A Bit About The Irish Language

I know, I know. I have loads more to write about Dublin, and pictures galore. But that's too much work. So I'm going to write about language instead (and, across the Atlantic, I can hear your eyes roll...)

The basics: the Gaelic, or Goidelic, language group includes Irish, Scottish Gaelic, and Manx. Irish Gaelic is called Irish or, in Irish, "gaeilge." It is taught in many schools here, and though the language is by no means widespread, there are thousands of people who speak the language fluently in non-classroom settings (you can go look up actual statistics if you like), and many Irish in diaspora countries are trying to re-learn it.

Like English, it's confusing in that it's difficult to tell the pronounciation from the written language (unlike, say, Spanish). And it can be different depending on where you are: for instance, a word ending in igh is pronounced "ee" in one county, but can change to "ig" if you drive for a while. Also, there's lenition, by which a word is changed by other words in a sentence to start with different consanant sounds. And lots more like that. I'm interested in learning it because it's a beautiful, complex language, and I'm all for keeping languages alive (I was one of those kids who learned to write in Ancient Egyptian hieroglyphs... yeah).

I loathe the attitude towards it held my many Americans who seem to think of it as a dead, fairy language that they can "translate" names and tattoos into as part of their heritage. And I use that word with all the wincing sarcasm I can muster. I feel almost embarrased to identify myself as Irish-American here. You can see the Irish get that look in their eyes, like, "Oh God, it's one of them," and I have to hastily add that my family came from Ireland, that's it, I've never drunk green beer or eaten corned beef in my life or searched for a fake family crest on Google. Really.

My name, written in Irish, is Peigín* Eilís Ní Fhoirréidh-Mhórdha. I have no idea how to pronounce the "Foirréidh" bit, but the rest would be PEG-een EL-ees nee WOR-ya (or possibly VOR-ya). The bit before the surname shows it's my maiden name... "Ní" is the female form of "Ó" and, and, because it's feminine, puts an "h" in teh beginning of the following word (so Mórdha becomes Mhórdha). This is because Furey and Moore both begin with Ó in Irish. If my name began with Mac, I think it would be Nic. Or Nhic.

By now I hope you'll understand what I mean by complex. Yes? Good.

Here is a list of Irish words, just for fun - I'm going to see what I can write from memory:

Apple – úll

Bell – clog

Blessing – beannacht

Boat – bád

Book - leabhar

Brother - deartháir

Cat - cat

Computer - ríomhaire

Cow – bó

Daughter - iníon

Dog - madra

Father - athair

Fish - iasc

Flower - bláth
Food - bia

Goodbye – slán

Heart - croí

Hello - (to one person) Dia duit

House - teach

Love - grá

Mother - máthair
Music - ceol

Please - le de thoil

Post office - oifig an phoist

Rain - fearthainn, báisteach

Rainbow - bogha báistí

River - abhainn

Shop - siopa

Sister - deirfiúr

Sky - spéir

Son – mac

Star - réalta

Tea – tae

Thank you - (to one person) go raibh maith agat

Tree - crann

Welcome - fáilte

If there's any words anyone wants to know... or tranlastions... I've got a dictionary and I'm signed on to an online translation forum. And I'm in Ireland. Just saying. And I do hope to spend time in the Irish-speaking part of Ireland, not Belfast or Dublin, but in the southwest around Galway... which I've heard is a beautiful area anyway... maybe I'll go there next week after classes, and plan out where I'll go over break!

Here are some signs in Irish and English, found in Dublin, featuring some of the more important** words:

And some others... signs from Trinity, and one of the street signs. All the street names are written in both languages as well. My personal favourite was Lána na Bó. I can't remember the English, but that means "Cow's Lane" and is just fun to say.

And, from my wonderfully productive YouTube searches, two funny*** little videos involving Irish:

"Fluent Dysphasia" (first of two parts): http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=zNI9eBGYpvw

"Fíorghael" http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=t3Kv4fZ2SOE

More on Dublin later, I promise! Now I have to go write a paper...


* I know, I know... but my name's just not Margaret! I'm sorry! You shouldn't have given my sister and I the SAME NAME. She can be Mairéad.
** Food is very important.
*** Warning: British humour. Some Americans might find it a little slow or understated. Keep in mind, the best parts are at the end.