Reference Number38
TitleCriomagan Ioma-dhathte
AuthorMacLeòid, Iain Aonghas
EditorN/A
Date Of Edition1973
Date Of Languagelate 20c
Date Of Language Ed1950-1999
DateMacroMid 20th c.
Date Of Language Notes
PublisherTechmac & Co.
Place PublishedEdinburgh
VolumeN/A
LocationNational, academic, and local libraries
Geographical OriginsHarris
Geographical Origins EdHarris
GeoMacroHarris and N Uist
GeoX-7.0390
GeoY57.8895
Geographical Origins Notes
RegisterLiterature, Prose
Register EdLiterature, Prose
GenreInformation
MediumProse
RatingB
A collection of essays on a wide variety of subjects relating to science and its implications in everyday life.
Each chapter focuses on a different topic: textiles, rubber, nuclear power, peat, the sea, oil, diamonds, money, space travel, wax, wine-making, the written word, house-building, travel and Switzerland.
Contains terminology relating to a wide range of subjects, many of them modern.
There are some printing errors, mostly through accents being placed over the wrong letter.
There are some orthographic inconsistencies.
Alternative Author NameJohn Angus MacLeod
Manuscript Or EditionEd.
Size And Condition21.1 cm x 13.3cm
Short TitleCriomagan Ioma-dhathte
Reference DetailsEUL: PB1648.M362Macl
Number Of Pages116
Gaelic Text ByN/A
IllustratorN/A
Social ContextIain Aonghas MacLeòid was born in Harris. He went to school in Tarbert in Harris, and in Portree in the Isle of Skye, where he developed an interest in science. He went on to work in chemicals, in a rubber and plastics factory on the mainland. His work has taken him all over Europe and to the United States. This volume is a collection of thoughts and observations on a wide variety of subjects, ‘a’ chuid as motha dhiubh air gnothaichean ealdhanach’ (p. 7), from rubber to peat stacks. MacLeòid has also worked in radio, and many of the passages in this book originated in talks that were broadcast by the BBC. In the Roimh-Radh (p. 7), MacLeòid attributes his style of writing and of speaking to his father who was interested in ‘eòlas ùr de gach seòrsa’.
ContentsThis volume begins with a Roimh-Radh (p. 7) by the author. There follow fourteen chapters, each of which deals with a different subject:

De a Chuireas sinn Umainn? (pp. 9-16): This chapter deals with clothing and looks at the natural and man-made fibres that are used to make clothes.

Rubair (pp. 17-22): This chapter looks at the history, properties, and uses of rubber, the history of rubber, where it comes from, and how it is prepared.

Cumhachd an Smuirnein (pp. 23-28): This chapter looks at atomic energy. It looks at elements, and discusses what an atom is, how it can be split, and to what purpose.

Gun Solus Lanntair (pp. 29-36): This chapter discusses peat. It looks at how peat is made, the uses to which it can be put, and the ways in which it can be harvested.

An Ataireachd Ard (pp. 37-46): This chapter looks at the sea and at the important part it plays in our daily lives, discussing, in particular, its part in the provision of water and salt.

Solus Air Ola (pp. 47-54): This chapter looks at oil. It discusses the different types of oil, such as plant oil, animal oil, and mineral oil. It also looks at how oil is formed from minerals.

A Mhaireas Buan Gu Brath (pp. 55-62): This chapter looks at diamonds, why they are so precious, how they are created, how they are cut, and some of the most famous diamonds in the world.

Airgead Mar Bhonn-Steidh na Malairt (pp. 63-68): This chapter looks at money. In particular it looks at the barter system, specialisation, and the need for money. It also looks at the form of money and, briefly, decimalisation.

As an t-Saoghal So (pp. 69-78): This chapter looks at rockets and at space travel, and talks first of all about the failed attempt to fire a rocket full of mail from Scarp to Harris in 1934. It then looks at man’s desire to travel to the stars from as far back as the second century CE, and at the practicalities of air travel, from the propeller and jet planes to rockets. The chapter ends with a look at the different planets in our solar system.

Mar Leaghas Teine (pp. 79-88): This chapter looks at wax, discussing the different types of wax – animal, vegetable, and mineral – and the uses of wax through the centuries from ancient Egypt to the present day, for example in witchcraft and for making waxed paper. It also looks at the relationship between wax and polythene and at the use of wax for polishing and in make-up.

Air Do Dheagh Shlainte (pp. 89-94): This chapter looks at wine and at how to make it, and includes recipes for potato and orange wine, dandelion wine, and elderberry wine (fìon dearc an drumain, p. 92).

