PRONUNCIATION
REVIEW
Pronounce an "s" near "a", "o" or "u" like the American
sound, with lips relaxed. This is the broad "s"
sound. Do not tense the lips as in the English sound.
Practice on:
sá, só, sú, saor (say*r), saoi
(see), samhradh (SOU-ruh), saibhir (SEYE-vir), sac
(sahk), sabháil (suh-VWAW*-il), slat (slaht),
smál (smaw*l), smaoineamh (SMWEEN-uhv), smuta
(SMUT-uh), snas (snahs), spórt (spohrt),
Spáinn (SPAW*-in), spraoi (spree), stad (stahd),
strapa (STRAH-puh), stró (stroh).
Pronounce an Irish "s" as (sh) when it is next to
an "e" or an "i", and also when "sc", "sl", "sn",
and "st" are next to the "e" or "i". Examples: sé,
sí, sean (shan), seift (sheft), sin, scéal
(shkay*l), slí (shlee), sneachta (SHNAHK*-tuh),
stíl (shteel), leisce (LESH-ke), uaisle (WISH-le),
misniúil (mish-NYOO-il), éisteacht
(AY*SH-tyahk*t).
If the combinations "sm", "sp", "sr", or "str" are
next to "e" or "i", pronounce the "s" as (s), the
broad sound described above. Memorize these examples:
smig (smig), chin; spéir (spay*r), sky; srian
(SREE-uhn), bridle; stríoc (streek), streak,
stripe.
"is"
is an exception, too. Pronounce it (is), never (ish)
or (iz). Irish has no (z) sound.
GRAMMAR
In the future tense, the (say*r-VREE-huhr) or free
form expresses ideas such as "It will be put on
the table" or "Someone will put it on the table".
In Irish, this is:
Cuirfear ar an mbord é (KIR-fuhr er un MOHRD
ay*). Note that the "f" is pronounced (f) here.
In other future forms, you pronounce it (h), as
in "Cuirfidh mé (KIR-hee may*) ar an mbord
é"; I will place it on the table.
The rest of the saorbhriathar forms in the future
are:
Ní chuirfear (K*IR-fuhr) ar an mbord é.
An gcuirfear (un GIR-fuhr) ar an mbord é?
Nach gcuirfear (nach* GIR-fuhr) ar an mbord é?
"Ní"
aspirates here, and "an" and "nach" eclipse.
For a two-syllabled second-conjunction verb, such
as "ceannaigh" (KAN-ee), buy, the future forms are:
Ceannófar é (kan-OH-fuhr ay*), it
will be bought.
Ní cheannófar é (nee hyan-OH-fuhr
ay*), it will not be bought.
An gceannófar é? (un gyan-OH-fuhr
ay*), will it be bought?
Nach gceannófar é? (nahk* gyan-OH-fuhr
ay*), won't someone buy it?
Others from this group:
Osclófar é (ohsk-LOH-fuhr ay*), someone
will open it.
Cosnófar é (kuhs-NOH-fuhr ay*), it
will be defended.
Freagrófar é (frag-ROH-fuhr ay*),
someone will answer it.
Baileofar é (bahl-YOH-fuhr ay*), someone
will collect it.
Inseofar dó é (in-SHOH-fuhr doh ay*),
it will be told to him.
Notice that an extra "e" is inserted sometimes.
This makes spelling consistent, so that you know
whether a letter gets its broad or slender sound.
For example, without the "e" to help, you would
not know whether "insófar" was (in-SOH-fuhr)
or (in-SHOH-fuhr).
DRILL
With the examples:
An gcuirfear an mála sa charr? (un GIR-fuhr
un MAW*-lah suh K*AHR), Will the bag be put into
the car? Ní chuirfear an mála sa charr,
The bag won't be put into the car. Nach gcuirfear
an mála sa charr? Cuirfear an mála
sa charr.
Go through progressive drills with these word groups:
Bris (brish), break; an cupán ar an urlár,
the cup on the floor.
Feic (fek), see; an cailín sin amárach
(uh-MAW*-rahk*), that girl tomorrow.
Pós (pohs), marry; Seán le Síle
(SHEE-luh).
Críochnaigh (KREE-uhk*-nee), finish; an obair
seo, this work.
Mínigh (MEEN-ee), explain; an fhadhb (eyeb),
the problem.
Key:
An mbrisfear an cupán ar an urlár?
Ní bhrisfear ----. Nach mbrisfearr ----?
Brisfear ----.
An bhfeicfear (VEK-fuhr) ----? Ní fheicfear
(nee EK-fuhr) ----. Nach bhfeicfear ----? Feicfear
----.
An gcríochnófar (greek*-NOH-fuhr)
----? Ní chríochnófar ----.
Nach gcríochnófar ----? Críochnófar
----.
An míneofar ----? Ní mhíneofar
(veen-YOH-fuhr) ----. Nach míneofar ----?
Míneofar ----.
COMHRÁ
(KOH-raw*)
(Success appears imminent, as the modified aerial
is emplaced.)
Bláthnaid
(BLAW*-nid): Cuirfear an poll tríd an
doras go luath (KIR-fuhr un poul treed un DUH-ruhs
goh LOO-uh). The hole will be put through the door
soon.
Pól
(pohl): Tá sé críochnaithe
anois (KREE-uhk*-nuh-he uh-NISH). It's finished
now. Tabhair dom an tsreang mhiotail (TOO-ir duhm
un trang VI-til), más é do thoil é
(MAW* shay* duh HIL ay*). Give me the metal wire,
please.
Bláthnaid:
Seo dhuit, a Phóil (shuh git, uh FOH-il).
Sáigh amach í trí pholl an
dorais (SAW*-ee uh-MAHK* ee tree foul un DUH-rish).
Here it is, Paul. Stick it out through the door-hole.
Pól:
Anois, tá orainn -- an tsreang a chrochadh
-- ar thaobh an fhoirgnimh seo (uh-NISH, taw* OH-rin
un trang uh K*ROHK*-uh er HAY*V un IR-gi-niv shuh).
Now, we have to hang the wire on the side of this
building.
Bláthnaid:
Buíochas le Dia. Craolfar (KRAY*L-fuhr) clár
álainn anocht (klaw*r AW*-lin uh-NOHK*T).
Thank heaven. A beautiful program will be broadcast
tonight.
(c)
1998 The Irish People. May be reprinted with credit.
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