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The Daltaí Boards » Archive: 1999-2004 » 2000 (July-December) » How to spell 'Inis Oirr' correctly? « Previous Next »

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Masayoshi ASANO
Posted on Wednesday, May 17, 2000 - 06:56 pm:   Edit Post Print Post

I would like to ask about the Irish language. This is because I am considering naming Irish word(s) for my baby, who is expected to be born this July. I have one question about the one Irish phrase. My baby's name would be 'Inis Oirr', which is obviously the name of one of Aran Islands off shore of Galway in Ireland. However, I cannot be convinced how to spell 'Inis Oirr' correctly. Different sourses spell differently. In particular, I cannot check up on which letter an accent is necessary. Some Irish language materials put the accent on 'O', others put on 'i' of Oirr. In addition, I do not know the exact pronunciation of Inis Oirr. Is that same of Inisheer in English or not? Furthermore, I see some spelling of 'Inis Thiar' as 'Inis Oirr' instead. Inis Oirr or Inis Thiar, which is more common? And is the pronunciation same? I understand the meaning of In!
is Oirr is 'island of the East' or 'Easternn Island' or 'Oriental island'. And 'inis' is a female noun. Are these correct? Could you please answer those questions? I need to have a precise knowledge. If you would not, could you please tell me where or how can I check up these things here in London, where I have not been able to find the answers. I cannot find out a good Irish dictionary and grammer book here. I honestly appreciate your kindness.

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Dennis King
Posted on Wednesday, May 17, 2000 - 11:40 pm:   Edit Post Print Post

Wow, you are certainly well enough informed already to ask the right questions. The complete discussion of all this is to be found in the journal "Éigse" from 1992, in an article by Séamas Ó Murchú entitled "An t-Ainm Áite 'Inis Oírr'". A really good London library will have the journal, and then you will have to find someone to translate it, which should be reasonably in that big city.

In the introduction, the author points out that the official spelling, Inis Oírr (accent mark on the 'i'), first appeared in print in 1969, in a list of post office names. The spoken name used by the people of the island is /in´@si:r/, or roughly ih-nyuh-SEER. The older written name was Inis Oirthir.

The article runs to nearly five pages, so if you are serious about finding out all you can, I would recommend trying to track it down. Ádh mór.

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Masayoshi ASANO
Posted on Thursday, May 18, 2000 - 02:44 pm:   Edit Post Print Post

Thank you very much.
I will check the journal immediately.
Biggest obstacle: Euro-Asian Continent, in between, from the extreme far east: Japan, I am obsessed with the 'far west' island of Ireland.
The common cultural conText seem lying on Celtic and China-rooted Oriental ones. Is this conText if there is actually, do you think, a strongest counter cultural potentiality to Greek-Roman based ones?

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Laigheanach
Posted on Saturday, May 20, 2000 - 07:19 am:   Edit Post Print Post

It's definitely 'Inis Oírr'.I was there last summer and I remember the sign as we pulled up to the pier.

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williamfuller
Posted on Wednesday, January 17, 2001 - 01:57 pm:   Edit Post Print Post

just commenting, it's unexpected but interesting to see place-names writeen in the Irish spelling.and several of these have recently appeared on the Gaeilge-only site.

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