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CRIOMAG: ‘Am Bàrd Bochd’ (Annella NicLeòid)

1. B’ ANN... : a’ cur cuideam air (emphasising) càite, ciamar, cuin, etc.

Annella NicLeòid:
“B’ ann à Port Mholair anns a’ Rubha an Leòdhas a bha e, agus à Ranais nan Loch a bha Mòr, a bhean.”
“He was from Port Mholair in Point (‘It was from Port Mholair in Point that he was’), and his wife Marion from Ranais (‘from Ranais in Lochs that his wife Marion was’).”
“B’ ann a’ teagasg a chuir e seachad a bheatha.”
“He spent his life teaching (‘It was (doing) teaching that he spent his life’.”

B’ ANN ‘It was’ (no ’S ANN ‘It’s’) a’ cur cuideam air càite, cuin, ciamar, carson.

B’ ANN
Am b’ ann à Oilthigh Obar Dheadhain a cheumnaich Tormod?
‘Was it from Aberdeen University that he graduated?’
Cha b’ ann, b’ ann à Oilthigh Ghlaschu a cheumnaich e.
‘No, he graduated from Glasgow University.’ (‘It was from Glasgow University...’)
B’ ann às an Rubha a bha Tormod.
‘Norman was from Point (It was from Point he was).’
Am b’ ann ann an sgìre Nis a bha a a’ teagasg?
‘Was it in Ness district he taught?’
B’ ann aig an taigh a bha mi aig an àm.
‘I was at home at the time. It’s at home I was at the time.’
Am b’ ann ag iasgach a chuir e seachad a bheatha? Cha b’ ann. B’ ann a’ teagasg a chuir e seachad a bheatha.
‘Was it fishing he spent his life? No, it was teaching he spent his life.’
An ann leat fhèin a tha thu siubhal, no còmhla ri caraid?
‘Is it on your own you’re travelling or with a friend?’
’S ann còmhla ri caraid a tha mi a’ siubhal.
‘It’s with a friend I’m travelling.’
’S ann air sgàth sin a theich iad.
‘It’s because of that they ran away.’
B’ ann às dèidh a’ chogaidh a fhuair Tormod obair ann an Nis.
‘It was after the war that Norman found work in Ness.’
Am b’ ann san naoidheamh linn deug a rugadh Tormod?
‘Was it in the 19th century that Tormod was born?’
Cha b’ ann, b’ ann aig toiseach na ficheadamh linn a rugadh e.
‘No, it was at the start of the 20th century that he was born.’
Cha b’ ann tric a chluinneadh Tormod ainm-baist’.
‘It’s not often that Norman would hear his actual name.’
An ann an-ath-sheachdain a bhios tu falbh?
‘Is it next week you’re going away?’
Chan ann. ’S ann an-ath-mhìos a bhios mi falbh.
‘No. It’s next month I’ll be leaving.’

2. B’ E...: a’ cur cuideam air (emphasising) Cò no Dè

Annella NicLeòid:
“Cha b’ e ainm baist’ a bha Tormod a’ faighinn bho mhòran.”
“It wasn’t his baptism-name that Tormod got from many people.” “Not many people called Tormod by his official (baptised) name.”

B’ E ‘It was’ (no ’S E ‘It’s’) a’ cur cuideam air cò no dè.

’S e Am Bàrd Bochd a bha aig Tormod air fhèin mar sgrìobhadair.
‘It’s Am Bàrd Bochd that Norman called himself as a writer.’
B’e Am Bodach a bha aig na sgoilearan air.
‘It was Am Bodach (that) the pupils called him.’
’S e Murchadh a sgrìobh an litir.
‘It’s Murdo who wrote the letter.’
B’ e a phiuthar a bhruidhinn rium.
‘It was his sister who spoke to me.’
Cha b’ e ainm-baist’ a bha Tormod a’ faighinn.
‘It wasn’t his real name that Tormod would get.’
Cha b’e Tormod a sgrìobh sin.
‘It wasn’t Tormod who wrote that.’
Cha b’ e a nighean a bhruidhinn rium.
‘It wasn’t his daughter who spoke to me.’
Cha b’ e ruith ach leum leatha.
‘It wasn’t running but leaping with her’ i.e. ‘She leapt at the chance.’

Seallaibh an diofar | Note the difference:

B’ e thusa a rinn e.
‘It was you who did it.’ (who: B’ e)
B’ ann dhutsa a rinn mi e.
‘It was for you I did it.’ (who for: B’ ann)

B’ e iadsan a bhruidhinn rium.
‘It was them who spoke to me.’ (who: B’ e)
B’ ann riuthasan a bhruidhinn mi.
‘It’s to them I spoke.’ (who to: B’ ann)