Hey all,

I have a friend who is reading a novel that has a great many Scottish Gaelic words and phrases in it. The writer has given definitions, but not even a rough guide to the pronunciation of those words and phrases. As it's rather jarring to be reading a book and come across a word that you haven't even the vaguest idea how to pronounce, she asked me if I knew of some kind of phonetic guide out there that she might be able to access.

I told her I didn't know, but I did know who to ask. So here I am.

She isn't interested in learning the language, so perfect accuracy isn't as important as getting her to some kind of basic reference.

Any ideas?

Thanks in advance,

Redwolf

I've found this (as the usual akerbeltz.org/fuaimean link doesn't seem to be working)
http://www.akerbeltz.org/index.php?title=Fuaimean_na_Gàidhlig - (neither does this but you can paste it in)

Here is the unbroken link:

http://www.akerbeltz.org/index.php?titl ... 3%A0idhlig

(To quote URLs, you need to use the codes for diacritic marks as the forum software can't parse the diacritics. Your browser should do this for you if you right click and select "Copy" rather than using Ctrl+C (which asks the OS to copy the text verbatim without code substitutions. On a Mac, Control-click and select "Copy" rather than using Command+C.)

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Múinteoir Gaeilge - Irish Teacher
My "specialty" is Connemara Irish, particularly Cois Fhairrge dialect, but I can also speak Ulster and Munster Irish with native-level pronunciation.
Is fearr Gaeilge ḃriste ná Béarla cliste, cinnte, aċ i ḃfad níos fearr aríst í Gaeilge ḃinn ḃeo na nGaeltaċtaí.
Gaeilge Chonnacht (GC), go háraid Gaeilge Chois Fhairrge (GCF), Gaeilic Uladh (GU), Gaelainn na Mumhan (GM), agus Gaeilge an Chaighdeáin Oifigiúil (CO).

Thanks for finding a live link. I downloaded all of the sound and text files when the old link was working, but it's handy to have a link to refer people to when they have questions.

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I'm not a native (or entirely fluent) speaker, so be sure to wait for confirmations/corrections, especially for tattoos.

Thanks, all! I'll pass this along, but I think she's looking for something even more basic. I doubt she knows IPA, and I'm not sure she wants to listen to a bunch of different sounds to help her work out single word/phrase pronunciations in the context of a novel. Perhaps something that gives rough English equivalents, where possible?

I know it's not possible to perfectly replicate the sounds of Gaelic with English phonemes. To give an Irish equivalent, she's looking for something that would help her to pronounce "Siobhán" as closer to "Shuh-vahn" than to "SEE-oh-ban."

I'm actually surprised the author didn't give a rough pronunciation for the words along with the definition...rather thoughtless of him/her.

If I were to ask her to let me know what the words/phrases are, and then post them here, would you mind helping me with them? I doubt there are terribly many.

Redwolf

There's the BBC Alba Beag Air Bheag site where you can pick out words in their phrasebook and listen to them -
http://www.bbc.co.uk/alba/foghlam/beag_ ... asebook/a/
and there's the Gaelic4Parents Listen and Speak section - here on this page, you click on one of the people in the picture and then on the 'ear' on the left where the word appears.
www.gaelic4parents.com/nip/listen-and-s ... ife-people

Sure post them anyhow Redwolf.

There is a very limited selection of Scots Gaelic words on Forvo too, I can't be sure of their accuracy though.

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It is recommended that you always wait for three to agree on a translation.
I speak Connemara Irish, and my input will often reflect that.
I will do an mp3 file on request for short translations.
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If it was that easy, learners wouldn't have any real bother getting it, would they...? :-)

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A language belongs to its native speakers, and when you speak it, you are a guest in their homes.
If you are not a good guest, you have no right to complain about receiving poor hospitality.

She's not trying to learn it...she just wants to have some idea of how the phrases actually sound so she doesn't completely murder them.

She's been out of town for a while. I've just sent her an email asking if she still wants these phrases and, if so, if she'll send them to m.

Redwolf