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Post by wren on Oct 4, 2006 17:51:42 GMT -5
Lesson #1 The purpose of the course is to give people, whether of Irish descent or not, a working knowledge of the Irish language. This course begins with the basics and is entirely self-contained. We have planned it especially for persons who are studying alone or in small groups without a teacher, books or recordings.
To keep your past study lessons handy, each week remove the lesson from the paper and paste or staple it into a notebook, so that you will have the lessons available for review or reference.
Pronunciation and study methods are important for you who are learning Irish in this way. We will say a few words about these two subjects first.
Pronunciation Americans studying Irish have always learned pronunciation from either an Irish speaker or from one of several recordings accompanying textbooks. Because we will not be able to teach pronunciation in these ways, we will give you a simple pronunciation guide system and then extra instruction from time to time. If you have the chance to listen to a native speaker, however, do so. There are differences in regional pronunciation in Irish, as in other languages, but if the speaker talks slowly and clearly, you should have little trouble in understanding the words you know.
The pronunciation given in the guide for this lesson series is not based exclusively on any one region of Ireland. Where the differences are significant, we will give you some of the other pronunciations and usage, to make it easier to talk to all speakers.
Study Method
Learn the pronunciation guide system and do the practice work for English words that we will give you.
For each Irish word, phrase, or sentence, first look at the pronunciation guide (which will always be in parentheses) and say the word or words several times out loud. Then look at the Irish word and pronounce it several more times. After you have gone over the lesson in this way, write the Irish words, copying them from the lesson and saying them out loud as you copy them.
Each time you say an Irish word or phrase, try to form a picture in your mind of the meaning. Although this is difficult with some single words, persist and it will become easier as the phrases and sentences become longer.
Translation is the next step. Read the Irish word or phrase out loud and then translate it into English. Do this several times, until you are sure that you know it. Then translate the English into Irish several times. If you are learning Irish with others, each person can give another a word or phrase to translate and can take a part in the conversation in the lessons.
In the conversation exercises, look first at the pronunciation and meaning, then look up from the lesson before you say the Irish words out loud. Work phrase by phrase at first, until you can memorize entire sentences. If you study with others, take turns in reading what each character says.
In the conversation exercises, you will see words and phrases that will seem difficult at first. Memorize them and don't worry about the grammar. It will be explained later. Pronunciation guide system Most of the symbols are letters and letter groups for sounds common in familiar English words. If you pronounce them in that way for the first few lessons, you will be close enough for a beginning. We will gradually correct you and improve your pronunciation as you advance, so that you will soon have a genuine Irish pronunciation.
For most consonants, such as b, d, f, g, h, l, m, n, p, r, s, and t we will use the letters themselves as pronunciation symbols. In the lessons you will get instructions on how to pronounce these sounds in the Irish way. Nearly all these consonants have two sounds in Irish, depending on what vowels are next to them. (English "c" and "g" also have this characteristic. Notice how you start to pronounce "king" and "coat", and then "give" and "go".)
The vowel symbols may need some explanation, so here are the symbols and description of their pronunciation:
Symbols and pronunciation (ah) as in English "ah-hah". (a) as in English "at". (aw*) as in English "tot". but held for a longer time (ay*) as Irish pronounce English "say" without a trace of (ee) as in English "mean". (i) as in English "pin". (eye) as in English "eye". (oh) as in English "toe", but without the trace of (oo) sound at the end as in English "food". (oo) as in English "food". (u) as in English "put". (uh) as in English "but". (ou) as in English "shout"
We will capitalize the letters in the accented part of the word or phrase. We will use asterisks, as in some symbols above, to indicate a sound fairly different from usual English sounds. Remember, too, that many Irish sounds are not exactly like their English counterparts. Some English sounds, such as "z" and "th" are not in Irish.
Now try these English words as practice in using the pronunciation guide system:
(boht) (HAM-muhr) (kin) (KUH-stuhm-ayr-ee) (de-LIV-uh-ree) (giv) (trans-LAYT) (ad-MEYE-uhr) (ful-FIL) (fuhn-duh-MENT-uhl) (wohnt) (wawnt) (tawt).
The actual English words for these are:
boat, hammer, kin, customary, delivery, give, translate, admire, fulfill, fundamental, won't, want, taught. These sounds are not always exact, as you can see, but are close enough to be understood. With these important preliminaries taken care of, you will make your entry into Irish next week.
(c) 1997 The Irish People. May be reprinted with credit.
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Post by wren on Oct 4, 2006 17:53:06 GMT -5
Lesson #2 You are now ready to make a classic entry into the Irish language, by way of an important verb: Tá (taw*).
"Tá" serves to tell where something is or what its condition is, and therefore it has some of the functions of English "is".
For the (t) sound next to an "a", "o" or "u", put the front part of your tongue up along the top of your mouth, with the tip against the upper front teeth and almost--but not quite--protruding between the teeth. Pronounce the (t) sound a few times. If you extend the tongue too far between the teeth, you will say English "th" as in "that" or "throw". Irish does not have those sounds.
For the (aw*) sound, say the English word "tot", but start the word with the Irish (t) you have just learned. Repeat several times, then drop the final "t" and lengthen the (aw*) sound. As a check, try making the (aw*) sound in another way: Say English "awful" several times slowly, and notice that your lips are pushed far out. Try the word with your lips held in closer and more rounded. You may recognize the sound as the way some Irish pronounce "awful".
Now learn these words, referring back to the Lesson 1 pronunciation guide as necessary:
Tá sé (TAW* shay*) he is, it is tá sí (TAW* shee) she is tá mé (TAW* may) I am fuar (FOO-uhr) cold mór (mohr) big te (te) hot óg (ohg) young sean (shan) old lán (law*n) full
Next, learn these sentences, then translate them. Form a mental picture each time.
Tá sé fuar. Tá mé mór. Tá sí óg. Tá sé lán. Tá sé te. Tá sí sean.
