.

“Uaill was chosen to reflect the pride Scotland takes in training the firefighters of tomorrow and the justifiable pride every firefighter takes in the lifesaving service they provide to their community.”

[unixken]

However, amused Gaelic speakers pointed out the word has a double meaning and is more accurately translated as vanity or arrogance.

Whoopsie. LOL

[McElmurry]

I think Uaill is fine. After all the brigade's job is to "goeth before destruction"

[Oldhiker]

Good for them making the effort to use Gaelic!!!! Gle Mhath
Maybe this will stimulate some folks to learn their native language.

[ForresterModern]

How does one say "Aw $#!T" in gaelic?

[unixken]

Maybe this will stimulate some folks to learn their native language.

...and perhaps make someone realize that the tattoo they THOUGHT said "Freedom or Death" actually says "I want to massage your grandmother."

[O'Callaghan]

Can't really come up with a gaelic equivalent to this story, but perhaps a gallic one. A French bar I went into had a sign outside that read 'five strange beers' underneath the French, which said 'cinque bierres etrangeres' (apologies for not typing accents), which really means 'five foreign beers'. I told them that it was wrong, and that it what they had put in English meant 'cinque bierres etranges' in French (ETA: etrange = strange, but etrangere = foreign), but they didn't seem to believe me for some reason? Mind you, much the same thing happened when I told an auto parts dealer here in the US that they were flying the Union Jack upside down. They didn't believe me either.

[O'Callaghan]

...and perhaps make someone realize that the tattoo they THOUGHT said "Freedom or Death" actually says "I want to massage your grandmother."

I believe that this sort of thing happens quite often when people ask to be tatooed with Chinese characters.

[English Bloke]

I find a lot of people don't realise there is a right way and a wrong way to fly the Union Flag. Not all of them from abroad.

[Chas]

I sometimes wonder about the motivation of these official bodies. What are they hoping to achieve?

If it is to foster the language and encourage its use, would it not be better to print the pay slips and work rotas and standing orders and manuals and all the 101 other bits of paperwork in Gaelic? That would force their staff to learn the language. Or have them in English and Gaelic, so those that can and those that want to will be able to read.

But no. Not one other word in Gaelic, anywhere within the remit of the Fire & Rescue Service. So that can't be the reason.

After all, if they wanted their employees to speak in the vernacular, then surely Lallans, the Doric or Scoti would have been better. Certainly Lallans and the Doric are still spoken on a daily basis.

So the only reason I can see for them wanting to name their headquarters in Gaelic is play acting, paying lip service, a token gesture - in short, an insult.

I think the idea is as bad as the music hall comic Scotsman wearing a "see you Jimmy" hat and orange wig.

I am sorry if this offends, but there is too much of this pretend Scottishness going on in Scotland.

Regards

Chas