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Post by Senbecc on Aug 19, 2007 5:18:53 GMT -5
P.S. I`ve been trying to pronounce some of the words from the above lessons.... Good Lord, my jaw nearly broke! I really hope no one can hear me,...it`s terrifying!!! Practice practice practice. As Trommler says, there are three different dialects which can make Gaelic seem that much more intimidating, but I think if you keep reading this board, you'll start to get a main idea. It's good though that education on the subject begins here IMO. It's good that you are seeing how it is written first. Later, find yourself some audio tapes etc.
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Post by Der Trommler on Aug 19, 2007 21:40:23 GMT -5
P.S. I`ve been trying to pronounce some of the words from the above lessons.... Good Lord, my jaw nearly broke! I really hope no one can hear me,...it`s terrifying!!! Practice practice practice. As Trommler says, there are three different dialects which can make Gaelic seem that much more intimidating, but I think if you keep reading this board, you'll start to get a main idea. It's good though that education on the subject begins here IMO. It's good that you are seeing how it is written first. Later, find yourself some audio tapes etc. As I've been gathering information, the dialect, slang, & accent differ but they are basically the same so you can get a very basic understanding of what is being said without losing the conversation. I'll try to find the links to those audio's that I've found.....
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Dystopia
Philosopher
I never found a companion that was so companionable as solitude...
Posts: 124
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Post by Dystopia on Aug 20, 2007 9:22:08 GMT -5
That Wren is a one smart woman I say. I generally like the idea of learning any language in this way, particularly the one that I love so dearly! If only somebody knew one of the Norse languages,...Sweedish is my second dearest. But I`m more than happy with the opportunity of learning Irish - and in 3 dialects!!! How cool is that! That would be great. You rock!.. or... You suck! (in lala`s language )
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Dystopia
Philosopher
I never found a companion that was so companionable as solitude...
Posts: 124
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Post by Dystopia on Aug 20, 2007 9:25:29 GMT -5
P.S. I`ve been trying to pronounce some of the words from the above lessons.... Good Lord, my jaw nearly broke! I really hope no one can hear me,...it`s terrifying!!! Practice practice practice. As Trommler says, there are three different dialects which can make Gaelic seem that much more intimidating, but I think if you keep reading this board, you'll start to get a main idea. It's good though that education on the subject begins here IMO. It's good that you are seeing how it is written first. Later, find yourself some audio tapes etc. You should hear me speaking! It is definitely the dialect you`ve never heard before!
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Post by Lady Anastasia on Aug 20, 2007 16:49:18 GMT -5
That would be great. You rock!.. or... You suck! (in lala`s language ) hehehe... see, it's soooo catching on
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Post by Der Trommler on Aug 20, 2007 21:30:27 GMT -5
That Wren is a one smart woman I say. I generally like the idea of learning any language in this way, particularly the one that I love so dearly! If only somebody knew one of the Norse languages,...Sweedish is my second dearest. But I`m more than happy with the opportunity of learning Irish - and in 3 dialects!!! How cool is that! That would be great. You rock!.. or... You suck! (in lala`s language ) I will try to accomodate you on those languages. My basic idea after Wren's, is to expand it to Western Europe (ie: Celtic States) to get a feel of how the Celts had influenced that part of the world. It also gives all of us a better understanding of languages!
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Post by Der Trommler on Aug 21, 2007 23:09:04 GMT -5
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, 1998 The Irish People. May be reprinted with credit.
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Post by Der Trommler on Aug 23, 2007 22:03:52 GMT -5
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Dystopia
Philosopher
I never found a companion that was so companionable as solitude...
Posts: 124
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Post by Dystopia on Aug 25, 2007 7:13:04 GMT -5
There`s a few really good sites that you`ve posted (many of them don`t work, however). The English - Irish Dictionary is very useful, and of course, the one that you use; summerlands, or something like that. I think that these two are sufficient, anyway.
I was also very intrigued by that Byki.com! It sounds very promising, and it offers a great variety of languages. The only thing that bothers me is...is it safe? I get the warning that the download could contain some things that could harm my comp, when I try to download it. I don`t know whether it is formal warning or what, so I haven`t installed anything yet. Has anyone tried this?
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Post by Der Trommler on Aug 25, 2007 22:00:54 GMT -5
There`s a few really good sites that you`ve posted (many of them don`t work, however). The English - Irish Dictionary is very useful, and of course, the one that you use; summerlands, or something like that. I think that these two are sufficient, anyway. I was also very intrigued by that Byki.com! It sounds very promising, and it offers a great variety of languages. The only thing that bothers me is...is it safe? I get the warning that the download could contain some things that could harm my comp, when I try to download it. I don`t know whether it is formal warning or what, so I haven`t installed anything yet. Has anyone tried this? I haven't tried but you're right. you should be careful. I'm assuming the ones that I borrowed are safe because of where I got them from N.O.D. Also, try the BBC website. Many useful languages here!!! I will be posting more & I am going to color code them so that green will be Ulster, orange is Connacht, & Yellow will be Munster.
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Dystopia
Philosopher
I never found a companion that was so companionable as solitude...