Learn these new words thoroughly:
fear (far) man, a man cat (kaht) cat, a cat bean (ban) woman, a woman cailín (kah-LEEN) girl, a girl bord (bohrd) table, a table ard (ahrd) high, tall gairid (GAH-rid) short anseo (un-SHUH) here ansin (un-SHIN) there fada (FAH-duh) long bosca (BOHSK-uh) box, a box íseal (EE-shuhl) low, short sráid (sraw*d) street, a street agus (AH-guhs) and láidir (LAW*-dir) strong tanaí (TAH-nee) thin ramhar (ROU-wuhr) fat cam (koum) crooked
We can substitute these into the basic sentence "Tá sé fuar", he is cold, to make new sentences:
Tá fear anseo (taw* FAR un-SHUH). A man is here.
Tá Seán anseo (taw* SHAW*N un-SHUH). John is here.
Tá bean agus fear ansin (taw* BAN AH-guhs FAR un-SHIN). A women and a man are there.
Tá Bríd láidir (taw* BREED LAW*-dir). Bridget is strong.
"Tá" is irregular, one of only ten or eleven Irish verbs that are.
For the negative of "tá", the basic word is "níl" (neel).
Read these: Níl sé mór (NEEL shay* mohr). He is not big.
Níl mé fuar (NEEL may* FOO-uhr). I am not cold.
Níl Seán ramhar (NEEL shaw*n ROU-wuhr). John is not fat.
For questioning with "tá", the basic group is "an bhfuil" (un VWIL).
In the West of Ireland this may be pronounced (un WIL). Read these:
An bhfuil fear ansin? (un vwil FAR un-SHIN) Is a man there?
An bhfuil Nóra óg? (un vwil NOH-ruh ohg) Is Nora young?
An bhfuil bosca anseo? (un vwil BOHSK-uh un-SHUN) Is there a box here?
Pronunciation Irish t and d. Every Irish consonant has two different sounds. The one selected depends on what kind of vowel is next to the consonant. The vowels "a", "o" and "u" are called broad and give the broad sound to consonants next to them. The slender vowels are "e", "i", "ea" and often "ai".
You learned how to pronounce broad "t" above, in the word "tá". Pronounce a broad "d" with the front part of the tongue in the same position, along the roof of the mouth, with the tongue tip almost protruding between the teeth.
Try: dá (daw*), dó (doh), dún (doon), drom (drohm), dlú (dloo), dath (dah).
For slender "d" and "t", place the tongue tip, and only the tip, on the hard ridge just behind your upper front teeth. Then pronounce the "t " or "d". (In the West there is a tendency to pronounce these by sliding the tongue off the ridge, giving sounds closer to ch or j). Practice on these: deil (del), déan(day*n), dílis (DEE-lish), ding (ding), deacair (DAK-uhr), dlí (dlee), te (te), téann (TAY*-uhn), timire (TEEM-i-re), teas (tas).
Conversation Read this carefully until you can go from one language to the other quickly, phrase by phrase and sentence by sentence.
Do not try to understand the grammar of the words or phrases yet. Pay special attention to "duit". This is generally pronounced with a (g) sound at the start, and we will do that in this lesson. The letter "u" in the word merely tells you that the "d" or "g" gets its broad sound. The "t" must get a slender sound.
Séamas: (SHAY*-muhs): Dia duit, a Nóra (DEE-uh git, uh NOH-ruh). Hello, Nora.
Nóra: Dia's Muire duit, a Shéamais (DEE-uhs MWIR-uh git, uh HAY*-mish). Hello James.
Séamas: Conas tá tú? (KUN-uhs TAW*too). How are you?
Nóra: Tá mé go maith, agus conas tá tú féin? (TAW* may* goh MAH, AH-guhs KUN-uhs TAW* too fay*n). I am well, and how are you?
Séamas: Tá mé go maith, leis. (TAW*may* goh MAH, lesh). I am well, too.
(c) 1997 The Irish People. May be reprinted with credit.
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Post by wren on Oct 4, 2006 17:54:22 GMT -5
Lesson #3
One of the characteristics of modern printed Irish is the frequency of the letter "h" after consonants in words.
Generally the "h" is not sounded by itself but instead indicates a pronunciation change in the consonant directly ahead of it. This change, called "aspiration", occurs in other languages, too. In English, for example, you know that the word "philosophy" is pronounced with "f" sounds, not "p" sounds. The "h" after the "p" tells you this, as it does in "Philip" and "triumph." A German pronounces "ach" differently from "ac" or "ak", too, because he knows that the "h" indicates a change, which we call "aspiration" in Irish.
Aspiration is nothing more than a relaxation of the tongue as you say a consonant, so that air can flow out of the mouth more easily. Aspiration can occur for initial consonants under the effect of preceding words or word groups, such as "my" or "in the". Aspiration can also occur in the middle or at the end of a word. We will now give you an "aspiration vocabulary," so that you will be able to pronounce aspirated consonants more easily as you read them.
Nearly all the aspirated sounds are close to English sounds, but the aspirated "c" sounds are somewhat different. Learn them separately first:
When ordinary, unaspirated "c" is next to "a", "o", or "u", pronounce it like the "c" in "coat" or "coal." This is called "broad c." Notice that your tongue rises at the back and touches the roof of your mouth for the "c" sound. Try these Irish words: cáil (kaw*l), cóta (KOH-tuh), cúpla (KOOP-luh).
To make the aspirated sound, pronounce the "c" without letting the tongue rise so high. Try the German word "ach" first. Then try the aspirated sounds in: lach (lahk*), loch (lohk*), dúchas (DOOK*-uhs).
Next, try the sound at the start of words: cháil (k*aw*l), chóta (K*OH-tuh), chúpla (K*OOP-luh). We will use the symbol (K*) for the aspirated "broad c" sound.
Pronounce "c" next to "e", "i", or before "ea" like the "k" in "kill" or "kit". Notice that the tongue top touches the roof of the mouth farther forward than for "broad c." Try these Irish words: ceil (kel), cíos (kees), ceannaigh (KAN-ee).
To aspirate, say the "c" without letting the tongue touch the roof of the mouth. The sound will be like a "y" in English with a slight "h" sound before it; we will use (hy) as the symbol.
Try: cheil (hyel), chíos (hyees), cheannaigh (HYAN-ee). In parts of Ireland, the sound is closer to English "h."
