EASY LESSONS IN IRISH.
(The First Part is now issued in book form: see advertisements.)
EXERCISE XLIV.
§ 275. In Munster ḃ and ṁ at the end of the first syllable of words, are sometimes silent. The previous vowel is then lengthened to make compensation.
| Munster. | ||
| deiṁin | (dev′-in) | (dei-in) |
| deiṁeas | (dev′-ăs) | (dei-ăs) |
| Suiḃne | (siv′-nĕ) | (see′-nĕ) |
| cuiḃe | (Kiv′-ĕ) | (Kee′-ĕ) |
| cuiṁne | (Kiv′-ne) | (Keen′-ĕ) |
| duiḃe | (dhiv′-ĕ) | (dhee′-ĕ) |
| Eiḃlín | (ev′-leen) | (ei′-leen) |
This silencing of ḃ and ṁ takes place (1) when these letters are between vowel sounds, or (2) when preceded by a vowel sound and followed by l, r, n, s.
These peculiarities should not be imitated by beginners.
§ 276.
| go deiṁin, indeed | MacSuiḃne (mok siv′-ne), MacSweeney |
| deiṁeas, a shears | cuiṁne, memory |
| Eiḃlín, Eveleen, Eileen, Ellen |
§ 277. Ní ḟuil cuiṁne ar biṫ agam, fuair mé buille mór trom ó Niall. Ḃi an olann ar m’uan óg, agus fuair mé deiṁeas ó Art; anois ní ḟuil an olann ar an uan. An raiḃ Conn MacSuiḃne liḃ? Ní raiḃ; ḃí sé lé Caṫal. Ní ḟuil an deiṁeas agam, ṫug mé an deiṁeas do Niall. An raiḃ Conn tinn? Ḃí, go deiṁin, agus fuair sé bás. Atá Eiḃlín óg fós. Atá, go deiṁin, agus atá ciall aici, agus ní ḟuil Máire óg, agus ní ḟuil ciall aici.
§ 278. I did not see Art MacSweeney on the island. He was not on the Island, he was above on the cliff. I did not see the seagull on the water. Young Art has no memory yet. Con got a heavy blow from Niall, and he had no memory at all. The day is dry. Yes, indeed. Come with us.
EXERCISE XLV.
§ 279. At the end of words, ḃ and ṁ are sounded like v.
| cíos (kees), rent | [1]follaṁ (fuL′-ăv), empty |
| cliaḃ (klee′-ăv), a basket, cleeve | láṁ (Lauv), the hand |
| duḃ (dhuv), black, black-haired | [1]naoṁ (Naev), a saint |
| talaṁ (thol′-ăv), land, soil |
§ 280. In Ulster ḃ and ṁ broad, at the end of words, are usually pronounced w; thus, the well-known sentence—
| d’iṫ | daṁ | duḃ | uḃ | aṁ | ar | neaṁ | ||
| (deeh | dhov | dhuv | uv | ov | ær | nav) | ||
| is | (deeh | dhou | dhoo | oo | ou | er | nou) | in Ulster. |
This was the sentence quoted by an anti-Irish
[ 82 ]Irishman to prove that no one should learn the language, full of such strange sounds. The sentence was specially constructed for the purpose. It means, “a black ox ate a raw egg in heaven!”
§ 281. Na cuir do láṁ in mo ṗóca, atá mo ṗóca follaṁ anois. Ḃí an naoṁ ar an oileán, agus táinig an long do’n áit, agus ní ḟaca an naoṁ an long. Atá an talaṁ daor. Ní raiḃ cíos ar biṫ ar an talaṁ. Cuir an cliaḃ ar an asal.
§ 282. Put your hand in your pocket. My hand is small. There is a heavy rent on the place, and the land is not good. Con is not fair-haired, he is black-haired. The bag is not full, the bag is empty. Do not leave the basket of turf at the door.
EXERCISE XLVI.
§ 283. SOUNDS OF ḃ AND ṁ CONTINUED.
