Irish

now important context here: in German, die (pronounced 'dee') is just a feminine article, it literally means "the".

but if an ad gets placed in the middle of an English video and doesn't use a single explicitly German word for most of the ad, even a native speaker is gonna think "they want me to die how?" it keeps getting funnier.

I mean, holy shit

bríste (trousers) vs briste (broken)

éire (ireland) vs eire (burden)

léamh (reading) vs leamh (weak)

órla (name meaning "golden princess") vs orla (vomit)

seán (irish for jean/john) vs sean (old)

snámh (swim) vs snamh (dislike)

and that, friends, is why remembering the fada is extremely important in irish. you wouldn't want to go to the gaeltacht and order a caca instead of a cáca, would you?

I've been meaning to write this post for some time now. As a person from the Galltacht (English-speaking Ireland) living and working in the Gaeltacht (Irish-language Ireland), and operating most of my life through the medium of Irish, I can honestly say that English-language Ireland, Second Language speakers of Irish and Learners of Irish tend to have a really skewered understanding of a) what Béarlachas is, b) the different forms it takes and c) what effects/damage/meaning each of its forms holds.

Contents of this post:

•Perceptions of Béarlachas

•Loanwords Vs Béarlachas

•Different Languages, Different Sounds

•Language Purity Vs Language Planning

•Conclusion

Perceptions of "Béarlachas"

Outside of the Gaeltacht, most people's understanding of "Béarlachas", or "Anglicisation" in Irish (which I am deliberately putting between inverted commas!), is the use of so-called "English-language words" in Irish. The usual list people like to list off include:

• Fón

• Teilifís

• Giotár

• Raideo

• Zú* (see Language Purity Vs Language Planning below)

• Carr*

*The ironic thing about the last item being that 'carr' (the word for a personal vehicle) is older than the English-language word 'Car' 🚗.

Second language learners with a bit more exposure to the language deride native speakers, particularly speakers from Conamara, for "using English words and adding '~áil' at the end to make a verb". Several examples being:

• Gúgláil (Google-áil)

• Sioftáil (Shift-áil)

• Sortáil (Sort-áil)

• Péinteáil (Paint-áil)

• Vótáil (Vote-áil)

• Focáilte (F*ck-áilte)

• Supósáilte (Suppose-áilte)

(⚠️NB: it is HIGHLY SIGNIFICANT that I spelt these words in these specific ways in Irish - to be explained below!⚠️)

Other so-called "English language words" in Irish include:

• Veain • Seit • Onóir • Ospidéal • Aláram • Cóta • Plaisteach • Leictreach, 7rl, 7rl...

And what about: "Halla" or "Hata" ??

Loanwords Vs Béarlachas

Before I explain where I'm going with this, I am going to introduce some words that have their origins in other languages, like:

"Seomra" from the Middle French "chambre".

"Séipéal" from the Middle French "chappelle".

"Eaglais" from the Greek "ekklesiastes".

"Pluid" from the Scots "plaide".

"Píopa" from Vulgar Latin "pipa".

"Corcra" from Latin "Purpura" (from before Irish had the sound /p/!)

"Cnaipe" from the Old Norse "knappr".

"Bád" from Anglo-Saxon "bāt".

ALL of these words, like the ones above, came into Irish via the most natural means a language acquires new words: language contact.

The reason WHY the word gets adopted is usually -and this is very important - the word is for something that the culture of the language Borrowed From already has, which is introduced to the language Borrowed Into.

For clarification, what I am trying to say is that languages NATURALLY oppose cultural appropriation by crediting the culture they got a word from by using their word for it...

I.E. "Constructing" a new "pure" word for an item that has come from another culture, is, in effect, a form of cultural appropriation - which is why institutions such as Alliance Française and Íslensk málstöð are at best puritanical, and at worst xenophobic*.

