Learning Gaelic - Irish Language Thread

[georgecat]

Excellent!

Liverpudlians (except Heather) and drunk Scots... totally lost at anything they're saying.

[Mick Molloy]

And North Dubliners

[Sober]

If English is your mother tongue and you're lost, I don't even imagine myself speaking to a Welsh or an Irish. I wouldn't understand a word, that's for sure.

[philipchevron]

And North Dubliners

My apologies

[DzM]

And North Dubliners

My apologies

I'm sorry. What? I just couldn't make that out. What?

[CraigBatty]

...if you could throw some of those links/resources my way! cheers if ye can

GaelTalk - this is a good online course for adults.

Turas Teanga - another great resource, backed up by television episodes (now on DVD)

Beo - an online magazine


More soon for those who care...

[CraigBatty]

As I said earlier in this thread, there are many resources for learning Irish. Gaelic, as a term on its own, is now widely considered to refer to Scottish Gaelic (which the Scots themselves refer to as Gaidhlig), while the Irish language is known as Gaeilge. In Irish, Scottish is called "Gaeilge na hAlban", and in Gaidhlig the Irish language is known by a word the sound of which resembles the gargling of a mouthful of small stones covered in moss.

[Behan]

As I said earlier in this thread, there are many resources for learning Irish. Gaelic, as a term on its own, is now widely considered to refer to Scottish Gaelic (which the Scots themselves refer to as Gaidhlig), while the Irish language is known as Gaeilge. In Irish, Scottish is called "Gaeilge na hAlban", and in Gaidhlig the Irish language is known by a word the sound of which resembles the gargling of a mouthful of small stones covered in moss.

Thanks for that insight Fintan. My Irish teacher once told me that learning the Irish/Gaelic language can greatly help improve my English grammer. True?

[CraigBatty]

Thanks for that insight Fintan. My Irish teacher once told me that learning the Irish/Gaelic language can greatly help improve my English grammer. True?

Insight, or insanity? YOU be the judge...
Cheers Brendy! (Or is it Dom? Nah, the pint attached to the chin is a dead giveaway...) Absolutely true. I now know more about such obscure 'cac' as periphrastic clauses, and possesive pronouns, and the declension of verbs (ow - NURSE!), and particles of speech etc, then I could EVER have sanely wanted to. And it has helped deepen my understanding of how language works in general.
On a side note, the word 'grammar' itself is an interesting tidbit. It is reputed (in some circles) to be the origins of the word 'glamour'. The theory runs thus:
- Grammar, as a formalised subject, was developed by the Greeks and their cultural successors the Romans; who then brought it via conquest into western Europe. To the oral-tradition cultures of western Europe (particularly in the Gallo-Roman satellite colonies or 'foederates'), the Roman use of oratorical skills such as grammar and rhetoric was impressive; affording the Roman speaker a level of respect almost akin to the respect with which the Celtic 'bards' and 'Druids' were held. Over time the mystery Roman word 'grammar' was changed in pronunciation to 'glammer/glamour/glamor' - implying someone with an almost supernatural or mesmeric control over their observer - which is of course the very purpose of rhetoric and oratory, to convince the listener of the Validity and importance of what the speaker is saying.
Or something along those lines. I now return you to your normal programme...

[Shant on]

...if you could throw some of those links/resources my way! cheers if ye can

GaelTalk - this is a good online course for adults.

Turas Teanga - another great resource, backed up by television episodes (now on DVD)

Beo - an online magazine


More soon for those who care...

There's a good letter in the Irish Post (last week's I think) by a fella from London encouraging the learning of Irish. In it he defends keeping the language alive and its connections with the culture, and has offered his email address should people wish to contact him for help in finding courses and the like.

He finishes by saying something along the lines of "If anyone is interested in learning our beautiful native language please contact me on ....."

If its acceptable internet etiquette I'll post his email address on here, but I need some guidance on whether thats the done thing or not.

[CraigBatty]

There's a good letter in the Irish Post (last week's I think) by a fella from London encouraging the learning of Irish. In it he defends keeping the language alive and its connections with the culture, and has offered his email address should people wish to contact him for help in finding courses and the like.

He finishes by saying something along the lines of "If anyone is interested in learning our beautiful native language please contact me on ....."

If its acceptable internet etiquette I'll post his email address on here, but I need some guidance on whether thats the done thing or not.

Fire away, good Shant on... if the fellow has published his email address in a print newspaper, it is intended to be of use to those wishing to learn the language. Go raibh maith agat le do teachtaireacht (Thank you for your message)

[Heather]

What gets me is why do we learn French at school, it's only useful if you go on holiday to France, being a multi racial country, why don't we learn some of the other languages amongst us for example, Chinese, Welsh, Gaelic, it doesn't make sense to me.

Someone will probably tell me that they do now, but as I don't have any kids forgive me for not knowing.

[Welshie]

I've read this thread with interest and found it absorbing. I was once told by and Englishman who moved to my area and had learnt to speak Welsh fluently that "if you Welsh don't look after the language yourself don't expect anybody else to do it for you". I think it was good advice. (Welsh/Cymraeg is my first language) So Ireland if you want to preserve your language you the Irish need to take responsibility.
Pob Hwyl/All the best
Welshie

[CraigBatty]

I've read this thread with interest and found it absorbing. I was once told by and Englishman who moved to my area and had learnt to speak Welsh fluently that "if you Welsh don't look after the language yourself don't expect anybody else to do it for you". I think it was good advice. (Welsh/Cymraeg is my first language) So Ireland if you want to preserve your language you the Irish need to take responsibility.
Pob Hwyl/All the best
Welshie

Croeso Welshie - Cymru am bith!
Fáilte romhat a Welshie - An Bhreatain Beag go brách!
Welcome Welshie - Wales for ever!
Thank you, and may all your gods keep you and make your works prosper.

[Shant on]

There's a good letter in the Irish Post (last week's I think) by a fella from London encouraging the learning of Irish. In it he defends keeping the language alive and its connections with the culture, and has offered his email address should people wish to contact him for help in finding courses and the like.

He finishes by saying something along the lines of "If anyone is interested in learning our beautiful native language please contact me on ....."

If its acceptable internet etiquette I'll post his email address on here, but I need some guidance on whether thats the done thing or not.

Fire away, good Shant on... if the fellow has published his email address in a print newspaper, it is intended to be of use to those wishing to learn the language. Go raibh maith agat le do teachtaireacht (Thank you for your message)

Thanks for that, Fintan. No problem, glad to contribute.

Ok, his email address is donal.kelleher@yahoo.co.uk

Unfortunately my knowledge of the language is miniscule. I can translate some Irish names into English if they are written rather than spoken,plus a couple of other words but that is about it.

Can I ask a favour ? You dont know what "In Garran Na Bhile" is in English do you ? Its a Wolfe Tones track I really like, and would like to understand it more.