Am Facal Air Paipeir (pp. 95-102): This chapter looks at the written word. It looks at the history of writing and of the printing press, and touches on hieroglyphics and Ogam, and on vellum and papyrus as early forms of paper, before looking at printing machinery.

An Tigh A Thog Seoc (pp. 103-10): This chapter looks at houses and at house building. Most of the chapter is taken up by the author’s own adventures in designing and building a house with an architect friend.

Cabhag Gu Ceilidh (pp. 111-16): In this final chapter the author describes an occasion when he was travelling in Europe and could not get back to Britain in time for an engagement. The rest of the chapter focuses on Switzerland, a country which the author holds in high esteem.
Sources
LanguageAs the subject matter of each chapter varies, each chapter has its own specialist vocabulary.

De a Chuireas sinn Umainn? contains terminology relating to the making of clothes. Examples include srann na cuibhle-snìomh agus glag an spàil anns a’ bheairt (p. 9), sìoda (p. 9), sgonn de chlò-mor (p. 9), ròinneagan (p. 9), a toinneamh le ròinneagan eile agus a snìomh gu snàilean làidir subailte, a ghabhas figheadh (p. 10), a planndraisean (p. 11), canach (p. 11), cuiseag anairt (p. 11), clòimh chaorach (p. 11), fionnadh ghòbhar (p. 11), a’ deasachadh le ceimiceachd (p. 12), o ainmhidhean (p. 13), ’g àrach na leomhann-sìoda (p. 13), an toinneamh air cearluinn (p. 14), and an cìreadh agus an càrdadh ann an comh-shìneadh an roileig (p. 15).

Rubair contains terminology relating to the making, history, and uses of rubber. Examples include fèumalachd rubair (p. 17), Crìosgan Columbus (p. 17), an Saoghal Ur (p. 17), a’ spuaiceadh a’ bhainne (p. 18), ann an dùthaich Bhrasail (p. 19), pronnasc (p. 19) and pronnasdair (p. 19), oibre strìoc an rùsg na craoibhe le sgithinn air faobhar lannsa lighiche (p. 20), mun slànaich an gearradh (p. 20), tha so air a thaosnadh is air a dheagh nighe ann am bùrn (p. 21), air fhàsgadh eadar rollan iaruinn ’na leacan tana, geala (p. 21), anns an tigh-ceàird (p. 22), mar photaidh (p. 22), na Ròmanaich (p. 22), a’ ghliog ’s a’ ghlag ’s a ghlunngaraich (p. 22), tighean-eiridinn (p. 22), and na ròpan caola copair (p. 22).

Cumhachd an Smuirnein contains terminology relating to nuclear power. Examples include fuadaichear eagal is ginear irioslachd (p. 23), de’n neart a tha ann an gual, ann an ola, ann am bùrn is anns an dealan (p. 23), ocsaidhgean, haidhrogean, naitrogean, ìodainn (p. 24), dà dhearg phuinnsean (p. 24), ’ga eadar-sgaradh nas lugha is nas lugha (p. 24), an t-atom (p. 24), falamhachd (p. 24), ceangailte fìortheann ri chéile (p. 24), losgadh peileir air (p. 25), a’ cnàmh air falbh (p. 25), criomag bheag (p. 25), a’ searg (p. 25), a’ leigeil fa sgaoil (p. 25), bocsa tiugh de luaidhe (p. 25), galair (p. 25), cansar (p. 25), meatal (p. 25), àireamh do-labhairt (p. 26), and spreadhadh (p. 27).

Gun Solus Lanntair contains terminology relating to peat. Examples include fàd mòine an riochd lanntair (p. 29), A’ chruach mhòine aig ceann an tighe, leac an teinntean leis an eubhail dhearg dheàrrsach agus an toit liath-ghorm chùbhraidh a’ direadh ann an ciùineas na maidne (p. 29), gnethean de chòinnich, luibhean, fraoich is feur a dh’fhàs anns an lòn (p. 30), an riochd connadh (p. 31), aig a’ mhòinidh (p. 31), an ceanna-daonna (p. 31), na puill-mhòine (p. 32), an t-iarruinn-mòine (p. 32), claisean a ghearradh (p. 33), ag cuir gream air (p. 33), na stiallan fada (p. 33), cuibhlichean anns am bheil moran spuirean (p. 33), cairtean mora an rathaid-iarruinn (p. 33), mòine ùr-gheairrte (p. 34), bleith na mòine (p. 34), and a’ glanadh an sgrath far a’ phuill (p. 34).

