I am a beginner in the Irish language. I am going on a long road trip soon and I want to purchase a study aid that includes both written and listening tools, so that I can study while on the road. Does any one have a suggestion?? (Keep in mind that I'd be buying it at a Borders-like store.)

Eavan:

1. Irish is divided into 3 distinct dialects. There is a standard language, but it was created as a compromise by the government, and no native speakers speak it. It is therefore highly advisable to study a proper dialect. The best book available is for the largest dialect, that of County Galway. It is a very comprehensive book, called Learning Irish by Mícheál Ó Siadhail and comes with 4 tapes. However, it is a very traditional grammatical approach. It is not easy going. At the end of it you'll understand Irish grammar, but you won't have had much practice listening to conversational style Irish.

2. If you like the conversational, grammar-lite approach, the best book is Buntús Cainte, which covers standard Irish. It comes with CDs, and has 3 volumes.

Learning Irish by Mícheál Ó Siadhail is probably the most comprehensive "self study" resource out there. But, the emphasis is on "study"...it's not an intuitive language and this book/tape set will make that perfectly clear! It's still the best single source study aid I've seen.

Buntús Cainte is rather mindless "hear this, repeat this" learning but...in all honesty, it is very effective. You learn by doing, rather than by studying. I find it works great for long car trips, flights etc. Jam a CD in your player, plug in the earphones and enjoy.

Hope this helps.

I definately need something that I can hear as well as see because I have already noticed that I try to pronounce Irish words as if I were speaking Deutsch, simply because that's the only other language I've studied. I'm having a lot of difficulty with the "th" and "ai". And also the "e" at the end of words. So would Buntús Cainte be good to help me with pronunciation?

A Eavan, Dia dhuit.

Since you'll be listening in the auto a lot, I suggest "Language/30 Irish", which is not a course per se, but rather two CDs of conversational phrases which are very helpful, and it comes with a little booklet showing those phrases in Irish and English, and providing some phonetic help for the Irish bits. About US$20 at most larger book shops; I got my latest copy at Borders in southern New Hampshire, so if your local Borders doesn't have it, they can get it for you.

If you master those phrases, you will not only know some useful Irish for everyday conversations, you will have also begun mastering Irish "sounds", which will give you a leg up on any other proper courses you decide to pursue later.

Good luck!

Le meas,
Cionaodh