pronunciation help?

aderyn_du · Post by **aderyn_du** » Mon Jan 13, 2003 6:09 pm

Is there anyone out there who could help with some phoenetic pronunciation of Gaelic?

I'm trying to learn to sing Siuil a Run, and am having some difficulties pronouncing words in the chorus...

sochair
agus
ciuin
ealaigh
liom
dte
mhuirnin

Any help is greatly appreciated...

Andrea ~*~

StevieJ · Post by **StevieJ** » Mon Jan 13, 2003 7:00 pm

I have no qualifications to answer this so I don't know why I'm doing it. Also I could be misremembering so I hope someone will put me straight. Pronunciation can vary regionally but this is the way a Northern singer showed me this song once, very roughly, which will give you a start.

sochair = sucker
agus = uh-gus (hard "g")
ciuin = kyoon (short "oo")
ealaigh = ay-lee ("ay" as in "ale")
liom = lum
dte = jay
mhuirnin = voorneen

This song has been recorded by every man, woman and their dog, so why don't you try to find a recorded version?

Post by **Nanohedron** » Mon Jan 13, 2003 7:03 pm

Actually, Clannad did this song; if you can find a recording, it should help a lot.

Still, maybe this will get you started (with the caveat that these are approximations):

sochair: sokhir
agus: oggus
ciuin: kyuin (or cue-in)
ealaigh: eylee (ey as in hey)
liom: lum
dte: jay
mhuirnin: wurneen

Hope this helps; it's a beautiful song.

--N, your one-stop shop for received pronunciation

Post by **Nanohedron** » Mon Jan 13, 2003 7:21 pm

--!StevieJ! The synchronicity of it all! Replying at the same time w/ virtually identical pronunciation guides, only mine was tardy by 3 min due to the usual chattiness of Moi. OT: what might have happened had we submitted at the same instant? Something apocalyptic, I think...

--N, e-mystic

bradhurley · Post by **bradhurley** » Mon Jan 13, 2003 7:44 pm

Which brings up a question to any Irish speakers out there:

A friend of mine who lived in the Cork Gaeltacht for seven years (and thus speaks the Cork dialect) told me that the correct pronunciation for Si Bheag, Si Mhor is:

"She vyug, she vore"

But I've heard other Irish speakers pronounce it as "She byug she more," which would indicate that "si" is masculine rather than feminine (and would thus I guess be spelled Si Beag, Si Mor). I think "si" in this case means "fairy hill," correct? So is it masculine or feminine?

<font size=-1>[ This Message was edited by: bradhurley on 2003-01-13 20:46 ]</font>

Bloomfield · Post by **Bloomfield** » Mon Jan 13, 2003 7:58 pm

Brad,

everybody knows of course that the correct pronounciation of Sí Bheag Sí Mór is CRACK-mintz Volley-DAWN. Most people don't know the history behind the tune, though.

http://chiffboard.mati.ca/viewtopic.php ... 02&forum=1

bradhurley · Post by **bradhurley** » Tue Jan 14, 2003 5:59 am

Wait, you mean it's not pronounced "Throatwarbler Mangrove?"

aderyn_du · Post by **aderyn_du** » Tue Jan 14, 2003 12:09 pm

Thanks, I do have a few recordings of it...it helps me to have someone "say" it, sans music. Otherwise, I have fears of horribly mispronouncing it and saying something entirely different.

I appreciate the help, all!

Andrea ~*~