Our President, Michael D. Higgins, made the news yesterday for being rudely disturbed during an interview (which he continued seamlessly) by his six-month-old Bernese mountain puppy named “Misneach” (pronounced Mish-nuk), the Irish/Gaelic for courage, sitting beside him and chewing on his hand. It made me think of a myriad of words that, whilst their translation may be given, their meaning sometimes gets lost in translation (even in English!).
Language can be a cruel mistress or your best friend, and the written word can be the judge who makes or breaks you - so clear and concise, yet so wide open to interpretation. And translation is the firing squad sometimes.
So many Irish words, old Irish, have such a deeper meaning than English could ever hope to convey. As the daughter of a dynasty of teachers, I was blessed to have been brought up to appreciate language as opposed to “a” language. Words soothe me, excite me, inspire me, sadden me. So there are a few Irish ones I would like to share with you, which I will try and explain instead of translate!
”Cogar”, translation whisper, pronounced Ku-gur. Depending when it’s used, to me it has a double meaning. As a parent/adult to a child, it gives a point of meaning and respect to a child to know their place, or to be mindful of their words. Between adults, it has almost but not quite a fearful aspect. It gives a heart pounding moment of anticipation that something bigger is about to happen/is happening so one must wait quietly (not silently) in anticipation of what is to come.
“Amhrasach”, (spelling potentially dodgy lol), translation wary, pronounced “Ow-rus-uck”. This word, oh how I love this word. It defines me lol. It’s a healthy fear, a wariness from your gut, a standoffish distant observation of someone or something that looks appealing but you just know has the potential to be very very bad to you/for you but then again might not be, so just be cautious and take your time.
And then there’s the President’s dog with a name which touches my soul deep down inside
”Misneach”, translation courage, pronounced Mish-nuk. This word has such a deeper meaning, reserved in reverence of those who fought. It emanates a fear of the unknown and a bravery despite it. It conveys a deep harrowing sadness of the scars, physical and mental, that were left behind. It invokes a sense of awe and respect at the challenges faced and overcome regardless of the outcome. There are so many deserving of this word, but few who will ever hear it.
