Archive for 'Irish Language'
Cineálacha Stoirmeacha (Kinds of Storms) Posted by róislín on Sep 3, 2010
Last blog we discussed hairicíní, for which the Irish word is an adaptation of either the Carib for “God of Evil” or the name of a Mayan storm god, Hurakan – the sources for this don’t agree on which. Either way, the word went through a couple of filters before reaching Irish, namely Spanish “huracán”…
Will The Real Lúnasa / Lughnasa / Lughnasadh Please Stand Up? Posted by róislín on Aug 1, 2010
(le Róislín) We’ll take a break here from pronunciation notes, to address the holiday at hand, currently called “Lá Lúnasa” (August 1). The entire month of August also derives its name from this holiday, mí Lúnasa, or simply, Lúnasa. And while there’s a book’s worth of information on how this festival was traditionally celebrated, we’ll…
Treoir don Treoir: A Guide to the Guide (for Pronunciation), Cuid a 3 Posted by róislín on Jul 29, 2010
(le Róislín) The past few blogs discussed the use of the superscript letters “zh” and “y” and the use of the gamma symbol (γ) to represent broad “dh” and “gh.” This blog will deal with the use of “kh” to represent the “guttural ch” pronunciation in Irish in words like “ach” and “loch.” The linguistic term…
Treoir don Treoir: A Guide to the Guide (for Pronunciation), Cuid a 2 Posted by róislín on Jul 27, 2010
(le Róislín) Treoir don treoir, an ea? Well, here’s more! The most accurate way to transcribe the sound of the broad Irish “gh,” as in “gharbh,” is by using the Greek gamma symbol, γ. It looks a little like a “v” with an extra loop at the bottom. It represents the voiced velar fricative, a sound…
Treoir don Treoir: A Guide to the Guide (for Pronunciation) Posted by róislín on Jul 25, 2010
I get a lot of requests for assistance with Irish pronunciation, so I thought I’d do a few more blogs dealing with vocabulary from previous entries and explaining how to read my pronunciation guide. In other words, treoir don treoir (a guide to the guide). I’ve done this from time to time anyway, here and…
Mí Iúil: Mí Náisiúnta … (ainmnigh thusa é) Posted by róislín on Jul 20, 2010
(le Róislín) Before continuing with specific holidays celebrated on specific days in July, let’s look at three subjects that are celebrated all month long, at least i Meiriceá: Brocairí Teo Uachtar Reoite Frithleadrán All are interesting to ponder as causes of celebration and all are interesting as far as vocabulary goes. As far as I…
Lá na Brataí (Flag Day) i Meiriceá Posted by róislín on Jun 14, 2010
(le Róislín) Ceiliúrtar Lá na Brataí i Meiriceá ar an 14ú lá de mhí an Mheithimh. Cad a dhéantar? Paráidí in áiteanna (is fiú le rá Quincy, MA., Traoi (Troy), NY, agus Fairfield, WA), searmanais, canadh an amhráin náisiúnta, agus na bratacha iad féin curtha ar foluain. The Irish word for flag is “bratach.” In…