An Ataireachd Ard contains terminology relating to the sea. Examples include sluaisreadh na mara mar chrònan-cadail is tàlaidh na leanabas (p. 37), meadhon-tìre (p. 37), an Roinn Eòrp (p. 37), Aimeireaca (p. 37), ann an saoghal bhàtaichean is eathraichean (p. 37), làn bhàtaichean-iasgaich (p. 38), boirionnaich a’ cutadh sgadain is a’ lionadh bharrailean (p. 38), lionn is spioradan (p. 38), ìnnleachdan nigheadaireachd (p. 38), sruthan is uillt is aibhnichean (p. 39), gu ruige a’ chuain (p. 39), géurshùileach mu phìobean uisge (p. 39), gun aon deur ri òl (p. 39), gràinnean (p. 40), mar ghainneamhaich (p. 40), dusd mar saoith is stùr (p. 41), boinnean uisge (p. 41), aig isleachd na mara (p. 41), dòighean innleachdach (p. 41), sgòthan (p. 41), na h-eileamaidean (p. 42), is e sallainn cumanta an stuth as paillte a tha anns an t-sàl (p. 42), anns na cuantan (p. 44), caoibhruige meatal air aghaidh na talmhuinn (p. 44), cnuasachadh a steach (p. 44), tràighean a mhachaire de shligean mhaosgain air am pronnadh (p. 45), and air na rudhannan coral (p. 45).

Solus Air Ola contains terminology relating to oil. Examples include uilleadh (p. 47), ola-ungaidh no acuinn (p. 47), a’ tolladh troimh ùrlar na mara thun na tobraichean torrach de ola luachmhor a tha glaiste ann an achlais nan creag (p. 47), obair na h-ola (p. 47), air a mhèinneadh (p. 48), air a’ chrùisgean agus ola nan ròn (p. 48), ola nan trosg (p. 48), airson loisgeadh bha ola meas a’ chrann-ola (p. 49), ola fhrois-lìnn (p. 49), seòrsa de theàrr is ola thiugh a’ brùchdadh a mach a sgoran ’san talamh (p. 49), ’ga shlàbradh air aisealan nan cairtean (p. 50), anns na Stàtuin Aonaichte (p. 50), air a loisgedh ann an lampa (p. 50), beò-shlaint (p. 50), comas-leigheas (p. 50), Tinneas a’ chom (p. 50), and Lòinidh, tinneas nan alt, Sachd, Duachadh, tinneas an rìgh, Guirrein, briseadh craicinn, ruaidhe, bùidhre, sùilean goirt, cràdh anns na cnamhan (p. 50-51).

A Mhaireas Buan Gu Brath contains terminology relating to diamonds. Examples include is e an daoimean an stuth as cruaidhe agus as buaine a tha ann (p. 55), an séud as luach mhora (p. 55), beanntan-teine (p. 55), na creagan leaghta (p. 55), le cuinneig is le criathar (p. 55), Tha daoimein air an luach air ceithear buinn (p. 55), geall-soilleir (p. 56), gun smal gun ghaoid (p. 56), fo ghloinne an t-sèudair (p. 56), dearrsadh (p. 56), slat-rioghail (p. 57), tigh-iongantais (p. 57), am meairleach (p. 57), mallachd (p. 57), fortunn (p. 58), port-mara (p. 58), an dùbhadh a bhiodh air gloine an lòchrain-ola nan robh an t-siobhag ro àrd (p. 60), and ag ath-chruthachadh Carbon gu ruige Graphite (p. 60).

Airgead Mar Bhonn-Steidh na Malairt contains terminology relating to money. Examples include Gròta a dhith air an tasdan (p. 62), tea is sùcar, aodach is brògan, soithichean is snàthadan agus goireasan eile bha dhìth oirre gu ruige luach na thug i a steach (p. 63), aon bhonn airgid (p. 63), not, (p. 63), sgillin (p. 63), airgead na rioghachd (p. 63), iomlaid (p. 63), grìogagan (p. 63), sligean tràghaid (p. 63), a bu bhonn stéidh air reic is ceannach (p. 63), anns an sporran (p. 64), glé bhochd nan crannchur (p. 64), na goireasan is na sòghan a th’agaibh (p. 64), malairt (p. 65), an tàillearachd (p. 64), a’ ghreusachd (p. 65), nas sgileil (p. 65), suaip (p. 66), ’tighinn gu còrdadh a thaobh luach nan nithean (p. 66), cunntas ann an deichean (p. 67), and ag gabhail aìte cleireach le peann (p. 68).