Now learn this aspiration vocabulary. ("Mo" means "my" and aspirates the nine aspirable consonants after it.):
béal, mo bhéal (bay*l, muh VAY*L) mouth, my mouth. bád, mo bhád (baw*d, muh VWAW*D) boat, my boat.
cistin, mo chistin (KISH-tin, muh HYISH-tin) kitchen, my kitchen. cóta, mo chóta (KOH-tuh, muh K*OH-tuh) coat, my coat.
deis, mo dheis (desh, muh YESH) opportunity, my opportunity. dóthain, mo dhóthain (DOH-hin, muh GOH-hin) enough, enough for me.
fear, mo fhear (far, mar) man, my man. fáinne, mo fháinne (FAW*-nye, MAW*nye) ring, my ring.
géag, mo ghéag (GAY*-ugh, muh YAY*-uhg) arm, my arm. gairdín, mo ghairdín (gahr-DEEN, muh gahr-DEEN) garden, my garden.
mian, mo mhian (MEE-uhn, muh VEE-uhn) wish, my wish. mála, mo mhála (MAW*-luh, muh VWAW*-luh) bag, my bag.
peata, mo pheata (PAT-uh, muh FAT-uh) pet, my pet. póca, mo phóca (POH-kuh, muh FOH-kuh) pocket, my pocket.
séire, mo shéire (SHAY*-ruh, muh HAY*-ruh) supper, my supper. sál, mo shál (saw*l, muh HAW*L) heel, my heel.
tír, mo thír (teer, muh HEER) country, my country. talamh, mo thalamh (TAH-luhv, muh HAH-luhv) land, my land.
Conversation After you have learned this conversation, go over it again to look for examples of aspiration in it, and see how the pronunciation is changed.
Séamas: (SHAY*-muhs): Dia duit, a Nóra (DEE-uh git, uh NOH-ruh) Hello, Nora.
Nóra: Dia's Muire duit, a Shéamais (DEE-uhs MWIR-uh git, uh HAY*-mish) Hello James.
Séamas: Conas tá tú inniu? (KUN-uhs TAW* too in-YOO) How are you today?
Nóra: Tá mé go maith, agus conas tá tú féin? (TAW* may* goh MAH, AH-guhs KUN-uhs TAW* too fay*n) I am well, and how are you yourself?
Séamas: Tá mé go maith leis, ach níl mé ag obair anois (TAW* may* go MAH lesh, ahk* NEEL may* eg UH-bir uh-NISH) I am well, too, but I am not working now.
Nóra: Níl an aimsir go maith inniu (neel un EYEM-sheer goh MAH in-YOO) The weather isn't good today.
Séamas: Tá an ceart agat. Tá sé fuar anseo (taw* un KART uh-GUHT. taw*shay* FOO-uhr uhn-SHUH FRESH-in) You're right. It is cold here too).
Nóra: Níl an seomra te, pé scéal é (neel un SHOHM-ruh shuh te, pay* SHKAY*L ay*) The room isn't warm. anyway.
(c) 1997 The Irish People. May be reprinted with credit.
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Post by wren on Oct 4, 2006 17:57:07 GMT -5
Lesson #4 We began on the verb "tá" in Lesson 2, and we will continue with it now. Here is the entire present tense:
Tá mé (TAW* may*), I am Tá tú (TAW* too), you (singular) are Tá sé (TAW* shay*), he, (it) is Tá sí (TAW* shee), she is Táimid (TAW* mid), we are Tá sibh (TAW* shiv), you (plural) are Tá siad (taw* SHEE-uhd), they are
Níl mé (NEEL may*), I am not Níl tú (NEEL too), you (singular) are not Níl sé (NEEL shay*), he is not Níl sí (NEEL shee), she is not Nílimid (NEEL-i-mid), we are not Níl sibh (NEEL shiv), you (plural) are not Níl siad (neel SHEE-uhd), they are not
An bhfuil mé? (un VWIL may*), am I? An bhfuil tú? (un VWIL too), are you? (singular) An bhfuil sé? (un VWIL shay*), is he? An bhfuil sí? (un VWIL shee), is she? An bhfuilimid? (un VWIL-i-mid), are we? An bhfuil sibh? (un VWIL shiv), are you? (plural) An bhfuil siad? (un vwil shee-uhd), are they?
To give you fluency and practice in pronunciation, we now introduce a progressive drill. Repeat the drill several times when the lessons call for it. Each time you repeat it, it becomes easier. The drill takes you through a verb or grammar form progressively, changing from question to negative to declarative and back to the question form. Remember to form a mental picture for each sentence. Here is the basic form:
An bhfuil mé sa ghairdín? (un VWIL may* suh gahr-DEEN), Am I in the garden?
Níl mé sa ghairdín (NEEL may* suh gahr-DEEN), I am not in the garden.
Tá tú sa ghairdín (TAW* too suh gahr-DEEN), You are in the garden. An bhfuil tú sa ghairdín? (un VWIL too suh gahr-DEEN), Are you in the garden?
Níl tú sa ghairdín (NEEL too suh gahr-DEEN), You are not in the garden.
Tá sé sa ghairdín (TAW* shay* suh gahr-DEEN), He is in the garden. An bhfuil sé sa ghairdín? (un VWIL shay* suh ghar-DEEN), Is he in the garden?
Go on from here. Your last sentence will be: Tá mé sa ghairdín (TAW* may* suh gahr-DEEN), I am in the garden.
Vocabulary The Irish word for "the" is "an". Irish nouns can be either masculine or feminine, and "an" before a feminine noun aspirates most of the initial consonants that can be aspirated. Exceptions are "d", "t", and sometimes "s". "An" does not aspirate the initial consonant of a masculine noun. Learn this vocabulary:
Masculine nouns lá (law*), day clog (kluhg), clock bus (bus), bus
Feminine nouns bean, an bhean (ban, un VAN), woman cos, an chos (kuhs, un K*UHS), foot duais, an duais (DOO-ish, un DOO-ish), prize grian, an ghrian (GREE-uhn, un YREE-uhn), sun fuinneog, an fhuinneog (fwin-YOHG, un in-YOHG), window teanga, an teanga (TANG-uh, un TANG-uh), language tír, an tír (teer, un TEER), country
Other words and phrases ag dul abhaile (uh duhl uh-VWAHL-e), going home breá (bir-RAW*), fine fliuch (flyuk*), wet tirim (TIR-im), dry álainn (AW*-lin), beautiful fuar (FOO-uhr), cold
Conversation Bríd (breed): Dia duit, a Sheáin (DEE-uh git, uh HYAW*in). Hello John.
