What online dictionaries do people here use? I use focal.ie, irishdictionary.ie and when I'm desperate google translate.

I don't know if perhaps these are very uncommon words but I don't know the meaning of samhlófá or aduian. I found them in the Harry Potter book in the following sentence.

quote:

Ba iad an dream deireanach iad a samhlófá rud ar bith ait ná aduian leo, mar ní raibh luí ar bith acu le hamaidí den sort sin.

I don't want to bother people with the hundreds of words I'm bound to not know while reading this and was wondering if anyone could give advice for a better dictionary that those listed above that might have more words that I will be running into.

http://potafocal.com

That will also link into An Foclóir Beag and several other dictionaries. (see the buttons on the bottom)

http://www.potafocal.com/Metasearch.aspx?Text=samhl%C3%B3fa&GotoID=focloirbeag

By looking up a form in An Foclóir Beag, you'll find the form which will be listed in the Irish English dictionary


http://www.potafocal.com/Search.aspx?Text=aduain

(Message edited by aonghus on January 10, 2011)

go raibh maith agat, a Aonghuis

Paploo, chuirfinnse fáilte roimh cheisteanna deasa eásca ar nós "cad is brí le "shamhlófá" nó le "aduain." Ná bíodh drogall ar bith ort á gcur.

[Translation: I would [put a] welcome [before]nice easy questions like ... Do not be reluctant to ask them.]

By the way I bought WinGléacht (Ó Dónaill's Irish-English dicionary) and I think it amazingly informative. I think Dinneen is online too --- somewhere.

shamhlófá - you would imagine (here followed by "leo" -- with them -- it means "associate" )
rud ar bith ait nó aduain -- anything queer or strange ...

quote:

I think Dinneen is online too --- somewhere.

Ag Ollscoil Luimní

http://glg.csisdmz.ul.ie/index.php

(An dream céanna a thug an Foclóir Beag dúinn)

http://www.csis.ul.ie/focloir/

Please bear in mind that anyone learning the language should have a copy of Niall Ó Dónaill's Foclóir Gaeilge - Béarla, Dinneen's Foclóir Gaedhilge agus Béarla and de Bhaldraithe's English-Irish Dictionary. There really is no excuse for not having a copy of Ó Dónaill at the very least. I'm not sure of the quality of some other pocket and minidictionaries available and anything found on line in particular must be checked with Ó Dónaill at least to verify its accuracy. There are some fantastic resources for learners on line of course but unfortunately also a lot of dodgy material by individuals who are often poor learners themselves.

Seconded.

Bear in mind however that these are large books which cannot be carried around lightly.

Is mór an feall nach bhfuil Ó Dónaill ar líne.

Ó Dónaill's dictionary is VERY heavy.

My code for Dinneen's dictionary: PSD1927
My code for Ó Dónaill's dictionary: NÓD1977

quote:

Bear in mind however that these are large books which cannot be carried around lightly.

And your point being, exactly? I don't see why one would have to be carrying either text around under one's oxter.

Someone mentioned WinGléacht above; the problem with WinGléacht is that it doesn't have everything that the printed text has. I have WinGléacht on my office pc but use it very rarely indeed.

Because people read in various places, so looking up online is convenient, while the question is fresh in one's mind.

The best investment I ever made was purchasing both FGB and de Bhaldraithe. Absolutely indispensable, particulary the usage examples. Well worth the price I paid for them. Unfortunately, many times my study is crammed into my lunch hour at work, and they are too cumbersome to cart back and forth.

I love how heavy my Ó Dónaill's dictionary is, ever since I got it, my arms have gotten stronger.lol

Is there any type of book that teaches Irish Idiom? I can look up words all day, but its the way they're put together that make sense.

quote:

Unfortunately, many times my study is crammed into my lunch hour at work, and they are too cumbersome to cart back and forth.

agreed. I take the train to work which gives me about 2 hours a day that could be used for studying.

It could still be used for studying. Just a different kind. I use my lunch hour for things like verb conjugation, sentences for my "word of the day," listening skills, studying grammar notes, etc. I can only take about an hour of such rote things anyway!

quote:

Because people read in various places, so looking up online is convenient, while the question is fresh in one's mind.

And that would somehow preclude someone from also having the printed text in one's possession? By the way, I've often carried Ó Dónaill on the bus, train, taxi etc without any problems.

quote:

Is there any type of book that teaches Irish Idiom? I can look up words all day, but its the way they're put together that make sense.

Yes, there are many such books. You should also get into the habit of recording new words and phrases somewhere on your pc or jotting them down in a notebook and learn a few off every day. As a rule, you should read only texts by native Gaeltacht speakers and write down any new words or expressions you find. Native Gaeltacht speakers will almost always have richer Irish and a much greater number of idioms and expressions than native Anglophone learners and so-called "neo-natives".

Maybe people woudl appreciate a "kindle" book on Irish idiom...

quote:

Maybe people woudl appreciate a "kindle" book on Irish idiom...

