When
"n" starts a word and the nearest vowel in the word
is "a", "o" or "u", pronounce this "n" by spreading
the tongue and pressing it against the upper front
teeth. Practice this broad "n" sound in: ná,
nó, nuair (NOO-ir), nach, nocht.
If "n" begins a word but the nearest vowel is "e"
or "i", pronounce the "n" with the tongue tip on
the hard rim behind the upper front teeth. You will
often hear a faint (y) sound as you continue pronouncing
the rest of the word. Practice this sound in: néad
(nay*d) or (nyay*d), ní, nead (nyad), neimh
(nev), neodrach (NYOH-druhk*).
If the "n" is inside or at the end of a word, pronounce
it as you do in English. Practice on: lán,
rón, anuas (uh-NOO-uhs), móin (MOH-in),
lean (lan), glanaim.
If a double "n" inside a word is near an "e" or
"i", pronounce it (ny). Examples: bainne (BAHN-ye),
tinneas (TIN-yuhs).
Double "n" at a word end following "i" may get a
(n) or (ny) sound, the latter being close to (ng).
Examples: linn (lin) or (liny); álainn (AW*-lin)
or (AW*-liny). The (ny) sound makes a combination
like "álainn é" sound (AW*-lin yay*).
REFLEX
EXPRESSIONS
Learn these expressions for quick use in thought
and speech:
Céard faoi? (kay*rd fwee), What about it?
Céard fútsa? (kay*rd FOOT-suh), What
about you?
Céard fúthu? (kay*rd FOO-huh), What
about them?
Tamall ó shin (TAH-muhl oh hin), a while
ago.
Is duitse é seo (is DIT-she ay* shuh), This
is for you.
COMHRÁ
(KOH-raw*), CONVERSATION
In this week's long conversation, we will break
up the sentences into phrases by hyphenation, to
give you practice in working by phrases, something
which is important in learning Irish. Go over each
sentence in Irish until you can say it easily and
understand what is meant, making use of the English
translation if needed. Do not translate into English.
Next, cover the Irish and try to express the English
in Irish. You do not need to get the exact wording
of the original Irish, only the sense of it.
Bláthnaid
(BLAW*-nid): A Phóil (uh FOH-il), bíonn
rud beag -- do mo bhodhrú (duhm VOU-roo)
-- le tamall anois (le TAH-muhl uh-NISH). Blathnaid:
Paul, there's a small thing bothering me for a while
now.
Pól
(pohl): Céard é sin? (kay*rd ay*
shin) Airgead, an ea? (AR-i-guhd un a) Paul: What's
that? Money, is it?
Bláthnaid:
Ó, ní hea. Tá gach rud
-- go han-mhaith (goh HAHN-uh VWAH) -- maidir leis
an airgead (MAH-dir lesh un AR-i-guhd). Oh, it's
not. Everything is very good in the matter of money.
Pól:
Ó, tá áthas orm (taw* AW*-huhs
OH-ruhm) -- é sin a chloisteáil (ay*
shin uh K*LISH-taw*-il). Níorbh fhéidir
liom (NEE-ruhv AY*-dir luhm) -- mórán
cabhrach (moh-RAW*N KOU-rahk*) -- a thabairt duit
(uh HOO-irt dit) -- sa chás sin (suh k*aw*s
shin). Oh, I'm happy to hear that. I wouldn't be
able to give you much help in that case.
Bláthnaid:
Creidim thú (KRED-im hoo), -- ach is
fadhb bheag (feyeb vee-UHG) -- an fhadhb (eyeb)
atá agam anois. Bíonn buairt orm (BOO-irt
OH-ruhm) -- le pictiúr na teilifíse
(le PIK-tyoor nuh TEL-i-feesh-e). Ní bhíonn
sé soiléir (suh-LAY*R) -- chor ar
bith (K*UHR er i). Agus preabann sé (PRAB-uhn
shay*) -- go minic. I believe you, but the problem
I have now is a small problem. I have trouble with
the television's picture. It's not clear at all.
And it jumps often.
Pól:
Rinne an fear (RIN-ye un far) -- a chuir isteach
é -- botún, b'fhéidir (buh-TOON,
BAY*-dir). An bhfuil an leabhairín treorach
(LOU-uhr-een TROHR-rahk*) -- agat? The man who installed
it made a mistake, perhaps. Do you have the instruction
booklet?
Bláthnaid:
Tá an t-ádh leat (un TAW* lat).
Choinnigh mé é (K*IN-ee may* ay*).
Seo dhuit é (shuh GIT ay*). You're in luck.
I kept it. Here it is for you.
Pól:
Hmm. Mórán léaráidí
ann (moh-RAW*N lay*r-AW*-dee oun). Ó, feach
anseo! Treorach faoin aeróg (TROHR-rahk*
fween ay*r-ROHG). Hmm. A lot of diagrams there.
Oh, look here! Instructions on the aerial.
Sílim go bhfuil an trioblóid (trib-LOH-id)
-- san aeróg. Feictear dom -- go bhfuil an
aeróg seo againn (uh-GIN) -- ro-ghearr (roh
YAHR). Tá aeróg níos faide
(nees FAD-ye) -- ag teastáil uainn (uh TAS-taw*-il
WOO-in) -- go soiléir. I think that the trouble
is in the aerial. It seems to me that this aerial
of ours is too short. We need a longer aerial, clearly.
Bláthnaid:
Cad ba cheart dúinn (kahd buh hyart DOO-in)
-- a dhéanamh anois -- más ea? (maw*
sha) What should we do now, then.
Pól:
Tá orainn (OH-rin) -- sreang mhiotail
a fháil (srang VI-til uh AW*-il) -- agus
í a chur -- an fhuinneog amach (un in-YOHG
uh-MAHK*). Bainimis triail as sin (BWIN-i-meesh
TREE-il as shin). We must get a metal wire and put
it out the window. Let's try that.
(c)
1998 The Irish People. May be reprinted with credit.
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