Seán (shaw*n): Dia's Muire duit, a Bhríd (DEE-uhs MWIR-uh git, uh VREED) Conas tá sibh go léir? (KUN-uhs TAW* shiv goh lay*r) Hello, Bridget. How are you all?
Bríd: Táimid go maith (TAW*-mid goh MAH), agus conas tá tú féin? (AH-guhs KUN-uhs TAW* too fay*n). We are well, and how are you yourself?
Seán: Ó, ar fheabhas (oh er OUS). Nach breá an lá é? (nahk* bir-RAW un LAW* ay*). Oh, excellent. Isn't it a fine day?
Bríd: Is breá, go deimhin (is bir-RAW*, goh DEYE-in) Tá an ghrian ag soilsiú. (taw* un YREE-uhn uh SEYEL-shoo), agus tá an aimsir go hálainn. (taw* un EYEM-sheer goh HAW*-lin). It is fine, certainly. The sun is shining and the weather is beautiful.
Seán: Níl an aimsir chomh fuar agus a bhí sé inné. (neel un EYEM-sheer hoh FOO-uhr AH-guhs uh vee shay* in-YAY). The weather is not as cold as it was yesterday.
Bríd: Agus níl an lá chomh fliuch agus a bhí sé inné. (AH-guhs neel an LAW* hoh flyuk* AH-guhs uh vee shay* in-YAY). And the day is not as wet as it was yesterday.
Seán: Tá orm dul abhaile anois, a Bhríd. (TAW* OH-ruhm duhl uh-VWAHL-e uh-NISH, uh VREED). Féach, tá sé a cúig a chlog beagnach. (FAY*-uhk*, TAW* shay* un KOO-ig uh K*LUHG BYUHG-nahk*). I must go home now, Bridget. Look, it is almost five o'clock. Bríd: Slán leat (slaw*n lat) Good-bye.
Seán: Slán agat, a Bhríd. ( slaw*n uh-GUHT, uh VREED). Good-bye, Bridget.
Note: "Slán agat" (health be at you) is said to someone staying behind. "Slán leat "(health be with you) is said to someone going away.
(c) 1997 The Irish People. May be reprinted with credit.
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Post by Senbecc on Oct 5, 2006 8:21:38 GMT -5
Oh, Wren I LOVE this!
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Post by wren on Oct 5, 2006 9:34:04 GMT -5
*blush*
I shall post more soon! I also want to get the Scots Gaelic lessons I have up and will try to put up some Welsh.
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Post by Senbecc on Oct 5, 2006 11:26:37 GMT -5
You have definitely out done yourself Wren...I don't know what to say. I won't let you guys down.
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Post by wren on Oct 5, 2006 14:43:41 GMT -5
Ah, shucks...*shuffling feet bashfully* ...Just doing what I said I would....
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Post by Marcus on Oct 6, 2006 16:05:34 GMT -5
Exellent Wren!!! I know most of that already but Ive learnt a few new words!! Im using them on my girlfriend and she is very impressed!!! Ta Naimh bean alainn!!
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Post by stormcat on Oct 7, 2006 16:38:02 GMT -5
AAAWWWW! This will be alot of work, it should drive the family nuts! I'm a trying...>^-.-^<
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Post by wren on Oct 12, 2006 11:27:58 GMT -5
You have already noticed the frequent use of what looks like an accent mark over vowels in Irish words. The slanting line (síneadh fada (SHEEN-uh FAH-duh) or sometimes "síneadh") is not really an accent mark, however, but instead basically indicates the length of time that you pronounce the vowel. For example, the word "pósta" (POHS-tuh), meaning "married", has the same (oh) sound that is in the word "cnoc" (kuh-NOHK), meaning "hill", but for "pósta" the (oh) sound is held longer.
Often a short vowel in an Irish word will sound to an American somewhat like the (uh) in "unfit". We have represented the sound by (uh) in some cases, because Americans will find the (uh) sound closer to their pronunciation experience. The Irish word "clog" is an example. We represent it by (kluhg), but as your pronunciation improves, you will learn to pronounce it with a short (oh) sound, rounding your lips more than for (uh).
Irish makes less use of the (uh) sound than does English, and this is important to remember as you refine your pronunciation.
The síneadh fada can indicate significant pronunciation differences. For example, "Seán" is a name, but "sean" means "old". "Fear" (far) is "man", but "féar" (fay*r) is "grass". The word "Éire" (AY-re) means "Ireland", but "eire" (E-re) is "burden". On Irish stamps a few years ago, Ireland was called "Eire", through either ignorance or malice.
Grammar In Irish, nearly all adjectives follow the noun, and if the noun is feminine, the initial consonant of the adjective is aspirated. Learn these examples thoroughly:
First, masculine nouns: an lá mór (un law* mohr), the big day an fear beag (un far byuhg), the little man bus dearg (bus DYAR-uhg), a red bus an bord mór (un bohrd mohr), the big table mo bhord mór (muh vwohrd mohr), my big table do bhord beag (duh vwohrd byuhg), your little table do bhád beag (duh vwaw*d byuhg), your little boat
Next, feminine nouns: bean mhór (ban vwohr), a big woman an bhean mhór (un van vwohr), the big woman fuinneog bheag (fwin-YOHG vyuhg), a little window an fhuinneog bheag (un in-YOHG vyuhg), the little window tír fliuch (teer lyuk*), a wet country an tír fhliuch (un teer lyuk*), the wet country cos fhada (kuhs AH-duh), a long foot an chos fhada (un k*uhs AH-duh), the long foot oíche mhaith (EE-hye vwah), a good night an oíche mhaith (un EE-hye vwah), the good night
A few adjectives come before the noun. "Sean" (shan), meaning "old", is one of these. It aspirates the initial consonant of the noun. Learn these examples:
sean-bhord (shan vwohrd), an old table an sean-bhord (un shan vwohrd), the old table an sean-fhear (un shan ar), the old man
Practice "Tá X sa chistin (taw* X suh HYISH-tin) means "X is in the kitchen".