Posts: 124
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Post by Dystopia on Aug 28, 2007 4:13:45 GMT -5
That would be great. You rock!.. or... You suck! (in lala`s language ) hehehe... see, it's soooo catching on yea, it is...I might as well use it. Hey, maybe you should start a thread here : "Learning lala`s language"! That way we could all communicate more easily... ...just don`t introduce any dialects,..ok?
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Post by Der Trommler on Aug 30, 2007 21:04:26 GMT -5
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 tátúinniu? (KUN-uhs TAW* too in-YOO) How are you today?
Nóra: Támégo maith, agus conas tátúféin? (TAW* may* goh MAH, AH-guhs KUN-uhs TAW* too fay*n) I am well, and how are you yourself?
Séamas: Támégo maith leis, ach níl méag 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: Táan ceart agat. Táséfuar 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, péscéalé(neel un SHOHM-ruh shuh te, pay* SHKAY*L ay*) The room isn't warm. anyway.
(c) 1997, 1998 The Irish People. May be reprinted with credit.
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Post by Der Trommler on Sept 2, 2007 12:03:35 GMT -5
We began on the verb "tá" in Lesson 2, and we will continue with it now. Here is the entire present tense:
Támé(TAW* may*), I am Tátú(TAW* too), you (singular) are Tásé(TAW* shay*), he, (it) is Tásí(TAW* shee), she is Táimid (TAW* mid), we are Tásibh (TAW* shiv), you (plural) are Tásiad (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 mésa ghairdín? (un VWIL may* suh gahr-DEEN), Am I in the garden?
Níl mésa ghairdín (NEEL may* suh gahr-DEEN), I am not in the garden.
Tátúsa ghairdín (TAW* too suh gahr-DEEN), You are in the garden. An bhfuil túsa ghairdín? (un VWIL too suh gahr-DEEN), Are you in the garden?
Níl túsa ghairdín (NEEL too suh gahr-DEEN), You are not in the garden.
Tásésa ghairdín (TAW* shay* suh gahr-DEEN), He is in the garden. An bhfuil sésa ghairdín? (un VWIL shay* suh ghar-DEEN), Is he in the garden?
Go on from here. Your last sentence will be: Támésa 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 tásibh 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 tátúféin? (AH-guhs KUN-uhs TAW* too fay*n). We are well, and how are you yourself?
Seán:&Oactue;O, ar fheabhas (oh er OUS). Nach breáan láé? (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) Táan ghrian ag soilsiú. (taw* un YREE-uhn uh SEYEL-shoo), agus táan 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 bhíséinné. (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 láchomh fliuch agus a bhíséinné. (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: Táorm dul abhaile anois, a Bhríd. (TAW* OH-ruhm duhl uh-VWAHL-e uh-NISH, uh VREED). Féach, táséa 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, 1998 The Irish People. May be reprinted with credit.
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Post by Der Trommler on Sept 5, 2007 21:46:04 GMT -5
Irish Lesson 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 lámór (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 "TáX 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 cailínálainn (kah-LEEN AW*-lin), a beautiful girl an fhuinneog mhór (un in-YOHG vwohr), the big window mo bhordíseal (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. Táan 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. Tábean 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 tátú? (KUN-uhs taw* too) Hello, Brian. How are you?
Brian: Támégo maith (TAW* may* goh MAH). Agus conas tátúféin? (AH-guhs KUN-uhs taw* too fay*n) I am well. And how are you yourself?
Pádraig: Támégo maith, freisin (FRESH-in). Tábáisteach air anois (taw* BAW*SH-tuhk* er uh-NISH). I am well, too. It looks like rain now.
Brian: Bhíséag cur báistíaréir (vee shay* uh kur BAW*SH-tee uh-RAY*R). Féach! Táan t-sráid fluich fós (FAY*-ahk*! taw* un traw*d flyuk* fohs). It was raining last night. Look! The street is still wet. Pádraig: Táan aimsir fuar fliuch, go cinnte (taw* un EYEM-sheer FOO-uhr flyuhk*, goh KIN-te). The weather is cold and wet, certainly.
(c) 1997, 1998 The Irish People. May be reprinted with credit
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Post by Der Trommler on Sept 9, 2007 10:47:05 GMT -5
Lesson 6 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 "Cábhfuil X?" (kaw* vwil eks) means "Wher is X?" "Nach bhfuil séanseo?" (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 séanseo (NEEL shay* un-SHUH). He's not here.
Táséansin (TAW* shay* un-SHIN) He's there.
Continue with: Nach bhfuil Seán ansin? Níl séansin. Tásésa 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 "Cábhfuil___?", go through this progressive drill:
Cábhfuil mé? (kaw* vwil may*) Nach bhfuil mésa chistin? (nahk* VWIL may* suh HYISH-tin) Níl mésa chistin (NEEL may* suh HYISH-tin). tátúsa chistin (TAW* too suh HYISH-tin).
Continue with: Cábhfuil tú?, and go through "sé", "sí", "__ imid", "sibh", and "siad", coming back to "Támésa chistin."
Conversation Brian: (BREE-uhn): A Phádraig, cábhfuil an fear a bhísa 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 sésa bhaile (BAY*dir goh vwil shay* suh VWAHL-e).
I don't know. Perhaps he is home.
Brian: Nach bhfuil túféin 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*) tábus 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."
(c) 1997, 1998 The Irish People. May be reprinted with credit.
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