Is Gaelic hard to learn???

Sara · Post by **Sara** » Wed Feb 13, 2002 9:57 am

I'm wanting to learn a language and Gaelic seems very interesting. I was wondering if you guys could tell me whether or not it's an easy language to learn. Thanks

Peace,
Sara

Ron Rowe · Post by **Ron Rowe** » Wed Feb 13, 2002 10:47 am

Sara,
Fill your mouth with peanuts then try saying "Around the ragged rock the ragged rascal ran" 3 times fast. It's about the same difficulty.

Grinning,

Ron

Bloomfield · Post by **Bloomfield** » Wed Feb 13, 2002 11:16 am

Speaking is easy, but you'll never master the spelling...

StevieJ · Post by **StevieJ** » Wed Feb 13, 2002 11:35 am

Hi Sara!

There's not really such a thing as an easy language to learn - not once you're past the age of about six. Any language takes a lot of time and sustained effort to learn at all well.

For an English speaker, Gaelic (BTW there are two main forms: the Irish form, which the Irish tend to call just Irish, and the Scots form, which the Scots pronounce "Gallic") is probably harder than Spanish, but a lot easier than Mandarin.

One of your main difficulties would be finding native speakers to practice your language skills with.

Sara · Post by **Sara** » Wed Feb 13, 2002 11:36 am

Ron,

Bloomfield,
I saw an example of the spelling and it looks soooooooo difficult! I'll still try to learn it though - always up for a good challenge and the Gaelic spelling certainly looks like a challenge!

Now, here's another question - do you have to speak Gaelic in an Irish accent?

Peace,
Sara

BrassBlower · Post by **BrassBlower** » Wed Feb 13, 2002 11:36 am

Dia dhuit, Bloomfield! (Or is that "Gee, a ditch"?)

Sara · Post by **Sara** » Wed Feb 13, 2002 11:42 am

StevieJ,
Hi! Yeah, every language is hard in it's own way. I read on a website that there are two forms - I guess I want to learn the Irish form, is there a big difference between the two? (sorry for asking so many questions) Spanish to me, seems like a very difficult language, I tried learning some, it just didn't interest me that much - I wonder how Gaelic compares to French - I learned some French, it wasn't all that hard, actually!

Yeah, round where I live, I doubt there's anyone who speaks Gaelic - guess that would give me a good excuse to move to Ireland!

Peace,
Sara

_________________
"If everyone demanded peace as much as they do another TV set, then there'd be peace." - John Lennon

<font size=-1>[ This Message was edited by: Sara on 2002-02-13 12:43 ]</font>

TelegramSam · Post by **TelegramSam** » Wed Feb 13, 2002 11:45 am

I took 2 semesters of French, and all I can remember how to say is "shut your pie hole" and call someone a "fat cow." And I never could spell.

I guess it all depends on your own personal aptitude for languages. My friend Sarah did very well in french and has retained most of it even a year later, whereas I didn't do too hot while in class, and now can't remember anything...

Arto_Vallivirta · Post by **Arto_Vallivirta** » Wed Feb 13, 2002 1:40 pm

Dia dhuit!
I don't find pronouncing Gaelic very difficult. A little bit harder than French but a little bit easier than Chinese. I don't know about native English spakers but I haven't got any problems in any language when it comes to pronouncing, but learning the grammar and the words, that's the difficult part. And that's why Gaelic isn't easy to learn. The grammar is like a jungle.

/Arto, native Finnish speaker, fluent in English and Swedish, speaks little French and Mandarin, learnig Gaelic

Tyghress · Post by **Tyghress** » Wed Feb 13, 2002 1:52 pm

Sara, no matter how you look at it, Gaelic is hard! Even if you decide on the Irish form, there are two different dialects. But, should you decide, there are Gaelic clubs all over, and though they're pretty small, they're enthusiastic. Here in New England there is a club that meets regularly just to keep their language skills up to par, and they take trips 'cross the pond to immerse themselves.

Cayden · Post by **Cayden** » Wed Feb 13, 2002 2:57 pm

My son is learning Irish in school and is quite good at it. We tried to pick it up while helping him doing his lessons. Well, after a few month I was completely lost already, saying a few words and gettign their meaning, OK, speaking it, even at a level of 'Neili agus Mici are playing in the garden' is way beyond me. (the young man is standing here next to me grinning asking me why I am writing about Neili and Mici)

avanutria · Post by **avanutria** » Wed Feb 13, 2002 3:37 pm

Sara, I'd like to learn Gaelic too, let me know when you get started! Maybe we can be penpals and grossly misspell things together

Squeezer · Post by **Squeezer** » Wed Feb 13, 2002 4:24 pm

Actually, there are FOUR types of Gaelic: Irish, Scottish, Welsh, and Manx (Isle of Man)!

<font size=-1>[ This Message was edited by: Squeezer on 2002-02-13 17:26 ]</font>

StevieJ · Post by **StevieJ** » Wed Feb 13, 2002 4:44 pm

Actually, there are FOUR types of Gaelic: Irish, Scottish, Welsh, and Manx (Isle of Man)!

Welsh is not a variety of Gaelic. It is however a Celtic language (and in this context we can use the adjective safely).

As I understand it, there are two branches of surviving Celtic languages:

* the "P-Celtic", or Brythonic branch, represented by Welsh and Breton.

* the "Q-Celtic", or Goedelic branch, represented by Irish and Scots Gaelic.

Manx and Cornish are dead - although I'm sure there are people trying to revive them. Manx belongs in the Q-branch, and Cornish in the P-branch.

The "P" and "Q" distinction refers to the initial letter or sound used in common interrogative pronouns (who, why, etc.). In Welsh, these words start with a "P" (pwy, pam, etc.). I don't know what they are in Irish.

I would point out that Welsh has many more native speakers than any of the other surviving languages, indeed more than probably all of the rest put together, boyo.

<img src = "http://www.rogermillington.com/siamsa/b ... alflag.jpg">

StevePower · Post by **StevePower** » Wed Feb 13, 2002 4:58 pm

Two pontless, but hopefully interesting comments:

1. When I (an Englishman living in Ireland) try to speak a little Irish, I don't sound Irish, so I wouldn't say that the accent matters, much.

2. It's widely accepted by speech experts that those people who stutter/stammer (and I was amongst their numbers until well into my 20's) never do so when either singing (the British TV show 'Pop Idol' proved this to the masses recently) or, speaking with a Welsh accent, but not necessarily speaking Welsh. Why it should be so, is anybodies guess.

Steve