Dear Luis Thank you so much for your response. You don't need to tell me about these web page translators - you are right, they are indeed very sad. Most times I think they just confuse people even more. Thank you for the key words which you supplied me with. This will most certainly be useful and thanks for letting me know that posting something on the list to be translated would probably be met with optimism by the list members. I just have one question though, and would appreciate it if someone could assist me with the word "Mamazinga" (the word we used) or "Mae Zinga". Mamazinga was the name by which we all new my great-grandmother in the years that she was alive (I was 12 when she died in 1985). Is there any special meaning in this word and what does it mean? Assistance would be appreciated. Thanks again for all your wonderful assistance. Kind regards, Marcia Bezuidenhout South Africa Researching: Serena, Vieira, De'Abreu, Caldeira -----Original Message----- From: prt-madeira-bounces@rootsweb.com [mailto:prt-madeira-bounces@rootsweb.com] On Behalf Of Luis Beal Sent: Sunday, September 17, 2006 1:51 AM To: prt-madeira@rootsweb.com Subject: Re: [PT-MADEIRA] Families of Madeira The best thing is to learn some key portuguese words that will help you in your research. I know of no place that will translate from one language to another in a decent form, unless you pay a real person to do it. I have personally tried the online web page translators and it was pretty sad. One important thing to know is that in portuguese everything, from living to innanimate objects, has a gender they are either male or female. For something to be an "it" it has to be unknown, or not yet understood. As a rule any word that ends in "a" is female: amiga, irma, filha, mesa, rua..., and any word that ends in "o" is male: filho, vermelho, joelho... There are exceptions to the rule, of course, and sometimes you will find words like mae, pai, arvore...that end in either a or o. The key to figure out gender is right before the word: a mae (female), o pai (male), aquela arvore (female). Now for genealogy research look for these key words: Filha - daughter Filho - son Mae - Mother Pai - Father Avo' - Grandmother Avo^ - Grandfather (the ^ is on top of the o) Materno - maternal (you'll see stuff like avo' materna- maternal grandmother) Paterno - Paternal Pais - Parents Avo's - Grandparents Neta de - Granddaughter of Neto de - Grandson of Igreja - Church Paroquia - Parish Freguesia - Parish/ subdivision of the area Nasceu - Was born Morreu - Died Casou - Married Sexo - Sex Feminino - Female Masculino - Male Months of the year: Janeiro, Fevereiro, Marco, Abril, Maio, Junho, Julho, Agosto, Setembro, Outubro, Novembro, Dezembro. I would say knowing these will help you pinpoint where the info you need is on any record. Whenever you find a record you think may be important but you are not sure because of words you cannot understand just post it on the list and someone might be able to help translate it. It will be easier to learn some of the language than to spend time looking for translators as most records you will find will be in Portuguese, of course. Good luck, Luis Beal Marcia & Roland <roland1@wol.co.za> wrote: Dear List I also noticed that the Nesos e-books are in Portuguese, and this unfortunately does not help me as I do not speak the language. Does anyone know where I can get English translations from? Marcia Bezuidenhout South Africa Researching: Vieira, Serena, De Abreu, Caldeira -----Original Message----- From: prt-madeira-bounces@rootsweb.com [mailto:prt-madeira-bounces@rootsweb.com] On Behalf Of Luis Beal Sent: Saturday, September 16, 2006 6:45 PM To: prt-madeira@rootsweb.com Subject: Re: [PT-MADEIRA] Families of Madeira The links to the books no longer work. Nesos is the best option right now but it is in portuguese so if anyone needs help just shoot an e-mail to the list. Luis Beal Janette Chun wrote: I’m forwarding this email in response to bpitta’s email requesting info on the book. I received this email via another forum I belong to. The manuscript is also available at NESOS (www.nesos.net ) but is in script which is often difficult to decipher. Hope this is of help to all. Janette _____ From: saudades-sefarad@yahoogroups.com [mailto:saudades-sefarad@yahoogroups.com] On Behalf Of mlmedeiros2004 Sent: Monday, November 21, 2005 6:46 AM To: saudades-sefarad@yahoogroups.com Subject: [saudades-sefarad] Ilha da Madeira Nobiliário da Ilha da Madeira>> por Henrique Henriques de Noronha>> >> Recopiado, diretamente do original (que existe na Biblioteca Municipal de Funchal), por João José Maria Rodrigues de Oliveira, médico de Funchal (Ilha da Madeira) a téor, pela ordem exata como está escrito no dito original, com indicação dos respectivos folios numerados; recopiado no anno de 1947.>> >> TOMO I uiares.htm> Aguiares, dradasdoarco.htm> Andradas do Arco, dradas_por_femea.htm> Andradas (por linha feminina), ouguias.htm> Atouguias, ciaiolis.htm> Acciaiolis, ciaiolis_por_femea.htm> Acciaiolis (por linha feminina), il.htm> Amil, ttencourts.htm> Bettencourts, ttencourts_sas.htm> Bettencourts Sás, itos_oliveiras.htm> Britos Oliveiras, rengueis_de_leminhana.htm> Berengueis de Leminhana, rros.htm> Barros, maras.htm> Câmaras, braes.htm> Cabraes, stas_atouguias.htm> Costas Atouguias, rreas.htm> Corrêas, rreas_andradas.htm> Corrêas Andradas, rvalhaes.htm> Carvalhaes, stros_ornellas.htm> Castros Ornellas, rdosos_de_gaula.htm> Cardosos de Gaula, ntos.htm> Cantos e utos_cardosos.htm> Coutos Cardosos.>> >> "Not to know what happened before we were born is to remain perpetually a child. For what is the worth of a human life unless it is woven into the life of our ancestors." Cicero, Roman orator --------------------------------- Get your own web address for just $1.99/1st yr. We'll help. Yahoo! Small Business. ------------------------------- To unsubscribe from the list, please send an email to PRT-MADEIRA-request@rootsweb.com with the word 'unsubscribe' without the quotes in the subject and the body of the message ------------------------------- To unsubscribe from the list, please send an email to PRT-MADEIRA-request@rootsweb.com with the word 'unsubscribe' without the quotes in the subject and the body of the message "Not to know what happened before we were born is to remain perpetually a child. For what is the worth of a human life unless it is woven into the life of our ancestors." Cicero, Roman orator --------------------------------- How low will we go? Check out Yahoo! 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