Fwd: mysterious text

[Elizabeth J. Pyatt]

This is a message about a would be Celtic text.

If anyone has any information, please pass it to the list

>Delivered-To: celtling at listserv.linguistlist.org
>From: "Stefaan E.R. Oplinus" <stefaan.oplinus at pandora.be>
>To: <celtling at LISTSERV.LINGUISTLIST.ORG>
>Subject: mysterious text
>Date: Fri, 24 Dec 2004 10:08:10 +0100
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>dear friends,
>
>My wife and I have a friend.  He's 93 years old 
>now.  During World War I he fled Flanders (along 
>with over a million other Flemings).  He 
>eventually ended up in Alba (I think it was in 
>Galston, at least in an area that was not Gaelic 
>speaking any longer at that moment).  One day, 
>as a little boy, he helped an old man carrying a 
>bagful of peat.  The old man thanked him.  He 
>said: I can't give you anything material.  But 
>remember this saying I'm giving you.  I'm sure 
>it'll bring you luck every time you use it.  It 
>is only to be used in due time, though.
>Our friend recently told us what this sentence 
>sounded like.  A Gaelic speaker explained to us 
>that it isn't Gaelic.  But what language is it 
>then and what does it mean?  Can anyone in this 
>group help us out on this?  Please remember that 
>the phrase is written out by me in a more or 
>less phonetical way.  I'm not at all sure what 
>the right orthography is.
>Here goes:
>"kharmanta thae brochnith ubarri". (the "u" of 
>ubarri sounds like the "ou" in "you")
>
>My wife and I would appreciate your help very 
>much.  Our friend (and we ourselves) really 
>would like to know what it means.  And by the 
>way: our friend claims that indeed this sentence 
>has brought him luck!!
>
>with celtic regards,
>
>Stefaan Oplinus
>Roeselare, Flanders (the land of the Menapii)


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o.o.o.o.o.o.o.o.o.o

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