I was reading the thread about the Sterling silver badges in the STM Gift Shop forum, and had a question. In keeping with our newly-clarified Rule #11, I'm starting a new thread here so as not to take that thread off of its original topic. If this isn't the correct forum for this, please feel free to move it.

A snippet from MacSpadger's excellent review of his new badge:

Quote Originally Posted by MacSpadger View Post
I am very pleased with the central casting in particular, which seems to be modelled on the image found in
W.A Johnston's book The Scottish Clans & Their Tartans.

To compare, here is a pic of the new badge next to one from the early 1900's, which is very chunky in comparison, (as well as having it's sharper detail blurred through over a century of wear and polishing).
First, MacSpadger, thank you for the side-by-side comparison. Your new badge looks superb!

In looking at the difference between the two badges, I couldn't help but notice that the motto is different between them. The new one matches exactly the image from Johnston's book in stating "CREAG AN FHITICH", where the older badge says "CREAGAN AN FHITICH".

I've noticed a similar phenomenon with other Gaelic mottos applied to different items. Sometimes the separate word "an" gets tacked onto the end of the first word, then repeated as a separate word. Does this actually mean something, or is it just a mistake? I have only a passing knowledge of Gaelic (and by that I mean it passes right over my head!).

I seem to recall a somewhat similar discussion a while back on the "Clann na Gael" phrase often found on buttons, but I can't find that thread now. So I can't recall if this was actually addressed there or if it's a separate issue.