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Nótaí Fuaimnithe (Pronunciation Notes) don Bhlag Deireanach, or, Not Your Abuela’s “ua” Vowel Sound Posted by róislín on Feb 23, 2010
(le Róislín) A few notes on pronunciation for the last blog, which was called “Thuas Seal, Thíos Seal, or Ice-cream and Underlings.” Pronunciation notes always seem to be welcome! The “ua” sound, which we saw consistently in that whole “slua” (angl. slew) of related words is basically “oo-uh.” That’s “oo” as in (American) English…
Thuas Seal, Thíos Seal, or Ice-cream and Underlings Posted by róislín on Feb 21, 2010
Before the U.S. completely finishes with Lá (or Seachtain) na nUachtarán, let’s take a brief look at some contrasting terms for up/down and above/below in Irish. As you might imagine, this will end up treating a wide variety of topics, not just spatial relations. Ice-cream and underlings, for example. Let’s start with the core…
Dáileog Eile de Chlásail Choibhneasta (Another Dose of Relative Clauses) Posted by róislín on Feb 17, 2010
(le Róislín) So, back to an ghramadach, after some pleasant digressions about naoimh, féilte, úitsigh, scáthanna, and sneachta. Let’s quickly review the verb “to be” and its relative forms. Then we’ll turn to another irregular verb, “to see” (the first of 9 more irregulars!): Aimsir láithreach: Tá an fear tinn. An bhfuil an fear…
Sneachta Cásca: Easter Snow (The Song, not the Weather Forecast) Posted by róislín on Feb 11, 2010
(le Róislín) A final thought on snow and Ireland would be the title of the traditional tune “Easter Snow” (Sneachta Cásca), as played by uilleann piper Séamus Ennis (1919-1982), amongst many others. It was one of Ennis’s favorite tunes and he used it as the name of his house. Christy Moore used the tune title…
Cineálacha Sneachta: Kinds of Snow Posted by róislín on Feb 8, 2010
(le Róislín) As a tribute to the amount of snow that fell over the weekend ar chósta thoir na Stát Aontaithe, and, I suppose, as a belated tribute to the amount that fell in Éirinn i mí Eanáir, let’s talk about some of the ways it can fall or accumulate. The most basic statement would…
Nótaí Fuaimnithe don Bhlag faoi Lá an Úitsigh (Pronunciation Notes) Posted by róislín on Feb 6, 2010
(le Róislín) To address the perennial request for more pronunciation assistance, here are some more notes for the last blog. Of course, this is just a samplóir, since to gloss the whole blog would end up being níos faide ná an blag é féin (longer than the blog itself). Feabhra [FYOW-ruh] February. The “fy”…
Lá an Úitsigh (2 Feabhra) … agus Mé ar Bís ag Fanacht le Pilib Phunxsutawney! Posted by róislín on Feb 2, 2010
(le Róislín) Suíomh: Maolán an Ghogalaí (lit. knob of the gobbler), Pennsylvania iartharach. (Bhuel, i ndáiríre, mise i mo shuí os comhair mo ríomhaire ach ag smaoineamh ar an áit) Am: breacadh an lae, 7:08 r.n. (ag fanacht go dtí 7:26 r.n.) Teocht: 15 céim Fahrenheit (ca. -9 Celsius) (áthas orm go bhfuil…