With this as the basic sentence, go through the progressive drill that you learned in Lesson 4, inserting these word groups for "X":
bean mhór (ban vwohr), a big woman an bhean bheag (un van vyuhg), the little woman cailín álainn (kah-LEEN AW*-lin), a beautiful girl an fhuinneog mhór (un in-YOHG vwohr), the big window mo bhord íseal (muh vwohrd EE-shuhl), my low table do chat ramhar (duh k*aht ROU-wuhr), your fat cat
Start with: An bhfuil bean mhór sa chistin? (un VWIL ban vwohr suh HYISH-tin) Is there a big woman in the kitchen? Níl bean mhór sa chistin. Tá an bhean bheag sa chistin. An bhfuil an bhean bheag sa chistin? And so on. The last two sentences will be: Níl do chat ramhar sa chistin. Tá bean mhór sa chistin.
Where you stand You should now know some basic pronunciation of the simpler words. The words that you have learned were given chiefly to illustrate pronunciation. We will devote more space henceforth to vocabulary and grammar. The emphasis will always be on building your speaking ability, with phrases rather than separate words as the basic units. You should also be able to initiate a conversation by now, if you have studied the conversation for each lesson.
Conversation Brian (BREE-uhn): Dia duit, a Phádraig (DEE-uh git, uh FAW*-drig). Hello Patrick
Pádraig (PAW*-drig): Dia's Muire duit, a Bhriain (DEE-uhs MWIR-uh git, uh-VREE-in.) Conas tá tú? (KUN-uhs taw* too) Hello, Brian. How are you?
Brian: Tá mé go maith (TAW* may* goh MAH). Agus conas tá tú féin? (AH-guhs KUN-uhs taw* too fay*n) I am well. And how are you yourself?
Pádraig: Tá mé go maith, freisin (FRESH-in). Tá báisteach air anois (taw* BAW*SH-tuhk* er uh-NISH). I am well, too. It looks like rain now.
Brian: Bhí sé ag cur báistí aréir (vee shay* uh kur BAW*SH-tee uh-RAY*R). Féach! Tá an t-sráid fluich fós (FAY*-ahk*! taw* un traw*d flyuk* fohs). It was raining last night. Look! The street is still wet. Pádraig: Tá an aimsir fuar fliuch, go cinnte (taw* un EYEM-sheer FOO-uhr flyuhk*, goh KIN-te). The weather is cold and wet, certainly.
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Post by wren on Oct 12, 2006 11:28:41 GMT -5
Pronunciation
The pronunciation of "l" in Irish differs somewhat from English pronunciation of "l". If the "l" starts a word and is followed by "a", "o", or "u", the tongue is spread wider than for English "l" and is pressed against the upper front teeth. Try: lá (law*), lán (law*n), lón (lohn), lúb (loob). This is the broad sound. In English, you probably point the tongue and touch it to the hard ridge behind the upper front teeth.
For an "l" that starts a word but is followed by "e" or "i", hold the tongue with the tip against the back of the lower front teeth and raise the front of the tongue so that it touches the upper front teeth and the hard ridge behind them. This is a slender "l". Try: léan (lay*n), léir (lay*r) leis (lesh), leat (lat), lín (leen), lia (LEE-uh), lios (lis), litir (LI-tir).
If inside a word, "l' is more likely to be pronounced with the tongue tip on the hard ridge, much as in English.
You should now be able to understand why some Irish persons pronounce English words with "l" as they do. Take "lovely" as an example. Remember what Lesson 5 told you--that in Irish the (uh) sound is not as common as in English. Then try the word "lovely" with the broad "l" you have just learned and with a vowel sound closer to (oh) than to (uh). For another example, try pronouncing English "line" with either the broad "l" or the slender "l" that you have just learned.
Most persons learning a foreign language tend to apply the sounds of their native language to the new language.
This is what gives us German, French, Russian and Spanish accents. The Irish, similarly, have applied the sounds of Irish to English to create an Irish accent. Do not call it a "brogue."
Vocabulary
Masculine Nouns aon duine (ay*n DIN-e), anyone aon rud (ay*n ruhn), anything seomra *SHOM-ruh), room bosca (BOHSK-uh), box bord (bohrd), table Éireannach, an t-Éireannach (AY*R-uh-nahk*, un TAY*R-un-nahk*), Irishman or Irish person Meiriceánach (mer-i-KAW*-nahk*), an American
Feminine Nouns oíche, an oíche (EE-hye, un EE-hye), night, the night traein (tray*n) train cathair, an chathair (KAH-hir, un K*AH-hir), city, the city sa seomra (suh SHOHM-ruh), in the room sa bhaile (suh VWAHL-e) at home eile (EL-e), other seo (shuh), this sin (shin), there anseo (un-SHUH), here ansin (un-SHIN), there ag teacht isteach (uh tyahk*t ish-TYAHK*) coming in ag dul amach (uh duhl uh-MAHK*), going out
Grammar
"Cá bhfuil X?" (kaw* vwil eks) means "Wher is X?" "Nach bhfuil sé anseo?" (nahk* VWIL shay* un-SHUH) means "Isn't he here?"
The complete tense for the "nach bhfuil" form is:
Nach bhfuil mé? (nahk VWIL may*) am I not?
Nach bhfuil tú? (nahk VWIL too) are you (singular) not?
Nach bhfuil sé? (nahk VWIL shay*) isn't he?
Nach bhfuilimid? (nahk VWIL-i-mid) aren't we?
Nach bhfuil sibh? (nahk VWIL shiv) aren't you (plural)?
Nach bhfuil siad? (nahk VWIL SHEE-uhd) aren't they?
To make you more proficient in the vocabulary and verb forms of this lesson, go through this progressive drill:
Nach bhfuil Seán anseo? (nahk* vwil SHAW*n un-SHUH) Isn't John here?
Níl sé anseo (NEEL shay* un-SHUH). He's not here.
Tá sé ansin (TAW* shay* un-SHIN) He's there.
