Language Quiz
While it’s rather random and exceedingly tricky, the question of the following text snippet’s origin popped into my head this morning. It was attached to an email sent to me by a friend who works in the public sector.
RAAUE: S’preevaadjagh yn çhaghteraght post-l shoh chammah’s coadanyn erbee currit marish as ta shoh coadit ec y leigh. Cha nhegin diu coipal ny cur eh da peiagh erbee elley ny ymmydey yn chooid t’ayn er aght erbee dyn kied leayr veih’n choyrtagh. Mannagh nee shiu yn enmyssagh kiarit jeh’n phost-l shoh, doll-shiu magh eh, my sailliu, as cur-shiu fys da’n choyrtagh cha leah as oddys shiu.
Cha nel kied currit da failleydagh ny jantagh erbee conaant y yannoo rish peiagh ny possan erbee lesh post-l ass-lieh Rheynn ny Boayrd Slattyssagh erbee jeh Reiltys Ellan Vannin dyn co-niartaghey scruit leayr veih Reireyder y Rheynn ny Boayrd Slattyssagh t’eh bentyn rish.
Can you guess where she is from?
(On May 8th, 2007 at 12:42 am)
Irish?
(On May 8th, 2007 at 9:16 am)
Yup (though a special variety). The text is written in Manx, also known as Manx Gaelic, which is spoken on the Isle of Mann.
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Manx_language
Only a little over 2% of the island’s population actually speak Manx and my friend is most certainly not among them - she’s Finnish.
The text is one of those standard “do-not-pass-along-to-third-parties”-instructions which are often attached to corporate emails. Here’s the English version:
WARNING: This email message and any files transmitted with it are confidential and may be subject to legal privilege. You must not copy or deliver it to any other person or use the contents in any unauthorised manner without the express permission of the sender. If you are not the intended addressee of this e-mail, please delete it and notify the sender as soon as possible.
No employee or agent is authorised to conclude any binding agreement on behalf of any of the Departments or Statutory Boards of the Isle of Man Government with any party by e-mail without express written confirmation by a Manager of the relevant Department or Statutory Board.