I didn't even realize that Irish was actually a real language (as opposed to a fake one? hmmm...)
While it is only predominantly spoken in small areas of the South, there are Irish speaking schools, an Irish TV channel, and Irish translations written on road signs etc. It is a required subject in all schools (as is Irish dancing!), but most kids hate it and forget it as soon as they've learned it...sort of like how I treated French.
To be honest, Irish is not a particularly beautiful sounding language when spoken, but I am kind of fascinated with it. The spellings and pronunciations are very weird! I especially love old Irish names, a few of which I've had to become familiar with because they are still very popular here! Names that we would think are normal, like Sarah, Amber, Matthew, or Josh, are not quite as common, whereas I know dozens of Niamh's, Padraig's, and Siobhan's!
Try and see if you can pronounce these names properly. Some will be names that have alternate English spellings, and you would be familiar with. Some are just strange.
Girls--
1. Áine
2. Aoibheann
3. Aoife
4. Aisling
5. Bríghde
6. Caoimhe
7. Clodagh
8. Deirdre
9. Dunfhlaith **
10. Eithne
11. Sinéad
12. Órlaith
13. Niamh
14. Gráinne
15. Sorcha
Boys--
1. Eóin
2. Fiachra
3. Fionnbharr
4. Somhairle
For the most part, male names are easy to spell and pronounce. Most people don't have to guess at Seamus, Cormac, Eamon, Donal, and Connor.
And want to know something exciting? I cheated a little bit to make sure I got spellings right...that's not the exciting part. This is: I found "Coulter" listed under the boy's names. I guess I am Irish somewhere way back on the paternal side!
** this name I put in just to be nasty.
2 comments:
Bless you!!! That was a sneeze in the title of your post, wasn't it?!!
So, are you going to give us the pronunciations for those weired and beautiful names?
Interesting post!!! :)
I've always wanted to learn Welsh or Gaelic...not that either of them would be very useful languages. I've always been fascinated with Ireland/Scotland...but it's funny, until you went there, I was never CRAZY about visiting. I mean I thought it would be neat...but I'd never connected my interest with travelling there...Weird. Now It'd like to though.
The mythological/folklore culture has always been a favorite of mine...like the folklore of Tam Lin, are you familiar with the story? Druids, Elves, Brownies, Fairies...not just the generic stereotypes, but actual myths and history.
The history has been an interest of mine too...more the recent times of the "Irish troubles" and the IRA activity.
And yes, I agree with your mom...you should post the pronunciations!
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