Continue with: Nach bhfuil Seán ansin? Níl sé ansin. Tá sé sa seomra. Then continue with: sa bhaile, ag teacht isteach, ag dul amach, ag teacht amach, ag dul isteach.
If you have time, replace "Seán" by: an t-Éireannach, an Meiriceánach, an bhean mhór, an fear mór.
For the form "Cá bhfuil___?", go through this progressive drill:
Cá bhfuil mé? (kaw* vwil may*) Nach bhfuil mé sa chistin? (nahk* VWIL may* suh HYISH-tin) Níl mé sa chistin (NEEL may* suh HYISH-tin). tá tú sa chistin (TAW* too suh HYISH-tin).
Continue with: Cá bhfuil tú?, and go through "sé", "sí", "__ imid", "sibh", and "siad", coming back to "Tá mé sa chistin."
Conversation
Brian: (BREE-uhn): A Phádraig, cá bhfuil an fear a bhí sa seomra eile? (uh FAW*-drig, kaw* vwil un far uh vee suh SHOHM-ruh EL-e)
Patrick, where is the man who was in the other room?
Pádraig: Níl a fhios agam (neel is uh-GUHM). B'fhéidir go bhfuil sé sa bhaile (BAY*dir goh vwil shay* suh VWAHL-e).
I don't know. Perhaps he is home.
Brian: Nach bhfuil tú féin ag dul abhaile anois? (nahk* VWIL too fay*n uh duhl uh-VWAHL-e uh-NISH)
Aren't you yourself going home now?
Pádraig: Is dócha (is DOHK*-uh). Féach! (FAY*ahk*) tá bus ag teacht síos an tsráid (taw* BUS uh tyahk*t shees un traw*d).
I suppose so. Look! There's a bus coming down the street.
Brian: Isteach leat, a mhic, (ish-TYAHK* lat, uh vik).
In with you, son.
Notes on conversation
"Níl a fhios agam" means literally "There is not its knowledge at me." "Fios" is "knowledge", and "agam" is "at me". Learn it as a phrase and use it as a quick reply to questions.
"B'fhéidir" is often followed by "go bhfuil." Learn it as a phrase, to which you can add other phrases, such as " __ Seán ag teacht."
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Post by wren on Oct 12, 2006 11:29:36 GMT -5
PRONUNCIATION
The sounds of the letter "r" in Irish differ from those of the "r" in English. When next to an "a", "o", or "u", the sound is usually rolled. To pronounce this "r", bring the tip of the tongue near the hard ridge behind your upper front teeth and vibrate the tongue as you say the "r". Keep the tongue relaxed. Then try: rá (raw*), rón (rohn), rún (roon).
If the "r" begins a word and is followed by "e" or "i", it usually has this broad sound, too, as in: ré (ray*), rí (ree).
The rolling or vibration of the tongue is in the front of the mouth, not in the back as in some other European languages.
Inside a word, the broad "r" sound may not be rolled or trilled as much as it is at the beginning of a word. A double "r" next to an "a", "o", or "u" is more likely to be rolled, as in: carraig (KAHR-rig).
When the "r" is next to an "e" or "i" inside a word or at the end of a word, it gets its slender sound. To make this sound, which is a difficult one for most Americans, place the tongue tip close to the top of your upper teeth and form a shallow pocket or hollow in the tongue tip. Don't make the hollow too deep. Then pronounce "r" by blowing air at the tongue tip and dropping the tongue tip down. Try this several times, and try saying "tír" (teer).
Notice how you start with your tongue tip on the hard ridge behind your upper front teeth and then move the tongue tip forward into position for the slender "r". The "r" sound may remind you somewhat of the slender "d" of Lesson 2, but there is a clear difference.
Now try: fir (fir), mír (meer). Next, try it beside a consonant: trí (tree), briste (BRISH-te), creid (kred). Work on the "t" and "d" in these words, too. See Lesson 2.
For a little more help with this sound, think back to the way in which some Irish persons pronounce the sentence "Where is it?" You may have heard this imitated on radio or television by persons attempting to speak with an Irish accent. The sound is the slender "r" of the Irish language, brought by Irish from their own language into the foreign language of English.
VOCABULARY
Masculine Nouns mac (mahk), son bóthar (BOH-uhr), road carr (kahr), car, automobile doras (DUH-ruhs), door nuachtán (NOO-uhk*-taw*n), newspaper ceacht (kyahk*t), lesson athair, an t-athair (A-hir, un TA-hir), father, the father ag scríobh (uh shkreev), writing ag caint (uh keyent), talking ag rith (uh ri), running ag léamh (uh LAY*-uhv), reading
Feminine nouns máthair, an mháthair (MAW*-hir, un VWAW*-hir), mother, the mother iníon, an iníon (in-EEN, un in-EEN), daughter sa bhus (suh vus), in the bus sa charr (suh k*ahr), in the car sa stáisiún (suh STAW*-shoon), in the station sa chathair (suh K*AH-hir), in the city sa tsráid (suh traw*d), in the street sa train (suh tray*n), in the train
READING PRACTICE
Táimid sa bhaile anois. Níl aon duine sa tsráid inniu. Tá an aimsir go dona (DUHN-uh). Tá sé fuar fliuch, agus tá sé ag cur báistí. Sa teach, tá an seomra seo te tirim. Tá bord sa seomra, agus bord eile sa chistin.
Féach! Tá fear ag teacht isteach. M'athair, is dócha, agus tá mo mháthair ansin, freisin. Nach bhfuil siad fliuch? Tá, go cinnte.
(TAW*-mid suh VWAHL-e uh-NISH. neel ay*n DIN-e suh traw*d in-YOO. taw* un EYEM-sheer goh DUHN-uh. taw* shay* FOO-uhr flyuk*, Ah-guhs taw* shay* uh kur BAW*SH-tee. suh tyahk*, taw* un SHOHM-ruh shuh te TIR-im. taw* bohrd suh SHOHM-ruh, AH-guhs bohrd EL-e suh HYISH-tin.)
(FAY*-ahk*! taw* far uh tyahk*t ish-TYAHK*. MA-hir, is DOHK*-uh, AH-guhs taw* muh VWAW*-hir un-SHIN, FRESH-in. nahk* vwil SHEE-uhd flyuk*? taw*, goh KIN-te).