As an t-Saoghal So contains terminology relating to space travel. Examples include rocaidean (p. 69), air cumadh pìob mheatail (p. 70), sròn bhiorach air a bàrr agus ceithir sgiathan beaga air a deireadh (p. 70), stiallan fiodha agus cearcaill iarruinn mar creadhal (p. 70), dà ròp làidir de rubair mar clach-bhogha (p. 70), grad-leum (p. 70), neart spreadhadh an fhùdair a’ cur astar innte gu a ceann-iùil (p. 70), bùth-shaoirsneachd (p. 70), Bha an rocaid na laighe sgàinte agus oiteag ceothaidh aiste (p. 71), na spèuradairean Aimeireacanach ag gabhail an cuairt air uachdar na geallaich (p. 72), air lòrg nan rèultan (p. 72), troimh na spèuran (p. 72), gu’m b’e an saoghal deas-meadhoinn a’ chruinne-cé gu léir (p. 72), na rèultan-sìubhlach a’ dol timchioll na gréine (p. 73), na h-ìnnleachdan (p. 73), long adhair (p. 74), Rèul-siubhlach Màrs (p. 76), a’ cuairteachadh na gréine (p. 76), maireireachd a’ chuain (p. 77), and Vénus (p. 77).

Mar Leaghas Teine contains terminology relating to wax. Examples include céir (p. 79), buitsichean, firionn agus boirionn (p. 79), an cò-chreutairean (p. 79), a reichd an anam ris an Dìabhaul (pp. 79-80), air an sgiùirseadh as air an cuir gu bàs (p. 80), a’ bhuitseach (p. 80), an iomhaigh céire (p. 80), shàthadh i bioran is snàthadan anns a’ chéir (p. 80), fàigheadarachd (p. 81), na miltean thar mhiltean de phaipeir ga shuathadh le céir ann am factories phaipeir (p. 82), a’ lìomhadh ar brògan (p. 82), gan ungadh fhéin airson maise craicinn (p. 83), a’ spioladh itean a cearcan le céir (p. 83), ann an uirchrichean gunna (p. 83), céir nan seilean (p. 83), cnuimh bheag ann an Sineadh (p. 83), air a’ chraoibh uinnse (p. 83), a’ deasachadh an ròsaid (p. 84), dearcan coinnle (p. 84), ann am plandrais a’ chotain (p. 84), geir ainmhidhean (p. 85), coinnlean (p. 85), gràbhalachd (p. 86), and céir sèulaidh (p. 86).

Air Do Dheagh Shlainte contains terminology relating to wine-making. Examples include cis-mhaor (p. 89), am Maorsìthe (p. 89), dearcan a’ chrann-fìona (p. 90), sùgh nam fiondhearc (p. 90), dearcan an drumain, dìthean-bearnanbrìde, buntàta, oireangairean, sìol na cruinneachd agus fìon-dhearcan thiormaichte (p. 90), preis (p. 90), croga creadha (p. 90), soithichean ionnlaid (p. 90), botuil gu leòir airson torradh bhur saothair a chuir seachad (p. 90), gun an abaich e gu a làn-bhlas (p. 90), làn-torradh de mheasan abaich (p. 90), Deich pinntean uisge Unnsa buirm (p. 90), Bruithibh e air a shocair (p. 91), cop salach (p. 91), sìolaidhibh an sùgh troimh anart do’n chroga (p. 91), Plodaibh an sìol le uisge goileach (p. 91), thoiribh thun na goil iad (p. 91), meang-bhlàth (p. 91), a dhòrtadh bhàrr uachdar na grùid (p. 91), an dràbhag (p. 91), and buadhan ioc-shlàinteil (p. 92).

Am Facal Air Paipeir contains terminology relating to the written word. Examples include as eughmhais an Leabhair Mhòir (p. 95), aibideal (p. 96), a sgròbar (p. 96), na shamhladh air (p. 96), am measg muinntir Bhàbuiloin (p. 97), air an ceangal ri chéile ann an sreathan ciallach (p. 97), a’ tarruing air creadh bhog agus ’g an cruadhachadh ann an àmhuinn (p. 97), gur ruige nan litrichean (p. 97), na h-Eubhaitich (p. 97) and anns an Eubhait (p. 97), le dubh-sgriobhadh de shaoigh agus bioran geur thòisich iad air sgriobhadh (p. 97), na Greugaich (p. 98), a’ deasachadh chraicionn ainmhidhean (p. 98), na Linntean Dorcha (p. 98), sgolaireachd (p. 98), manaichean (p. 98), ag ath-sgriobhadh nan soisgeul (p. 98), na Linntean Meadhonnach (pp. 98-99), clo-bhualadh a’ cur cabhag ann an deasachadh leabhraichean (p. 99), am facal clò-bhuailte (p. 99), aig an fhacal sgriobhte (p. 100), leth-bhreacan de’n Bhiobull (p. 100), le peann-ite air craicionn-sgrìobhaidh (p. 100), na Sìnich agus na Seapànaich (p. 100), mac-samhail (p. 100), airson taobh-duileig (p. 100), air a chraobh-sgaoileadh (p. 101), and na beairtean clò-bhualaidh (p. 101).

