language70

Irish Lesson 70

PRONUNCIATION REVIEW

If the nearest vowel to the letter "p" in a word is "a", "o", or "u", pronounce the letter "p" with lips protruded and rounded. Practice on:

pá, pál, paidir (PAHD-ir), póg, post (pohst), púca, puth (pu), puinn (pwin).

Inside a word or at a word end: stopaim (STOHP-im), iompair (UM-pir), leapa, ceap (kyap), rap (rahp).

To pronounce a "p" when the nearest vowel in the word is "e" or "i", bring the lips in close to the teeth and spread the lips slightly, as in a faint smile. Try: pé(pay*), pic (pik), pian (PEE-uhn), péist (pay*sht), Peadar (PAD-uhr), peann (pyoun).

Inside a word or at a word end: impire (IM-pir-e), teipim (TEP-im), scaip (skahp), scléip (shklay*p).

Finally, practice on these two words that have both broad and slender "p", until you can say the word easily and naturally: píopa (PEEP-uh), páipéar (paw*-PAY*-uhr).

Grammar

In Lesson 69, the Comhrá(KOH-raw*) contained the sentence "Bíonn rud beag do mo bhodhrú" (duhm VOU-roo). This means literally "There is a little thing to my bothering (or annoying)." "Ag bodhrú" is the verbal noun for the verb "bodhraím" (BOU-reem), I bother. The English word "bother" may have come from this. The word also means "to deafen", and "bodhar" (BOU-uhr or BOH-uhr) means "deaf."

"John is bothering you" becomes: "TáSeán do do bhodhrú" (duhd VOU-roo). "John is striking you" is: "TáSeán do do bhualadh" (duhd VOO-luh), literally "John is to your striking."

Here is the entire system for this:

Táan fear do mo bhualadh; the man is striking me.

Táan fear do do bhualadh; striking you.

Táan fearábhualadh (aw* VOO-luh); striking him.

Táan fearábualadh (aw* BOO-luh); striking her.

Táan fear dár mbualadh (daw*r MOO-luh); striking us.

Táan fear do bhur mbualadh (duh vwoor MOO-luh); striking you (plural).

Táan fearámbualadh; striking them.

"He is praising himself" is "Táséa mholadh féin" (aw* VWUHL-uh fay*n). "They were washing themselves" is "Bhísiadáníféin."

Comhrá(KOH-raw*)

(Bláthnaid and Pól continue attempts to improve television reception.)

Bláthnaid (BLAW*-nid):Cén fad an tsreang atáuait? (un trang uh-TAW* oo-it) Níl sreang níos faide (FAD-ye) náfiche troigh againn (naw* FI-hye tree uh-GIN). How long is the wire that you want? We don't have a wire longer than twenty feet.

Pól (pohl):Sílim go ndéanfaidh sésin (goh NYA*N-hee shay* shin) an gnó. Caithfidh mé(KAH-hee may*) an dréimire, mo chasúr, agus uirlisíeile a fháil (un DRAY*M-i-re, muh k*ah-SOOR, AH-guhs IR-li-shee EL-e uh AW*-il). I think that that will work. I must get the ladder, my hammer, and other tools.

Bláthnaid:Bícúramach (KOOR-uh-mahk*). Be careful.

Pól:Ó, táim (TAW*-im) níos oilte (IL-te) anois náanuraidh (uh-NOOR-ee). Bícinnte faoi sin (bee KIN-tye fwee shin). Oh, I am more skilled now than last year. Be sure of that.

Bláthnaid:Cáleagfaimid (LAK-hi-mid) an tsreang? B'fhéidir tríd an mballa (BAY*-dir treed un MAHL-uh) in aice an teilifíseáin (in AK-e un TEL-i-fee-shaw*-in) agus ansin an spéir (spay*r) chuig anárasán (hig un AW*-ruh-saw*n) osár gcomhair (ohs aw*r GOH-ir). Where will we run the wire? Perhaps through the wall near the television set, and then in the air to the apartment building opposite us.

Pól:Níl sésin ceadaithe (KAD-i-he) dúinn. Ach tásmaoineamh eile agam (SMWEEN-uhv EL-e uh-GUHM). Leagaimis an tsreang trípholl na heochrach (tree foul nuh HOHK*-ruhk*) sa doras. Beimidábalta (BE-mid AW*-buhl-tuh) an tsreang a chrochadh (K*ROHK*-uh) ar an mballa lasmuigh (lahs-MWEE) den teach. We are not allowed to do that. But I have another idea. Let's run the wire through the keyhole in the door. We will be able to hang the wire on the wall outside the house.

Bláthnaid:Ach níorbh fhéidir linn (NEE-ruhv AY*-dir lin) an eochair a shá(un OHK*-hir uh haw*) isteach sa pholl. Conas a bheimidábalta an doras a chur faoi ghlas? (fwee glahs). But we wouldn't be able to stick the key into the hole. How will we be able to lock the door?

Pól:Táan ceart agat. Cuirfaidh mépoll eile tríd an doras le mo dhruilire láimhe (GRIL-i-re LAW*-i-ve). Seasfaidh (SHAS-hee may*) ar an dréimire agus beidh méag obair ann. You're right. I will put another hole through the door with my hand drill. I'll stand on the ladder and I'll be working there.

Bláthnaid:Beidh méi mo sheasamh (i muh HAS-uhv) cois an dréimire (kish un DRAY*M-i-re) agus coinneoidh (kin-YOH-ee) mégreim docht (grem dohk*t) ar an dréimire ar eagla (AH-gluh) go sleamhnóidh tú(shlou-NOH-ee too). I'll be standing next to the ladder, and I'll keep a firm grip on the ladder for fear that you will slip.