PRONUNCIATION
REVIEW
Review the letter groups "amh" and "eamh" this week.
When these groups are in the first syllable of a
two-syllable word, pronounce them usually as (ou).
Examples: amhrán (ou-RAW*N), song; amharc
(OU-uhrk), sight; Samhain (SOU-in), November; samhradh
(SOU-ruh), summer; damhsa (DOU-suh), dancing; deamhan
(DYOU-uhn), demon; sleamhain (SHLOU-in), slippery.
The letter group "amh" in a one syllable word can
be (ahv), as in damh (dahv), ox; amh (ahv), raw.
Pronounce the letter group "eamh" in a one-syllable
word as (av): leamh (lav), tasteless; neamh (nyav),
heaven.
At the end of a two-syllable word, "amh" and "eamh"
can be (uhv), as in the verbal nouns "déanamh",
doing, and "caitheamh", throwing, wearing, spending.
For the letter groups "ámh" and "áimh",
the "á" (aw*) is the predominant sound. In
a one-syllable word "ámh" is (aw*v) and is
nasalized. Examples: lámh (law*v), hand;
sámh (saw*v), tranquil. Do not nasalize the
sound in a two-syllable word such as "lámha"
(LAW*V-uh). Pronounce "áimh" as (AW*-iv),
which will resemble (oyv) when said quickly. "Láimhe"
(LAW*-i-ve), of a hand; sáimhín" (saw*-i-VEEN),
rest, quiet.
Do not mistake the group "éamh" for the above
groups. Always pronounce "éamh" as (ay*v):
léamh (lay*v), reading; éamh (ay*v),
crying.
Grammar
Personal names can be in the genitive case, too.
For "John's son", the Irish is "mac Sheáin"
(mahk HYAW*-in), son of John. "James' book" is "leabhar
Shéamais" (LOU-uhr HAY*-mish). Where possible,
aspirate an initial consonant in a name used in
this way. With all masculine names except "Liam"
(LEE-uhm), make a final consonant in the genitive
case slender. To show the need for a slender sound
in pronunciation, write an "i" before the final
consonant. With feminine names, merely aspirate
the initial consonant where possible. Learn these
as examples that you can readily recall in working
with new names:
bád Shéamais (baw*d HAY*-mish), James'
boat
seoladh Mháire (SHOH-luh VWAW*-re), Mary's
address
Nearly all feminine names end in a slender consonant
or a vowel, and so the ending does not usually change.
"Bríd" is one that does change. "Leabhar
Bhríde" (VREED-e) is "Bridget's book".
To say "a book of John's" or "one of John's books",
the form is "leabhar le Seán", literally
"book with John". Here, the person's name does not
change.
Vocabulary
Here are more first-declension nouns, all masculine
and all ending in a broad consonant, which is one
preceded by "a", "o", or "u".
buicéad (bwi-KAY*D), an buicéad, an
bhuicéid (uh vwi-KAY*D), na buicéid;
bucket, the bucket, of the bucket, the buckets.
fómhar (FOH-uhr), an fómhar, an fhómhair
(un OH-ir), na fómhair; autumn, etc.
buidéal (bwi-DAY*L), an buidéal, an
bhuidéil (uh vwi-DAY*L), na buidéil;
bottle, etc.
scéal (shkay*l), an scéal, an scéil
(uh SHKAY*L), na scéalta (SHKAY*L-tuh); story,
etc.
siléar (shee-LAY*R), an siléar, an
tsiléair (uh tee-LAY*R), na siléir;
cellar, etc.
ostán (ohs-TAW*N), an t-ostán, an
ostáin (un ohs-TAW*-in), na hostáin;
hotel, etc.
glas (glahs), an glas, an ghlais (glahsh), na glais;
lock, etc.
peann, (pyoun), an peann, an phinn (uh FING), na
pinn; pen, etc.
oileán (IL-aw*n), an t-oileán, an
oileáin (un IL-aw*-in), na hoileáin
(nuh HIL-aw*-in; island, etc.
rialtas (REE-uhl-tuhs), an rialtas, an rialtais
(uh REE-uhl-tish), na rialtais; government, etc.
rabhadh (ROU-uh), an rabhadh, an rabhaidh (uh ROU-wee),
na rabhaidh; warning, etc.
parlús (PAHR-lus), an parlús, an pharlúis
(uh FAHR-lush), na parlúis; parlor, etc.
i measc (mask), in the middle of (with the genitive)
líon, (LEE-uhn), líonaim, ag líonadh
(LEE-uh-nuh), fill, I fill, filling
géar (gay*r), sharp, sour
Drill
We continue with practice on use of the genitive
in the first declension. Here is an example of the
drill to be gone through:
Combine: ag líonadh; an buicéad, using
the genitive. The result is: ag líonadh an
bhuicéid (uh LEE-uh-nuh uh vwi-KAY*D), filling
the bucket.
le linn; an fómhar
tar éis; an rabhadh
ag briseadh; an buidéal
ar chúl; an rialtas
timpeall; an t-ostán
de bharr; an peann
os comhair; an glas
in aice; an siléar
chun; an t-oileán
ag léamh; an scéal
ag ceannach; an buicéad
ag glanadh; an parlús
Do the same drill with the following, but translate
into Irish first:
above the boat
after the story
the postman
reading the book
around the floor
the son's hat
next to the match
cleaning the table
the boatman
closing the door
after the dinner
the island's boat
Key
to the drill phrases: le linn an fhómhair;
tar éis an rabhaidh; ag briseadh an buidéil;
ar chúl an rialtais; timpeall an ostáin;
de bharr an phinn; os comhair an ghlais; in aice
an tsiléir; chun an oileáin; ag léamh
an scéil; ag ceannach an bhuicéid;
ag glanadh an pharlúis.
Os cionn an bháid (ohs KYOON uh VWAW*-id);
tar éis an scéil (tahr AY*SH uh SHKAY*L);
fear an phoist (far uh FWISHT); ag léamh
an leabhair (uh LAY*V un LOU-wir); timpeall an urláir
(TIM-puhl un oor-LAW*-ir); hata uh mhic (HAH-tuhn
VIK); in aice an lasáin (in A-kuhn luh-SAW*-in);
ag glanadh an bhoird (uh GLUHN-uhn VWIRD); fear
an bháid (far uh VWAW*-id); ag dúnadh
an dorais (uh DOON-uhn DUH-rish); tar éis
an dinnéir (tahr AY*SH uh din-YAY*R); bád
an oileáin (baw*d un IL-aw*-in).
(c)
1999 The Irish People. May be reprinted with credit.
|