An Tigh A Thog Seoc contains terminology relating to house-building. Examples include ceangailichean an teaghlaich (p. 103), ann an cò-chomunn na dachaidh (p. 103), aig mullach dà staighreadh àrd (p. 104), na rumannan (p. 104), iomallan de’n tigh (p. 104), foir-sheòmar (p. 104), Rum-bithidh air leth bho’n rum-còmhnaidh (p. 105), Cidsean (p. 105), rum cadail (p. 105), rum-ionnlaid (p. 107), inneal-cladhach (p. 107), ghlan e làthrach an tighe (p. 107), na bunaitean (p. 107), clachair (p. 107), clachan-togalaich (p. 107), ghabhadh a laimhseachadh le sàbh, sgathair na geilb agus ghabhadh e tarraig sgrubha (p. 107), na sparran is na cabair (p. 108), an t-sarcuinn (p. 108), sgleatan (p. 108), and bruis-phent (p. 109). Also of interest in this chapter is Is tric a thainig fior a fanoid (p. 104), òbhaibh! òbhaibh! (p. 105), and tairgse-còmhraid (p. 106).

Cabhag Gu Ceilidh contains terminology relating to travel and to Switzerland. Examples include àite-suidhe air té de na h-itealan (p. 112), le aon suidheachan falamh (p. 112), aon mhàlaid le aodach oidhche, rasar, sguaib-fhiacail (p. 112), a’ dol troimh an luchd-cuspunn (p. 112), beanntan fìor àrda, glinn domhainn, srathan torrach agus monaidhean fàsail (p. 113), lochan àluinn, sruthan bras a tha air an ceannsachadh airson neart an dealain (p. 113), Tha mu chóigibh a’ bruidhinn Frangais agus mu fhicheadaibh cuid a labhairt cànain Eadailteach (p. 114), Romansach (p. 114), luchd-streap is coiseachd (p. 115), and innealan móra beartan snìomh is fidhe (p. 115).
OrthographyThe influence of spoken Gaelic, some of it characteristic of the Harris dialect, may be reflected in the use of words and phrases such as Cia ás, matà (p. 17), Ciod e (p. 63), Thatar (p. 29), Abram (p. 31), an disbead (p. 47) and deasbuid (p. 19), air mo bheulthaobh (p. 50), a rithis (p. 72), caochla sheòrsa (p. 11), na instead of no (p. 15), tuille (p. 19) and a thuileadh ’s a thuilleadh (p. 82), is ann glé thearc (p. 25), ’nas fharasda (p. 34), ar reir (p. 47), ma tha e motail air (p. 49), an ceart-uair (p. 55), fichead seòrsa oibre (p. 65), rudéiginneach gann (p. 66), faghaidean (p. 70), deas-mheadhonn (e.g. p. 73), ann am priobadh na sùil (p. 75), as eughmhais (e.g. p. 79), a reichd (p. 79), teine de lusan àraidh (p. 80), coig-la-deug tiorraidh leis (p. 95), da-rìreadh (p. 95), urrad (p. 34), thun (e.g. p. 70), and am màrach (p. 63),

The orthography is that of the early 1970s. Both grave and accute accents are used throughout the text. Sud and so are used throughout the text. Also of note are the forms aobhar (p. 9), gu leòir (p. 31), boirionach (p. 63), an ditheas (p. 66), dia-chuimhneachadh (p. 69), naigheachdan (p. 69), ag gabhail (e.g. p. 72) and ag ciallachadh (p. 96), and bhur (p. 89).

There are a number of printing errors in the text. Most of these are minor errors. However, there are a considerable number of errors with regard to accents, with some being left out and others placed over the wrong letter, e.g. air an toìr (p. 55). The spelling of some words also varies throughout the text, for example we find Laduinn (p. 53), Latuin (p. 98), and Latuinn (p. 114), and matà and ma tà.
EditionFirst edition. Editors should be aware that there are a number of printing errors and spelling inconsistences in this text.
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