language60

Irish Lesson 60

PRONUNCIATION REVIEW

The slender "d" sound occurs when the nearest vowel in the word is "e" or "i". Pronounce the sound with the tongue tip against the hard ridge behind the upper front teeth. Allow the tongue tip to slide off forward as you make the sound. A slight tendency toward a (dy) sound may be heard. Examples of slender "d":

Dé(day*), of God

deireadh (DER-uh), end

deo (dyoh); go deo, forever

Dia (DEE-uh), God

dílis (DEEL-ish), faithful

dlí(dlee), law

dleathach (DLA-huhk*), lawful

dreoilín (droh-LEEN), wren

In the middle or at the end of a word:

bídeach (BEE-dyahk*), tiny; Bríd (breed), Bridget; buidéal (bwi-DAY*L), bottle; méid (may*d), amount; oide (ID-e), teacher; báid (BAW*-id), boats; staidéar (STAH-day*r), study; sméidim (SMAY*-dim), I wink

When aspirated, an initial slender "d" gets the sound of (y). Try: mo dhícheall (muh YEE-huhl), my best effort; a dhlí(uh YLEE), his law; lámh dheas (law*v yas), right hand; a dhream (uh YROUM), resembling (uh yi-ROUM) but run together, his group or crowd.

Inside a word, an aspirated slender "d" may be in a letter group which has a single sound for the group: oidhre (EYE-re), heir.

At the end of a word, an aspirated slender "d" has no sound: léifidh sé(LAY*-hee shay*), he will read.

GRAMMAR

We continue with comparison. Last week, you saw that the English form, "John is taller than Mary," can become "Is taller John than Mary": Is airde Seán náMáire (is AR-de shaw*n naw* MAW*-re).

The negative of this is: Níairde Seán náMáire: not taller John than Mary.

Read these examples, which include adjectives from the groups you met last week:

(fuar) Nífuaire an seomra seo náan chistin (nee FOO-i*re un SHOHM-ruh shuh naw* un HYISH-tin), this room is not colder than the kitchen.

(leisciúil) Níleisciúla Séamas náa athair (nee lesh-KYOO-luh SHAY*-muhs naw* uh A-hir), James is not lazier than his father.

(salach) Nísalaían léine náan cóta (nee SAH-lee un LAY*-ne un KOH-tuh), the shirt is not dirtier than the coat.

(fada) Nífaide an lánáan oíche (nee FAH-de un law* naw* un EE-he), the day is not longer than the night.

The question form is literally: Is taller John than Mary?, or "An airde Seán náMáire?" Read these examples several times:

(láidir) An láidre an fear sin nátusa? (un LAW*-dre un far shin naw* TU-suh), Is that man stronger than you?

(compordach) An compordaían chathaoir seo náár dtolg? (un kuhm-POHR-dee un K*AH-heer shuh naw* aw*r DUHL-luhg), Is this chair more comfortable than our sofa?

The negative question form should be obvious to you. An example: "Nach faide an bord náan leaba?" (nahk* FAH-de un bohrd naw* un LA-buh), Isn't the table longer than the bed?

VOCABULARY

gnóthach (GNOH-huhk*), busy lag (lahg), weak

éirimiúil (ER-i-myoo-il), intelligent, clever

cliste (KLISH-te), clever

cineálta (kin-AW*L-tuh), kind

bocht (bohk*t), poor oilte (IL-te), skilled

rocach (ROH-kahk*), wrinkled

cúramach (KOOR-uh-mahk*), careful

DRILL

Complete these sentences, which contain comparative forms of the adjectives in the Vocabulary.

Ní________ an cailín náa deartháir (dri-HAW*-ir). Use "éirimiúil".

An ________ tusa náBrian? Use "lag".

Is ________ Nóra náa deirfiúr (dri-FOOR). Use "cúramach".

Nach ______ mo mhúinteoir náaon mhúinteoir eile? Use "cineálta".

Is ________ an dochtúir seo náár ndochtúir. Use "gnóthach".

Ní_______ sinn násibh. Use "bocht".

An _______ mo chóta nádo léine? Use "rocach".

Is ________ mo mhadra námo chat. Use "cliste".

Ní_______ na saighdiúiri (seye-DYOO-i-ree) seo náiad sin. Use "oilte".

Key:éirimiúla (ER-i-myoo-luh), laige (LAG-e), cúramaí(KOOR-uh-mee), cineálta (kin-AW*L-tuh), gnóthaí(GNOH-hee), boichte (BWIK*-te), rocaí(ROH-kee), cliste (KLISH-te), oilte (IL-te)

Note: the word "deartháir" means "brother", and the word "deirfiúr" means "sister", both words being in the sense of family relationship. "Saighdiúir" means "soldier", and its plural is "saighdiúirí".

CONVERSATION

Seán (shaw*n):Éist! Táduine ag cnagadh ar an doras. Listen! Someone is knocking at the door.

Máire (MAW*-re): Céhéann? (kay* hay* oun) Who is there?

Seán: Níl a fhios agam, ach gheobhaidh méamach go díreach (neel is uh-GUHM, ahk* YOH-ee may* uh-MAHK* goh dee-RAHK*). I don't know, but I will find out right away. Osclóidh méan doras (oh-SKLOH-ee may* un DUH-ruhs). I'l open the door.