Irish Lesson 65

PRONUNCIATION REVIEW

When a "g" is near "a", "o" or "u" in an Irish word, it is called a broad "g". Pronounce it like the "g" in the English words "go" and "good," but try to press the sides of the tongue against the upper back teeth and use more force than with the English equivalent.

Examples:

gá(gaw*), a need; gairdín (gahr-DEEN), garden; gó(goh), a doubt; gual (GOO-uhl), coal; gabhar (GOU-uhr), goat; gáire (GAW*-i-re), laughter; gadhar (GEYE-uhr), dog; gann (goun), scarce; gob (guhb), beak; glám (glaw*m), a group; glan (gluhn), clean; glaise (GLASH-e), greenness; glór (glohr), a voice; glúin (GLOO-in), knee; gnáth (gnaw*), usual; gnó(gnoh), business; gnús (gnoos), grunt; grá(graw*), love; gradam (GRAH-duhm), an honor; gró(groh), crowbar; grod (gruhd), hasty; gruaig (GROO-ig), hair.

If the broad "g" comes just before a slender vowel, there is often a sound like English (uh) or (w) between the two. Examples: "ae" and "ao" are pronounced (ay*), so "gaelach" Irish or Gaelic, may sound somewhat like (GWAY*-luhk*), and "gaoth" wind, may resemble (gway*), but the "g" is nevertheless pronounced as for "gá".

In the word "goid", to steal, the "o" tells you that "g" gets its broad sound. The "o" is not pronounced. The word sounds slightly like (gwid), although our simplified pronunciation guide gives (gid); you must remember to give the "g" its broad sound.

"Guí," to pray, is similar. The broad "g" sound causes the word to resemble (gwee) somewhat, although our pronunciation guide gives (gee).

With combinations like "gl", "gn" and "gr", this effect is not as apparent. "Gloine" (GLIN-e), glass; "gnaoi" (gnee), affection; "groí" (gree), sturdy, are examples. All have the broad "g", of course.

Pronounce an aspirated broad "g" at the beginning of a word as if it were unaspirated: gairdín (gahr-DEEN); mo ghairdín (muh gahr-DEEN). Sometimes the back of the tongue is lowered slightly to let a little air past, but this is not very noticeable in most modern pronunciation.

An aspirated broad "g" inside a word is usually part of a letter group with a special sound which has no (g) in it: togha (TOU-uh), election; faghairt (FEYE-irt), eagerness.

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