As we have seen, ḃ and ṁ at the end of words are sounded as v, as láṁ (Lauv), the hand; naoṁ (Naev), a saint. When a termination is added to such words the v sound remains, láṁa (Lauv′-ă), hands; naoṁṫa (Naev′-hă), sanctified.
§ 284. But, as a rule, ḃ and ṁ broad, anywhere except at the end of words, are sounded like w.
§ 285. This w sound unites with the previous vowel sound; thus, aḃ, aṁ are sounded like (ou) in our phonetic key; oḃ, oṁ, like (ō); uḃ, uṁ are like (oo); eaḃ, eaṁ like (ou).
Aḃ, aṁ in Ulster=ō, in parts of Munster=oo.
§ 286.
| Aḃainn (ou′-in), a river | Gaḃar (gou′-ăr), a goat. |
| Caḃair (kou′-ir), help | leaḃar (lou′-ăr), a book |
| Dóṁnall (dhōn′-ăL), Donal, Daniel | Siuḃal (shoo′-ăl), walking |
| Uḃall (oo′-ăL), an apple | |
| Gaḃa (gou′-ă), a blacksmith | |
| Róṁat (rō-ăth) before the, used in ceud míle fáilte róṁat, 100,000 welcomes before thee. | |
| Muilionn (mwil′-iN), a mill. | |
| Gan (gon), without. | |
§ 287. Ḃí muilionn ar an aḃainn, agus ḃí Dóṁnall ag obair ins an muilionn. Fuair Dóṁnall uḃall ins an eorna,ins an muilionn ar an aḃainn. Atá iasgaire ag siuḃal síos do’n aḃaínn anois. Atá an gaḃa ag obair ins an muilionn. Cuir do leaḃar in do ṗóca. Ṫug Diarmuid an leaḃar do Niall. Ní ḟuair sé leaḃar ar biṫ uaim. Fosgail an leaḃar mór. Ní raiḃ an muilionn ag obair, ḃí an aḃainn gan uisge.
§ 288. There is a large salmon below in the river. Donal did not get a salmon in the river, he got a little trout from the fisherman. There is an apple growing above at the door. There are a cow and a goat below in the meadow. I have not a book in my bag, my book is in the barn. A thousand welcomes to (before) you! There is not any blacksmith (gaḃa ar biṫ) in the place. The blacksmith gave no help to Niall. The story is not in the book.
EXERCISE XLVII.
§ 289. ḃ AND ṁ CONTINUED.
In the beginning of words ḃ and ṁ if slender are pronounced like v, if broad are pronounced somewhat like w.
§ 290. In Munster ḃ and ṁ broad, followed by a LONG VOWEL, á, ó, ú, are pronounced v.
§ 291. Thus—mo ṁáṫair, my mother (mŭ wauh′-er), is in Munster (mŭ vauh′-ĕr). This sound we shall mark by a capital W.
Examples—
| a ḃád | ă Waudh, | his boat |
| a ḃróg | „ Wrōg, | „ shoe |
| a ḃó | „ Wō, | „ cow |
| a ṁáṫair | „ Wauh′-ĕr, | „ mother |
| a ṁála | „ Waul′-ă | „ bag |
| a ṁúirnín | „ Woor′-neen, | O darling |
| mo ḃrón | mŭ Wrōn | my sorrow |
Mac an Ḃáird (mok ăn Waurd), son of the bard, Ward.
a Ṁuire (ă Waur′-ĕ O Mary.
a Ṁúire (ă Wirr′-ĕ), O Mary, the Blessed Virgin. (Hence, wirra-wirra = O Mary, Mary.
aṫair (ah′-ĕr), father.
§ 292. Níl iasg ar biṫ in mo ḃád anois, atá mo ḃád follaṁ. Cuir an sgilling in mo ṁála. Atá mo ḃróg duḃ. Fuair mé bróg úr ins an siopa. Fuair m’aṫair bás ins an oileán úr. Ní raiḃ uisge ins an aḃainn, ḃí an aimsear tirim. Ní raiḃ túirne aig mó ṁáṫair.
§ 293. My boat is heavy, your (do) boat is empty. I found your boat on the land. My mother is not alive now, she died in Ireland. Daniel Ward came to Ireland and died. My mother got a pound from my father and she gave the pound to Niall. [ 83 ]My cow was not white, she was black. My shoe was not wide enough.
