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Droichead na Cónaidhme nó ‘Réise na mBeann Glas’ (Mar a Dúradh) Posted by on Feb 22, 2014

(le Róislín) I couldn’t resist spending a little more time with bridges (droichid) since Canada’s Confederation Bridge has such a clever nickname, as bestowed by …, hmm, which Irish person?  (freagra thíos). Just a quick review of the phrase “Droichead na Cónaidhme,” before we get to the nickname: droichead [DRIH-hud], bridge na [nuh], here it…

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An Focal “Twerking” i nGaeilge (Yet Another “tv+vowel” Word!) Posted by on Oct 11, 2013

(le Róislín) I started pondering this question shortly after the Miley Cyrus escapades broke the news but I simply thought I’d eventually do a blog on the various words used to describe what “twerking” is, like “gyrate,” “thrust,” etc.  I wasn’t sure if the powers that be in the Irish vocabulary world would decide on…

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The Case of the Missing ‘P’ or, Ó ‘Tharmachan’ (Irish) go ‘Ptarmigan’ (English) Posted by on Jun 23, 2013

(le Róislín) In the last blog, we looked at a few of the more unusually spelled words in the Irish language (aghaidh, bratach/bhratach, buachar/bhuachair lámh/láimhe, Saoirse/Shaoirse and saoirse/shaoirse, sráid/tsráid).  Not that these are overly long or unusual words in Irish.  They’re mostly very basic vocabulary, except perhaps for “buachar” (cow-dung) which is no doubt ordinary…

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More Irish Pronunciation Notes: Broad and Slender “B” Sounds Posted by on Aug 17, 2010

Getting back to the pronunciation series that was started a few blogs ago, there are a few more points I’d like to add.  As I said before, what I’m doing here is primarily explaining the transcription system that I use, not attempting to account for every possible sound or variation of a sound in Irish…

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Bob nó Bia – Trick or Treat Posted by on Oct 24, 2009

(le Róislín) Sorry, all you Bobs in the Bob Club (www.thebobclub.com).  This blog (“Bob nó Bia“) is not specifically about you, though I hope you’ll find it of interest if you’ve made it this far through cibearspás [KIB-yar-SPAWSS],.    “Bob” is an Irish word that means “a trick” or “a target” (in games).  Pronunciation is…

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Cúpla Teanga Eile (Cathú Dochloíte): Gearmáinis, Gaillis, Ollainis, Seicis, srl. Posted by on Aug 22, 2009

Ah, well, this is still only barr an chnoic oighir.  But, cén dochar?    I’ve picked some representative figures here to illustrate someone saying they speak a given language.    Is mise Johann Wolfgang von Goethe.  Labhraím Gearmáinis.   Is muide Asterix agus Obelix.  Labhraímid Gaillis agus Laidin.   Is mise Vincent Van Gogh.  Labhraím…

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Bás Michael Jackson (1958-2009) Posted by on Jul 13, 2009

Bhuel, tar éis a bheith ag smaoineamh faoi, after pondering the matter, I figured I may as well join the sluaite (hordes) ag scríobh faoi Michael Jackson.    First stop, as usual, what else has been written about his death, as Gaeilge?  Can’t say I found mórán (much).  A cuardach Google limited to “Bás Michael…

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