Irish Lesson 9

PRONUNCIATION
We will now look more closely at some vowel sounds before taking up any more consonants. First comes "o".

We represent its sound by (oh) for simplicity, but the actual Irish sound is noticeably different from English "oh". To see this, stand before a mirror and watch your lips as you pronounce the word "oh" slowly. You will see them contract and move out to make an (oo) sound at the end. English "oh" is really a diphthong, a close combination of two vowels.

The Irish sound is a single vowel, made with lips held rounded. Watch you lips again as you say English "oak" slowly. Then try to say it without contracting your lips. You will have the distinctive sound that has sometimes come into English. Try:óg,ól,ón,ór,ós. This vowel sound should be held longer than in English.

If there is no síneadh fada (SHEEN-uh FAH-duh) over an "o" which is nevertheless stressed in a word, pronounce it in the same way but do not hold it as long. Try: obair (OH-bir), oscail (OH-skil), ocht (ohk*t). Notice that this shorter sound may resemble (uh), but in Irish you should not make the error of saying (uh) for this shorter "o". Keep your lips more rounded and contracted than for (uh). Next, try "ocht" and then "ucht" (uk*t), and notice the difference.

REFLEX EXPRESSIONS
In everyday speech in any language, there are certain phrases or sentences with which a speaker reacts instantly to given situations. The expressions are closer to reflex action than to careful selection of words. "Níl a fhios agam" (neel is uh-GUHM) is one example. You must learn some of these to be fluent in speech and to understand written and spoken Irish.

Nábac leis (naw* bahk lesh), never mind, don't worry about it.

Buíochas le Dia (BWEE-uhk*-uhs le DEE-uh), Thanks be to God, thank Heaven.

Tágo maith (taw* goh mah), All right.

Is cuma liom (is KUM-uh luhm), I don't care, it's all the same to me.

An ndéir túliomé? (un NAY*R too luhm ay*), You don't say (literally: Do you say it to me?

Fan go fóill (fahn goh FOH-il), Wait a minute, take it easy.

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