We are at home now. There is no one in the street today. The weather is bad. It's cold and wet, and it's raining. In the house, this room is warm and dry. There is a table in the room, and another table in the kitchen.
Look! A man is coming in. My father, probably, and my mother is there, too. Aren't they wet? They are, indeed.
Notes: In Irish, the word "agus" (AH-guhs), and, is often omitted between adjectives starting with the same letter.
"Fuar fliuch" and "te tirim" are examples.
CONVERSATION
Liam (LEE-uhm): A Shíle, seo dhuit nuachtán (uh HEEL-uh, shuh git NOO-uhk*taw*n).
Sheila, here's a newspaper for you.
Síle (SHEEL-uh): Nuachtán Éireannach, an ea? (NOO-uhk*-taw*n AY*R-uh-nahk*, un a)
An Irish paper, is it?
Liam: Ní hea, ach nuachtán Meiriceánach, agus tá ceacht Gaeilge ann (nee ha, ahk* NOO-uhk*-taw*n mer-i-KAW*-nahk*, AH-guhs taw* kyahk*t GAY*lig-e OUN).
It is not, it's an American paper, and there's an Irish lesson in it.
Síle: Cá bhfuair tú é? (kaw* VOO-ir too ay*)
Where did you get it?
Liam: Sa siopa sin, thíos an tsráid (suh SHOHP-uh shin, HEE-uhs un traw*d).
In that store, down the street.
Notes on the conversation
"Ní hea" does not mean "no". Irish has no words for "yes" and "no". Instead, the verb or form of the question is always in the answer. For example, you answer, "An bhfuil __ ?" or "Nach bhfuil __?" by "Tá __" or "Níl __".
"Gaeilge" means "Irish language", or "Irish" for short.
The adjective "Irish" is "Éireannach". "Leabhar Ghaeilge" (LOU-wuhr GAY*-lig-e) is an Irish-language book, but "cóta Éireannach" is an Irish coat.
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Post by wren on Oct 12, 2006 11:30:10 GMT -5
PRONUNCIATION
You may have wondered about the meaning of the letters "bhf" in "bhfuil". The basic word is "fuil" (fwil), but Irish speakers change the (f) sound by using the vocal cords, or humming, while they pronounce the "f", causing a (v) sound.
Certain words and phrases, such as "an" or "nach", or "ar an" (er un), which means "on the", bring about this change. They also cause the speaker to close off the flow of air somewhat for other consonants, altering the sound to a nasal hum: "d" becomes "n", and "b" becomes "m". The changes are called "eclipsis", but you will learn them easily from the reference list below. You already know the sounds themselves. "Ár" (aw*r) means "our" and is one of the words that cause eclipsis in following initial consonants.
bia, ár mbia (BEE-uh, aw*r MEE-uh) food, our food
cistin, ár gcistin (KISH-tin, a*wr GISH-tin) kitchen, our kitchen
deis, ár ndeis (desh, aw*r nesh) opportunity, our opportunity
fear, ár bhfear (far, aw*r var) man, our man
peata, ár bpeata (PAT-uh, aw*r BAT-uh) pet, our pet
tír, ár dtír (teer, aw*r deer) country, our country
pócaí, ár bpócaí (POH-kee, aw*r BOH-kee) pockets, our pockets
talamh, ár dtalamh (TAH-luhv, aw*r DAH-luhv) land, our land
bád, ár mbád (baw*d, ar*r maw*d) boat, our boat
cótaí, ár gcótaí (KOH-tee, aw*r GOH-tee) coats, our coats
dóthain, ár ndóthain (DOH-hin, aw*r NOH-hin) enough, enough for us
fáinne, ár bhfáinne (FAW*-nye, aw*r VAW*-nye) ring, our ring
One more, which will be a little harder for you to pronounce at first, although you know the individual sounds from English:
When eclipsed, the initial letter "g" takes the sound of "ng" that is at the end of the English word "sung". This is a little difficult at first to put before a word. Try this: ár ngeata (aw*rng A-tuh), our gate. Join the (aw*r) sound to the (ng) sound, saying it separately at first and then adding on the (A-tuh). Try "ár ngairdín" (aw*rng ahr-DEEN). Practice on: ár ngluaisteán (aw*rng LOOSH-taw*n), our auto; ár ngrá (aw*rng raw*), our love; ár nguí (aw*rng ee), our prayer; ár ngúnaí (aw*rng OON-ee), our dresses.
VOCABULARY
Masculine Nouns cúpla (KOOP-luh), a couple sneachta (SHNAHK*-tuh), snow staighre (STEYE-ruh), stairs urlár, an t-urlár (oor-LAW*R, un toor-LAW*R) floor uisce, an t-uisce, (ISH-ke, un TISH-ke), water bainne (BAHN-ye), milk
Feminine Nouns aimsir (EYEM-sheer), weather maidin, an mhaidin (MAH-din, un VWAH-din), morning lámh (law*v), hand súil, an tsúil (SOO-il, un TOO-il), eye ach (ahk*), but ó shin (oh HIN), ago ach oiread (ahk* IR-uhd), either istigh (ish-TEE), inside amuigh (uh-MWEE), outside ag foghlaim Gaeilge (uh FOU-lim GAY*-lig-e), learning Irish ag dul suas an staighre (uh duhl SOO-uhs un STEYE-ruh), going upstairs ag dul síos (SHEE-uhs) an staighre , going downstairs Tá sé thuas (HOO-uhs) an staighre, He's upstairs Tá sé thíos (HEE-uhs) an staighre, He's downstairs
GRAMMAR
Use the words "isteach" (ish-TYAHK*) and "amach" (uh-MAHK*) when movement is meant. To indicate that someone is remaining inside or outside, use "istigh" and "amuigh".
DRILL
translate: a good hand, a good eye, the good eye, a long morning, the long morning, a crooked street, the crooked street. The proper forms are given below, after the conversation.
Next, go through a progressive drill on:
An bhfuil mé ag dul suas an staighre? Níl mé __. Tá tú __. Etc. Repeat with "síos an staighre".
CONVERSATION
Éamann (AY*-muhn): Cá bhfuil Séamas anois? (kaw* vwil SHAY*-muhs uh-NISH) Where is James now?
