XPost: rec.puzzles, alt.usage.english, soc.culture.ireland   
   From: HenHanna@devnull.tb   
      
    > See Google Translate:   
    > Ar an tríú lá is fiche de mí Bealtaine, scríobh Ross Clark.   
    > On the twenty -third day of May, Ross Clark wrote.   
      
      
   DE  (in Irish)  is   "of" (just like in French)   
      
      
      
   No, "DE" in Irish Gaelic isn't exactly equivalent to "of" in French.   
      
   While they both function as prepositions, their usage differs. Here's a   
   breakdown:   
      
   _____________Irish Gaelic - "DE"   
      
   Function:  "De" can have several meanings depending on the context. Here   
   are some of the most common uses:   
      
      
   -- Possessive: Can indicate possession, similar to "of" in some cases.   
      
   However, Irish Gaelic uses mutations on the following noun instead of a   
   separate preposition. (e.g., "teach (house) mhúirne (mother)" - mother's   
   house)   
      
      
   -- Origin: Can indicate origin or source (e.g., "tá sí de Dublin" - she   
   is from Dublin).   
      
   -- Material: Can indicate the material something is made of (e.g., "tá   
   an bád de adhmad" - the boat is made of wood).   
      
   -- Agentive: Can show the agent performing an action with certain verbs   
                   (e.g., "mharaigh mé é" - I killed him).   
      
      
   ____________________French - "DE"   
      
   Function: "De" in French primarily functions as a preposition meaning   
   "of" and indicates possession, origin, or other relationships between   
   words. (e.g., la maison de mon père - my father's house).   
      
      
   Key Differences:   
      
   Mutations: Irish Gaelic uses mutations on nouns after "de" for   
   possession, while French uses "de" itself.   
      
   Versatility: "De" in Irish Gaelic has more varied uses beyond just   
   possession.   
      
      
      
      
   Here's an example to illustrate the difference:   
      
   Irish Gaelic: "Leabhar (book) Micheál (Michael)" - Michael's book   
   (Literally translates to "book of Michael" with mutation on "Leabhar")   
      
      
   French: "Le livre de Michel" - Michael's book   
      
      
      
      
   In Conclusion:   
      
   While "de" appears in both languages, their usage differs.  In Irish   
   Gaelic, "de" has a broader range of meanings and relies on mutations for   
   possession, while French uses "de" primarily for indicating "of."   
      
   --- SoupGate-Win32 v1.05   
    * Origin: you cannot sedate... all the things you hate (1:229/2)