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The Daltaí Boards » General Discussion (Irish and English) » Archive through July 28, 2011 » My First Speaker « Previous Next »

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Seánw
Member
Username: Seánw

Post Number: 1123
Registered: 07-2009


Posted on Wednesday, June 22, 2011 - 01:40 pm:   Small TextLarge TextEdit PostPrint Post

Well I have to admit I have not devoted much time to Irish of late. When time is in short supply, then some things get pushed off, and well Irish is one of those things. But that doesn't mean I ignore it, it just means I don't devote dedicated time to studying it, and writing, etc. But on the brighter side I got to have a (very) short conversation with a native. I was at our Irish Fair on Sunday, and my son was trying his hand at Gaelic Football. I was talking to a lady from Belfast and my wife asked her if she knew any native speakers. She said that the coach's father was/is. I then went over and we had a long conversation, mostly in English. He was very nice, and we had a few sentences in Irish, but he seemed to not be very into having a conversation, or he didn't understand that I was serious. It was ephemeral (how are you, how's the weather ...). he is a native from Galway who's been out her since the 50s. He sounded fine to me, but I don't know if he himself had lost some of it. We are involved in this Gaelic Football group, so maybe I'll have more opportunities. Maybe I'll make him start a conversation appointment with me! I just thought I'd share that since I've been searching high and low for a native speaker in my area, and after a good three years I've found one! Now only if I can kidnap him ...

Ádh mór oraibhse uilig!

(Message edited by seánw on June 22, 2011)

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Aonghus
Member
Username: Aonghus

Post Number: 11579
Registered: 08-2004


Posted on Wednesday, June 22, 2011 - 02:23 pm:   Small TextLarge TextEdit PostPrint Post

Ádh mór ortsa! Agus go n-éirí leat é a mhealladh

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Jeaicín
Member
Username: Jeaicín

Post Number: 155
Registered: 01-2011
Posted on Wednesday, June 22, 2011 - 03:14 pm:   Small TextLarge TextEdit PostPrint Post

If he has been away from Ireland since the 50s he may have had little opportunity to speak Irish himself in the last 50 years.

Put him in the heart of Connemara and he would chime in with appropriate phrases in conversation with his relatives, friends and neighbours. Confront him with learner-Irish and he's lost. Mention grammar, subject, tuiseal ginideach, or verb tenses and he'll run away from you.

A good idea is to have two or three people speak Irish together and let him join in. Take the pressure off him.

Get him to recite a line or two of his favourite Irish song. I'll bet you'll hear Anach Cuain: Má fhaighimse sláinte ..... Or a prayer from his childhood.

If it turns out that he doesn't really know Irish at all -- be nice to him. He would like to know it. Don't tell anyone else that he's been spoofing all these years. :-)

Good luck.

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Seánw
Member
Username: Seánw

Post Number: 1124
Registered: 07-2009


Posted on Wednesday, June 22, 2011 - 03:56 pm:   Small TextLarge TextEdit PostPrint Post

quote:

Mention grammar, subject, tuiseal ginideach, or verb tenses and he'll run away from you.


He said that he went to school and knew more Irish than everyone, but the teacher wanted him to spell and know the grammar, which he did not like. I mentioned some grammar, but it was about the dialectical differences between Donegal and Galway -- i.e., tím, ní fheicim; feicim, ní fheicim.
quote:

If it turns out that he doesn't really know Irish at all -- be nice to him. He would like to know it. Don't tell anyone else that he's been spoofing all these years.


He said he grew up on a farm west of Loch Coirib -- a real poor life. I believe him, and there was a clear native blas to his speech. Also I found it interesting that he didn't really want to leave Ireland. He said he was alright living there and had work. He went to live with an uncle who invited him over. He said if it wasn't for the uncle he'd still be there. Interesting all the individual stories which have created present Ireland.

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Jeaicín
Member
Username: Jeaicín

Post Number: 156
Registered: 01-2011
Posted on Wednesday, June 22, 2011 - 08:34 pm:   Small TextLarge TextEdit PostPrint Post

If he can really speak Irish -- and west of Loch Coirib may or may not have been Irish-speaking fifty years ago -- you should try and record him telling his story as Gaeilge. Once recorded it can be transcribed and some of it published.

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Brídmhór
Member
Username: Brídmhór

Post Number: 169
Registered: 04-2009


Posted on Thursday, June 23, 2011 - 09:06 pm:   Small TextLarge TextEdit PostPrint Post

After 60 years of not speaking Irish in America he's probably a bit rusty. And shy to speak it now.

My aunt emigrated to Boston when she was about 16. A native Irish speaker until then. She later died in her 90s. I first got to know her in her 70s and she claimed to not understand a word of Irish anymore. Her sister moved to Boston too at an older age but kept the Irish and spoke it fluently (she moved back to Ireland to retire and has since died too). My point is that it depends on the individual.

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Aonghus
Member
Username: Aonghus

Post Number: 11582
Registered: 08-2004


Posted on Friday, June 24, 2011 - 03:43 am:   Small TextLarge TextEdit PostPrint Post

Sin é. Tagann meirg ar theanga fearacht rud ar bith eile.

Cur ceist air bhfuil Tnúthán an Dúchais fós ann! (Sár scéal leis an gCadhnach)



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