I'm not quite sure if that was meant as a joke or not but does anyone know if there are any books as gaeilge for the kindle/nook/ereader?

From what I've seen there doesn't seem to be much but as its a small market I'm not surprised. Just wondering.

litriocht sells e-books

quote:

litriocht sells e-books

So they do... That must be new. GRMA

quote:

And that would somehow preclude someone from also having the printed text in one's possession?

Obviously not. However, my point is that a good, convenient online source would also be of benefit.

quote:

Obviously not. However, my point is that a good, convenient online source would also be of benefit.

Agreed. However the fact remains that there is no excuse for anyone serious about learning Irish not having the printed dictionary in addition to WinGléacht and consulting the printed text regularly, irrespective of how heavy or light it is.

Béad-sa ag dreapadh agus ag campáil san Andes ar feadh ceithre seachtaine i Mí na Feabhra. Cheapas Kindle (nó rud éigint cosúil leis ata éadrom)a cheannach, ionas go bhféadfainn beagán léaimh a dhéamah sna hoícheanta. An bhfeadar sibh, an féidir WinGleach a íoslódáil do Kindle?

Cinnte ní bhéad in ann Ó Dónail a thabhairt liom!

quote:

Bear in mind however that these are large books which cannot be carried around lightly.

Most of my Irish is done on the run, not at home (unfortunately), so online is vital.

http://coislife.ie/Leabhair.aspx?idc=12


Tá ceithre cinn ag Cois Life chomh maith.

Whether people choose to carry the damn thing up and down Aconcagua does not take away from the fact that everyone should have a physical copy of Ó Dónaill in their possession and be using it regularly - wherever they choose to keep it.

@ Carmanach- would you happen to know any names of those Idiom book, I saw one on Litríocht "Gaelic Idioms" but seemed more like a phrase book.

@Croga75 - I forget where the book Taisce Focal was suggested to me so forgive me if I'm repeating this to the person who told me about it but inside the cover it says:

"Taisce Focal is aimed at adults who already speak the language but wish to improve their grasp of Irish idiom."

The book just came in the mail today and I haven't attempted reading it yet.

Go raibh maith agat Paploo.

Hmm ... I suggested it under the Ulster resources thread. Also see the link below for further notes the authors added. Have fun with it!

www.ultach.dsl.pipex.com/ForLearners/Notes-Taisce%20Focal.doc

I did see that it was Ulster, so that probably wont work for me, but I still apreciate the suggestion

"Whether people choose to carry the damn thing up and down Aconcagua does not take away from the fact that everyone should have a physical copy of Ó Dónaill in their possession and be using it regularly - wherever they choose to keep it"

You come across as a very discontented /angry man ;-)

Not a critisim. Just a comment based on you use of "damn" in the above and the many other rather heated debates going on in here. So please don't jump down my throath ;-) I am not questioning your undoubted knowledge/expertise of the language and have no intention of getting involved in a slagging match in here ;-))

(and yes fully aware that i could be very wrong etc..and all the other answers but this is my outsiders impression as noted above!)

For everyone /anyone else back to my original question. I will indeed be attempting aconcagua next month and am thinking of bringing a kindle or some other such device instead of books. Does anyone happen to know if WinGléacht is downloadable to a kindle or a similar device? And also would you recomend a kindle or another such device?

GRMA

Liam, Carmanach is just saying the book is indispensable - that's all.

You could take Fiche Blian ag Fás in English and Irish with you and use the English as the "key" to the Irish?

Caveat emptor: Kindle is way too proprietary for my tastes.

quote:

You come across as a very discontented /angry man ;-)

Liam, I used "damn" merely out of frustration with some of the convoluted excuses people employ - both here and offline - to avoid putting their hands in their pockets and buying Ó Dónaill's dictionary. "'Tis too heavy for me weak little arems, so 'tis!" is one such lame excuse.

I wouldn't describe myself as "discontented" or "angry". More amused and bemused at the stupidity of some people.

Someone asked me what books of Irish vocabulary would I recommend. I'll be honest and say I'm no expert on learners' materials but I do remember using a book by a guy called Diarmuid Ó Donnchadha (I think) which was full of useful everyday vocabulary. I don't know if it's still in print though. Has anyone else used this text and if so what are your opinions of it?

quote:

For everyone /anyone else back to my original question. I will indeed be attempting aconcagua next month

Best of luck to you! Will you be needing oxygen at that altitude?

GRMA Carmanach - Seans mór go mbeidh sé uaim.

Is féidir an mullach a bhaint amach gan ocsaigin. Tá súil agam ar aon nós

I only have a Collins Gem Irish dictionary at the moment, which I assume is Standard Irish. There is nothing that suggests otherwise.

I'm going to buy the other two you mentioned for home study, post-exams or I will get too distracted...as I am at the moment...

I try and carry a phrase book or my own lists of words around with me everywhere for browsing in queues and lifts. Although a big book would be impractical for such uses copying bits out to take out and about with you isn't and you'll learn by copying anyway.