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| Abaoe 1995 | Brezhoneg · Français · English · Español · Deutsch |
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James Cantrell, 2000-01-26 06:11:12 I have never learned any Breton, and it has been years since I picked up the basics of Gaeilge. I would like to know Breton for the following words: 'maker,' teller,' 'singer.' Can someone help? RE: Breton words Jañ-Mai Drapier, 2000-01-26 12:14:52 "maker" => "graer" or "oberer" "teller" => "konter" or "marvailher" "singer" => "kaner" RE: Breton words James Cantrell, 2000-01-26 18:26:19 Thank you so much for the response. Now for a couple more questions that perhaps you or someone else can answer. Is 'kaner' a borrowing from Latin via the church, or is it older, pre-Christian? Do we know the words for 'singer' in any of the ancient Gaulish languages? What are the differences in meaning or usage between 'graer' and 'oberer' and between 'konter' and 'marvailher'? Can you provide me with generally standard pronunciations? Are there in Breton distinct variations in pronunication based on geography? RE: Breton words Jean-François Burlot, 2000-01-27 13:12:07 kaner : it comes from "kan" : song like welsh "cân" I don't know if it is borrowed from latin or if it is a britonic word (italic and celtic are close families in the indo-euripean languages) The irish is "amhran", which is completely different. About "graer" and "oberer" : It comes from 2 forms of the verb "ober" (latin "opus/opera" cf irish "obair") There are other synonims : "aozer" (from the verb "oazañ") : author "saver" (from the verb "sevel" : to rise) : builder "farder" (from the verb "fardañ") : ur farder bigi : a boat maker "krouer" (trom the verb "krouiñ" to create) There are special words for professions, often using the final "-er" or "-our" : eg : shoe maker : botaouer or : kere For prononciation, see the breton course on kervarker.org RE: Breton words James Cantrell, 2000-01-29 05:06:19 Thanks. Are 'konter' and 'marvailher' 2 forms of the same root as are 'graer' and 'oberer'? Are there restictions on what kind of 'teller' a 'konter' is and what kind of 'teller' a 'marvailher' is? RE: Breton words Jean-François Burlot, 2000-01-31 12:24:13 As far as I know, both words come from French : "konter" from the verb "kontañ" from French "conter"= to tell (a story) "konter - ur c'honter" : a storyteller. A tale is "kontadenn - ur gontadenn" "kontadenn" can be any kind of tale : fantastic, satirical, frightening... "marvailher" comes from "marvailh" which is more precisely "a fantastic tale, a tale of wonder". I suppose that it comes from French "merveille": "wonder, marvel" RE: Breton words James Cantrell, 2000-01-31 17:16:45 I thought 'konter' sounded, or rather looked, familiar, but I never had enough French to matter. And I never took Latin. Is 'kelenner' another Breton word for 'teller'? RE: Breton words Romuald, 2000-01-31 18:13:15 Kelenner means "teacher", from the verb "kelenn". Sincerely, Romuald. RE: Breton words Markonatrix, 2000-03-05 03:34:37 For what it's worth, the Irish word "sgeul" meaning "story, tale" goes back to something like "*skwetlon" in common celtic. It comes through in Welsh as "chwedl", Cornish "hwedhel" and according to my dictionary is found in mediaeval Breton as "hezl". It could still exist as a local word somewhere, even if it didn't make it to the literary standard. "Kelou" (news) is supposed to be from "ke-hezl-ou" (-ou is the plural ending), and its Cornish equivalent "kyhwedhlow" means "gossip, rumour" and even passed into English dialect as "kywhiddle" meaning "nonsense". The mediaeval Welsh word for "storyteller" is "cyfarwydd" meaning literally "guide" or "guidance". I don't think this word exists in Breton, if it did it would look something like "*keverouaz". "kan" is I think a Celtic word. Irish "ceol" (music)is related, going back to something like "*kantlos". Gorhemmynnadow a'n gwella diworth Kernow Veur RE: Breton words Capitaine Muzo, 2000-03-09 18:44:45 kan- is an Indo-European radical which has mainly developed in the Italo-Celtic branch. In Old Irish, it is represented by "cechan", parallel to the Latin perfect "cecini". Outside this area, it is to be found in the Germanic name for the cock (Mn. German: "hahn"),and in the (Old-)Greek adjective "êi-kanos", a conventional epiteth for the same animal. Capt. Muzo RE: Breton words (P.S.) Capitaine Muzo, 2000-03-09 19:21:48 Sorry, I forgot that: "êi-kanos" means "early-singing". | |
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