Tag Archives: eclipsis
How to Pronounce ‘Leathbheart,’ ‘i mbeart,” and Other Consonant Clusters in Irish Posted by róislín on Aug 31, 2015
(le Róislín) In today’s blog we’ll look at how to pronounce words and phrases like “leathbheart” and “i mbeart.” “Leathbheart” is a classic example of “lenition,” or the “softening” (séimhiú) of the sounds of certain Irish consonants. And the phrase “i mbeart” is a classic example of “eclipsis” (urú), which is covering over the sound…
Cóid Phoist – faoi dheireadh ach cén costas don teanga? (The New Irish Postal Codes) Posted by róislín on Jul 22, 2015
(le Róislín) Learners of Irish outside of Ireland often show surprise at the way addresses (seoltaí) are typically taught in Irish language textbooks, especially ones that primarily depict rural life (an saol faoin tuath). Typically, there will be the addressee’s name, a house name (Radharc na Farraige, mar shampla), a townland name (An Cnoc, mar…
Ag seinm uirlisí ceoil, ó alpchorn go xileafón (Alpenhorn to Xylophone in Irish, pt. 1) Posted by róislín on Mar 19, 2015
(le Róislín) Uirlisí ceoil ón alpchorn go dtí an xileafón. And, just for good, ermm, measure (“líne“) here, we’ll nudge them into the “tuiseal ginideach,” so we can say “playing the alpenhorn” or “playing the xylophone.” And why do we need “an tuiseal ginideach“? And what is it, anyway? We saw a bit of it…
Love (Grá) and the Art of Applying Initial Consonant Mutations in Irish Posted by róislín on Feb 14, 2015
(le Róislín) In recent blogs and a few others from previous years, we’ve looked at ways to say “I love you,” in Irish. Often these phrases include initial consonant mutation, so what better way to practice the mutations than with variations on a theme of “grá“? In this blog, I’ll use some of the phrases…
‘In quarantine’ or ‘on quarantine’ — how to say it in Irish Posted by róislín on Oct 15, 2014
(le Róislín) In the recent blog on the Ebola virus (víreas Ebola), I referred briefly to saying “in quarantine” in Irish. It seems like a simple phrase to say, and the word for “quarantine” itself isn’t surprising — “coraintín” [KOR-antch-een], no relation to “aintín” as such! But it’s interesting to note the preposition that’s used…
‘Ubh Fhriochta,’ ‘Uibheacha Friochta,’ or ‘na hUibhe Friochta’? (which egg term to use when, in Irish) Posted by róislín on Sep 3, 2014
(le Róislín) Definitely variations on a theme of fried eggs! Not, by the way, the “fried egg” otherwise known as the “sandalled anemone,” which is “bundún nóinín mór,” and which is not, afaik, inite (edible). Tuilleadh eolais ar an anamóine sin sa nóta thíos. And, for a second “by the way,” we’ll also look briefly…
Pronunciation Tips for ”Six Ways to Say ‘I Want Some More’ in Irish” Posted by róislín on May 14, 2014
(le Róislín) From time to time (ó am go ham), I like to go back to a previous blog and provide more pronunciation notes. Here are a few more tips for ” Six Ways to Say, ‘I Want Some More’ in Irish (ag cur Gaeilge ar athfhriotal clúiteach Oilibhéir)” (10 Bealtaine 2014; nasc thíos). As…