Cáitlín (kaw*t-LEEN): Níl a fhios agam (neel is uh-GUHM).Bhí sé ag dul suas an staighre cúpla noiméad ó shin (vee shay* uh duhl SOO-uhs STEYE-ruh KOOP-luh NOH-may*d oh hin.) I don't know He was going up the stairs a couple of minutes ago.
Éamann: B'fhéidir go bhfuil sé thuas an staighre anois (BAY*-dir goh vwil shay* HOO-uhs un STEYE-ruh uh-NISH). Perhaps he's upstairs now.
Séamas: Tá mé ag teacht anois (taw* may* uh tyahk*t uh-NISH). Bhí mé istigh an lá go léir (vee may* ish-TEE un law* goh lay*r). I'm coming now. I was inside the whole day.
DRILL FORMS: Lámh mhaith (law*v vwah); súil mhaith (SOO-il vwah); an tsúil mhaith (un TOO-il vwah); maidin fhada (MAH-din AH-duh); an mhaidin fhada (un VWAH-din AH-duh); sráid cham (sraw*d k*oum); an tsráid cham (un traw*d k*oum).
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Post by wren on Oct 12, 2006 11:30:59 GMT -5
PRONUNCIATION
We will now look more closely at some vowel sounds before taking up any more consonants. First comes "o".
We represent its sound by (oh) for simplicity, but the actual Irish sound is noticeably different from English "oh". To see this, stand before a mirror and watch your lips as you pronounce the word "oh" slowly. You will see them contract and move out to make an (oo) sound at the end. English "oh" is really a diphthong, a close combination of two vowels.
The Irish sound is a single vowel, made with lips held rounded. Watch you lips again as you say English "oak" slowly. Then try to say it without contracting your lips. You will have the distinctive sound that has sometimes come into English. Try: óg, ól, ón, ór, ós. This vowel sound should be held longer than in English.
If there is no síneadh fada (SHEEN-uh FAH-duh) over an "o" which is nevertheless stressed in a word, pronounce it in the same way but do not hold it as long. Try: obair (OH-bir), oscail (OH-skil), ocht (ohk*t). Notice that this shorter sound may resemble (uh), but in Irish you should not make the error of saying (uh) for this shorter "o". Keep your lips more rounded and contracted than for (uh). Next, try "ocht" and then "ucht" (uk*t), and notice the difference.
REFLEX EXPRESSIONS
In everyday speech in any language, there are certain phrases or sentences with which a speaker reacts instantly to given situations. The expressions are closer to reflex action than to careful selection of words. "Níl a fhios agam" (neel is uh-GUHM) is one example. You must learn some of these to be fluent in speech and to understand written and spoken Irish.
Ná bac leis (naw* bahk lesh), never mind, don't worry about it.
Buíochas le Dia (BWEE-uhk*-uhs le DEE-uh), Thanks be to God, thank Heaven.
Tá go maith (taw* goh mah), All right.
Is cuma liom (is KUM-uh luhm), I don't care, it's all the same to me.
An ndéir tú liom é? (un NAY*R too luhm ay*), You don't say (literally: Do you say it to me?
Fan go fóill (fahn goh FOH-il), Wait a minute, take it easy.
CHECK LIST
Are you working on your pronunciation of d, t, c, and g, with the instructions in Lesson 2 and 3?
Are you reading aloud?
Do you translate back and forth from Irish to English and then from English to Irish in the Vocabulary and Conversation?
Do you form a picture in your mind every time you say an Irish word or phrase? If you answered "No" to any of these questions, you can benefit from reading Lessons 1 to 3 over again.
GRAMMAR AND VOCABULARY
To give a command to another person, you must know the imperative form of the verb. This form is almost always the shortest and most basic part of the verb. Later on, you will learn how to change and add to this basic part to tell, for example, that an action happened in the past or will happen in the future.
Here are some imperatives to learn. Note that if you want to tell a person not to do something, you put "Ná" (naw*) before the imperative.
Déan é (day*n ay*), Do it.
Ná déan é (naw* day*n ay*), Don't do it.
Léigh é (lay* ay*), Read it.
Ná léigh é (naw* lay* ay*), Don't read it.
Scríobh é (shkreev ay*), Write it.
Ná scríobh é (naw* shkreev ay*), Don't write it.
Cuir ar an mbord é (kir er un mohrd ay*), Put it on the table.
Ná cuir an bosca ar an mbord (naw* kir un BOHSK-uh er un mohrd), Don't put the box on the table.
Éist liom (ay*sht luhm), Listen to me.
Ná héist leis (naw* hay*sht lesh), Don't listen to him
Ól an bainne (ohl un BAHN-ye), Drink the milk.
Ná hól an tae (naw€ hohl un tay€), Don't drink the tea.
When "Ná" precedes a verb that starts with a vowel, an "h" is put before the verb, as in two examples above. Note also that "é" (ay*), which means "him" or "it", and "í" (ee), which means "her" or "it", are usually put at the end of the sentence.
CONVERSATION
Máire (MAW*-re): Ar chuala tú mo chat aréir, a Sheoirse? (er K*OO-uh-luh too muh k*aht uh-RAY*R, uh HYOHR-she) Did you hear my cat last night, George?
Seoirse (SHOHR-she): Chuala mé é, go cinnte (K*OO-uh-luh may* ay*, goh KIN-te).
I heard it, certainly.
Bhí sé ag screadadh an oíche go léir (vee shay* uh SHKRAD-uh un EE-huh goh lay*r).
It was screeching the whole night.
Agus bhí cat eile ann, freisin (AH-guhs vee kaht EL-e oun, FRESH-in).
And there was another cat there, too.
Maire: Cara leis, is dócha (KAH-ruh lesh, is DOHK*-uh)
A friend of his I, suppose.
Seoirse: Codladh sámh agat anocht (KUHL-uh saw*v uh-GUHT uh-NOHK*T).
Sound sleep to you tonight.
Notes: In pronouncing "Máire", you must put a faint (i) sound between the (maw*) and the (re) sounds. This makes the word sound somewhat like "Moyra" or "Moira", English attempts to represent the sound.
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