EXERCISE XLVIII.
ASPIRATED SOUNDS OF ċ
§ 294. C broad, when aspirated, is sounded like gh in lough, O’Loughlin, as these words are usually pronounced throughout Ireland. It is a rough guttural sound, not a mere h sound. We shall represent this sound by CH (capitals).
§ 295. Árd-Maċa (aurdh moCH′-ă), Armagh
aċt (oCHth, usually aċ, oCH), but
bealaċ (bal′-ăCH, bal′-oCH), way, road
loċ (LŭCH), a lake
„ Measga (mas-′Kă, L. Mask.
„ Uair (oo-ir), L. Owel
loċlannaċ (LŭCH′-lăN-ăCH), Dane, Danish
o’loċlainn (ō LŭCHLŭCH′-lă-lăn), O’Loughlin
rí (ree), a king
seachrán (shaCH′-raun, shaCH-raun′, Munster), astray
teacht (taCHth, t-yaCHth), coming
ar seachrán, astray
ag teacht, coming
§ 296. A, his, causes aspiration; as, a ḃean (ă van), his wife.
§ 297. Fág an bealaċ, a Ṡeumais! atá an rí ag teaċt anois, fág a ḃealaċ (val′-ăCH). Ní ḟuil long ar biṫ ar Loċ Uair, aċt atá bád beag deas agam ar Loċ Measga. Ní ḟuil an capall ins an leuna, atá sé ar seaċran. Atá bealaċ fada ó Ḃaile atá cliaṫ go h-Árd-Maċa. Ní ḟuil Doṁall ag teaċt a ḃaile ó’n Oileán úr fós.
§ 298. Do not be in my way. There is fish enough in L. Mask yet. There is a fisherman on the lake. The boat is going astray on the river. The Danish King died on an island in the lake. Cahal is coming home from America. I did not see James in Armagh.
EXERCISE XLIX.
§ 299. ċ CONTINUED.
| feuċ (faeCH), see! look at! | cailleaċ (Kal′-ăCH), an old woman, hag, colliagh |
| boċt (bŭCHth), poor | laċa (LoCH′-ă), a duck |
| buaċaill (booCH′-ĕl), a boy, a herdboy | luċ (LuCH), a mouse |
| teaċ (taCH), a house |
§ 300. Only: I have a horse and a cow = Atá capall agus bó agam. I have only a horse = ní ḟuil agam aċt capall, lit. I have not but a horse.
§ 301. The sound of CH, at the beginning of words, requires a little practice; as mo ċapall (mŭ CHop′-ăL, not so soft as hop′-ăL) my horse.
§ 302. Dia do ḃeaṫa (dee′-ă dhŭ vah′-ă) lit., God thy life, is a salutation often heard = Welcome, Hail. In Connaught Sé (shae) do ḃeaṫa. Beannaċt leat (baN′-ăCHth lath), a blessing with thee; good-bye. Beannaċt liḃ, a blessing with you (when speaking to more than one).
§ 303. Ní ḟaca mé fear ar biṫ ag an doras. Ḃí fear boċt ag an doras anois, agus ḃí mála mór aige. Feuċ! atá luċ ar an urlár. Fuair mé laċa ar an loċ, ḃí sí ar seaċrán. Ní ḟuil long ag Niall, ní ḟuil aige aċt bád beag. Dia do ḃeaṫa a ḃaile, a Ṡeumais. Ní raiḃ mé in do ṫeaċ aċt ḃí méi ins an teaċ eile. Beannaċt leat anois.
§ 304. Cahal had only a little horse. Put the hay in the farm, do not leave a thrauneen on the floor. See the salmon in the river. The trout is coming down the river. Peter is poor, he has not a shilling in his pocket. The house is small. Conn is not in the house now. I have a house in Armagh. The lad is young. There is an old woman at the door.
EXERCISE L.
