Pronunciation

Irish t and d. Every Irish consonant has two different sounds. The one selected depends on what kind of vowel is next to the consonant. The vowels "a", "o" and "u" are called broad and give the broad sound to consonants next to them. The slender vowels are "e", "i", "ea" and often "ai".

You learned how to pronounce broad "t" above, in the word "tá". Pronounce a broad "d" with the front part of the tongue in the same position, along the roof of the mouth, with the tongue tip almost protruding between the teeth.

Try: dá (daw*), dó (doh), dún (doon), drom (drohm), dlú (dloo), dath (dah).

For slender "d" and "t", place the tongue tip, and only the tip, on the hard ridge just behind your upper front teeth. Then pronounce the "t " or "d". (In the West there is a tendency to pronounce these by sliding the tongue off the ridge, giving sounds closer to ch or j).

Practice on these: deil (del), déan(day*n), dílis (DEE-lish), ding (ding), deacair (DAK-uhr), dlí (dlee), te (te), téann (TAY*-uhn), timire (TEEM-i-re), teas (tas).

Conversation

Read this carefully until you can go from one language to the other quickly, phrase by phrase and sentence by sentence.

Do not try to understand the grammar of the words or phrases yet. Pay special attention to "duit". This is generally pronounced with a (g) sound at the start, and we will do that in this lesson. The letter "u" in the word merely tells you that the "d" or "g" gets its broad sound. The "t" must get a slender sound.

Séamas: (SHAY*-muhs): Dia duit, a Nóra (DEE-uh git, uh NOH-ruh). Hello, Nora.
Nóra: Dia's Muire duit, a Shéamais (DEE-uhs MWIR-uh git, uh HAY*-mish). Hello James.
Séamas: Conas tá tú? (KUN-uhs TAW*too). How are you?
Nóra: Tá mé go maith, agus conas tá tú féin? (TAW* may* goh MAH, AH-guhs KUN-uhs TAW* too fay*n). I am well, and how are you?
Séamas: Tá mé go maith, leis. (TAW*may* goh MAH, lesh). I am well, too.

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Irish Lesson 2	\|	Irish Lesson 3

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