I know it is impossible to replicate the sounds of one language with combinations of letters from another. The 'ch' being written as the English 'k' because there's nothing closer being one common problem. To explain to an English speaker how to pronounce 'tá' without using symbols unknown to the subject, and accepting that the result may/will not be perfect, what would you suggest? 'Taw'? 'Thaw'? Something else? Go raibh maith agaibh roimh ré.

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There's nothing you can write in English because English is not the problem, rather it's lack of knowledge on their part, lack of a path to their understanding and lack of will to do so anyway.

For example, for people who don't pronounce dental fricatives, explaining to them has little consequence as they usually don't see the need, or even hear them anyways. I know this myself as I couldn't even make them for most of my life and it was only from teaching I started to use them and it took a while to do the 'dh' right all the time (instead of a z for example)

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__̴ı̴̴̡̡̡ ̡͌l̡̡̡ ̡͌l̡*̡̡ ̴̡ı̴̴̡ ̡̡͡|̲̲̲͡͡͡ ̲▫̲͡ ̲̲̲͡͡π̲̲͡͡ ̲̲͡▫̲̲͡͡ ̲|̡̡̡ ̡ ̴̡ı̴̡̡ ̡͌l̡̡̡̡.___

I'd use a "t" (because if you use a "th," Americans, at least, will pronounce it as if it were a voiceless "th" (as in "I need to thaw the meat for tonight's dinner.")).

I explain the sound to others as "it's similar to "t" in English, but pronounced with the tongue pressed against the top teeth instead of the hard palate." But I can't think of a way to represent that using English phonics, because we just don't have that sound.

I usually use "kh" for broad "ch" and "gh" or "gg" for broad "dh" and "gh" (again with explanation)

Redwolf

There's your answer -- explain. Trying to gloss it is impossible, and the explanation isn't really that difficult.

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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.

I think "thaw" is pretty much the same as "tá" in Conamara. That's going by how we pronounce English of course (not the way Dubliners pronounce English ).
Like Audrey said it's different in Donegal.

You can compare the sounds that are common to both languages. But you can't describe CH to an English speaker unless he's familiar with Gaelic/German/Hebrew etc that also have the sound. It can't be done either for the Irish R and some other Irish sounds.

I accept that, but the problem is that this is for a list that will be in written form only to help people with a few sentences, not as a part of a learning programme or anything like that. And it's far more difficult to do than I expected. When tá causes a problem, you know you're really in trouble!

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I think I say both the same way too , but that led to a debate where the other person made Redwolf's point about the softer 'th' sound in English. Nothing is simple!

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Lon Dubh will explain the 3rd way of saying it.

The difference is tiny (I couldn't spell neglible LOL) in Conamara. And another person could say it slightly differently to me and also be right. Or I could say it slightly differently myself in different contexts. Also my English is influenced by my Irish.

. .

The problem for us is not how we pronounce 'tá' in Irish; it's actually that we disagree about how we pronounce 'thaw' in English! And that's a whole other forum! Thanks a million for all the help!

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