§ 305. c slender aspirated is pronounced almost like h; or rather, like h followed by y. In Munster, it is just like h.
droiċead (dhreh′-yădh), a bridge, Droi-ċead-Aṫa, Drogheda (the bridge of a ford).
fiċe (fih′-yĕ), twenty.
Míċeál (meeh′-yaul), Michael.
§ 306. Exceptions: ċeana, already, before, is pronounced han′-ă, not h-yan′-ă; ċugam, ċugat, ċuige, towards me, thee, him, are pronounced hug′-ăm, hug′-ăth, hig′-ĕ; the termination eaċt is usually pronounced like aċt, oCHth, not aCHth.
§ 307. Fiċe capall, twenty horses. Notice that capall has the same form after fiċe as if it meant one horse.
§ 308. Atá droiċead árd ag Droiċead- aṫa, ar an aḃainn áluinn. Ná seas ar an droiċead. Ní ḟaca mé Míċeal ins an teaċ. Tar liom go Droiċead-Aṫa. Ḃí mé ins an áit ċeana. Ṫug mé fiċe punt do Niall, agus fuair sé punt eile ó m’aṫair, aċt ní ḟuair sé sgilling ar biṫ ó mo ṁáṫair.
§ 309. I was not in Armagh before. I have twenty sheep, but I have no lamb at [ 84 ]all. There’s a large door on the house, and a high window. There is a river at Drogheda, and another river at Dublin. There were a hen, a duck, a lark, a seagull, an eagle, and another bird in the house, and they died.
EXERCISE LI.
SOUNDS OF d AND g ASPIRATED.
§ 310. d and g aspirated (ḋ or dh, ġ or gh) are pronounced in exactly the same way.
§ 311.
- A. At the end of words, ḋ and ġ are SILENT.
- B. In the middle of words, ḋ and ġ are SILENT.
- C. At the beginning of words:
- ḋ and ġ slender are sounded as y.
- ḋ and ġ broad have a guttural sound not in English, and which we will represent by the Greek gamma (γ).
§ 312. EXAMPLES.
| Eoġan (ō′-ăn), Owen | ruaḋ (roo′-ă), red, red-haired |
| [2]Euḋmonn (ae′-măN), Edmund, Edward | sliaḃ (shlee′-ăv), a mountain |
| fiaḋ (fee′-ă), a deer | tráṫnóna (thrauh′-nō-nă), evening |
| gráḋ (grau), love | |
| nuaḋ (Noo′-ă), new |
| Aoḋ, Hugh | (ae Munster, | ee Connaught). |
| laoġ, a calf | (Lae „ | Lee „). |
| O’Laoġaire (ō Lae′-ărĕ), O’Leary | ||
§ 313. From Aoḋ are derived Mac-Aoḋa (son of Hugh). i.e., Mackay, Mackey, Magee; and O’H-Aoḋa (grandson of Hugh), O’Hea, Hayes, Hughes. Aoḋagán (ae′-ă-gaun), = little Hugh; hence, Mac-Aoḋagáin, Egan, Keegan.
§ 314. Gaeḋilig (Gae′-il-ig), the Irish- Gaelic language, usually pronounced (Gael′-ig); in Munster (Gael′-ing); Beurla (baer′-Lă), English.
§ 315. Atá Aoḋ Ruaḋ O’Dóṁnaill ag dul go tír eile. Ḃí fiaḋ ruaḋ ar an sliaḃ. Ní ḟaca mé fiaḋ ar biṫ ar an oileán. Ní ṫug Aoḋ O’Neill gráḋ do’n duine eile. Ní ḟuil Euḋmonn ṡuas ar an sliaḃ; atá an tráṫ-nóna fuar. Ní raiḃ Beurla ag Aoḋ Ruaḋ, aċt ḃí fear eile leis, ag dul a ḃaile, agus ḃí Beurla agus Gaeḋilge aige.
§ 316. Morning and evening. A cow and a calf. The calf is red, the other calf is black. I have not any news (new-story, sgeul nuaḋ). I got no news from Edmund. Owen Roe O’Neill died in Ireland. Hugh O’Leary did not die in Ireland, he died in America. James Reegan came home to Ireland from America, and he died in Ireland. James has no Irish yet.