Standard Disclosure: I know, I know, the only way to learn a language is to read, read, read and speak, speak, speak. But, from a beginner's viewpoint, it's necessary to comprehend the meanings of words before the RRR and SSS approaches can work.

Which brings me to the subject of vocabulary and how to improve it. I think that one of greatest hurdles in learning a language other than one's mother tongue is the use of bi-lingual dictionaries when it comes to understanding the meanings of words. Of course nothing beats flying over to one of Ireland's Gaeltachts and spending a month or maybe a few years there to improve one's vocabulary, but that's not a viable option for me.

So, I've been thinking of how to efficiently and effectively use Gaeilge-Gaeilge dictionaries instead of Gaeilge-Béarla/Béarla-Gaeilge dictionaries. My objective is to attain a vocabulary level to where I am capable of conversing at the level that would be expected of a primary (grammar) school student who is fluent in Irish. I would estimate my current vocabulary at about 800 (+/- 400) words, and I want to get to 8,000 (+/- 3,000) words. I'm not talking about heavy stuff here, like what Ó Dónaill's Foclóir Gaeilge-Béarla or De Bhaldraithe's English-Irish dictionary can offer, but instead a basic, solid foundation of Irish vocabulary.

I have a hard copy of An Foclóir Beag and use their online version also. Again the key idea (good or bad?) is to study vocabulary in Irish only. Are there other Gaeilge-Gaeilge dictionaries that I should get, like Foclóir Don Aos Óg, 1,2,3? If so, what benefits could I expect from using these other Gaeilge-Gaeilge dictionaries?

Open to all ideas and suggestions - go raibh maith agaibh.

Are there other Gaeilge-Gaeilge dictionaries that I should get, like Foclóir Don Aos Óg, 1,2,3?

So far, I don't think so. Online there is http://homepage.eircom.net/~gfg/a.htm , which deals with Ulster Irish.

Go raibh maith agat a Lughaidh. Tá sé go hiontach agus feicim gur aistritheoirí iad freisin.

Feicim sa Leabhar Gramadaí Gaeilge le Nollaig Mac Congáil go "leanann séimhiú nuair a thagann ainmfhocal éiginnte ina dhiaidh." Go raibh maith agat arís as do chuidiú.

Feicim sa leabhar céanna freisin go Ní théann aon athrú air nuair a leanann an t-alt nó na haidiachtaí seabhacha é:

I find it slightly amusing that for the example given for no séimhiú before the definite article, roimh an teach, there is another reason why there wouldn't be a séimhiú. There wouldn't be a séimhiú anyway because of the dentals rule, nach ea?

Fáilte roimh cheartúcháin, go raibh maith agat.

(Message edited by mac_léinn on June 30, 2007)

Smaoineamh eile, a Mhac.

Tá corr leabhair ann nach focloirí sa chiall chúng iad, ach a b'fhiú duit iad d'fháil:

http://www.litriocht.com/shop/product_info.php?manufacturers_id=&products_id=105 8&osCsid=0860a12ba834b84dcd1d9ae046428786

quote:

Nod don Eolach
Gasaitéar Eolaíochta
An Dr. Matt Hussey
An Gúm 1999
ISBN 1857911032

Cuntas is ord aibitíreach ar na forbairtí is mó í gcúrsaí eolaíochta le blianta anuas. Cuid mhór léaráidí agus nótaí mínithe chun cabhrú leis an léitheoir na coincheapanna éagsúla a thuiscint gan ródhua. Gluais de théarmaí eolaíochta ar chúl an leabhar.

Ciste Cúrsaí Reatha

Is cosúil go bhfuil an bunleagan as cló, ní bhfuair mé ar litriocht ach seo:

http://www.litriocht.com/shop/product_info.php?manufacturers_id=&products_id=346 7&osCsid=0860a12ba834b84dcd1d9ae046428786

Ciste Cúrsaí Reatha
The Audio Pack
Jim O'Donnell
Seán De Fréine

Ciste Cúrsaí Reatha --The Audio Pack contains a copy of Wordgloss and of Ciste Cúrsaí Reatha, the version of Wordgloss in Irish, and six tape-cassettes carrying the main text of Ciste Cúrsaí Reatha.

Saghas daor!