*There is nuance here - there is a difference between institutional efforts to keep a language "pure" (re: those such right-wing English/British and American opinionists who claim that the English language itself is endangered 🙄), and language planning (which also falls under the remit of Íslensk málstöð).

Furthermore, there is also such thing as "dynamic borrowing". This is where technically a language has adopted a word from another language, but has changed its meaning/adapted it to its own need. Let us take two Irish language words for example: "Iarnród" and "Smúdáil"

Iarnród is made up by two words taken from the English language: Iarann, from English language "iron" and Ród, from English-language "road".

Together, these two words mean the English-language term "Railway" - but English has never had the term "Iron Road" to refer to this object.

Similarly, Smúdáil comes from the English-language word "smooth". Only adapted to Irish, and adding the Irish-language verb suffix creates a word which means "to iron (clothing)". 😱

Different Languages, Different Sounds

Every single language on this planet has its own sound system, or "phonology". It is VERY rare for a new sound to be introduced into a different language, and some languages are MUCH more sensitive to what speakers of another language would consider a "subtle" difference, or not a difference at all.

Now...

IRISH HAS DOUBLE THE AMOUNT OF SOUNDS AS THE ENGLISH LANGUAGE!!!!!!!

(^roughly ~ish) I am making this simplistic statement to DRIVE home the fact that what English-language speakers and Learners of Irish hear as "the same as the English", Irish speakers hear a SIGNIFICANT phonetic difference.

All consonants in Irish [B, bh, c, ch, d, dh, f, fh, g, gh, h, l, ll, m, mh, n, nn, p, ph, r, rr, s, sh, t, th] - and YES, séimhiú-ed consonants and double consonants count as separate consonants - EACH have at least TWO distinct sounds. Ever heard of that old rhyme "Caol le caol, leathan le leathan"? Well, the reason why it exists ISN'T to be a spelling tip - it's to show how to pronounce each consonant in a word - which of the two distinct sounds to say.

What I mean to say by this is that, when we adopt a word into Irish, we aren't just "grabbing the word from English and hopping a few fadas on it"; we are SPECIFICALLY adapting the word to the Irish language phonetic system.

I.E. when an Irish language speaker is saying the word "frid" THEY ARE NOT USING THE ENGLISH LANGUAGE WORD "fridge" !!!

The sounds used in the English-language word belong to the English language, and the sounds used in the Irish-language word belong to the Irish language.

As a linguist I get very passionate about this distinction - the AMOUNT of times I have come across a self-important Irish language "learner" from the East of the country come to a Gaeltacht and tell native speakers that they are not using the "official" or "correct" version of a word in Irish just GRATES me to no end. PARTICULARILY as these so-called "learners" cannot hear, or typically have made NO effort to understand phonetic differences between the two languages. (Though honestly, on that point, I cannot wholely blame them - it is a fault on Irish language education as a whole that the differences in sound are hardly, if ever, mentioned, let alone taught!)

Language Purity Vs Language Planning

Moving on, as I mentioned earlier, it is very rare for a sound to be adapted into a new language. As many Irish language speakers and learners know, there is no /z/ sound in (most of the dialects of) Irish.

And yet, somehow, the official, modern translation given for the Irish language for "Zoo" is ...

Zú

Whenever I think on this given translation, I am always reminded of a good friend of mine, a lady from Carna, who used to always talk about "Súm" meetings she used to go on to talk with friends and family during COVID.

This woman only speaks English as a second language, having only ever learnt it at school and only ever used it in professional environments. She does not have the sound /z/, and as such, pronounces words that HAVE a "z" in them as /s/ sounds, when speaking in Irish OR in English.

As such, I often wonder how An Coiste Téarmaíochta can be so diligent in creating and promoting "Gaelic" words for new things, such as "cuisneoir" instead of "frid"; "guthán" instead of "fón" (which is actually pronounced "pón" in Conamara, as that suits the sound system of that dialect better); or "treochtú" instead of "treindeáil" ... And then turn around and introduce sound and sound combinations such as /z/ in "Zú" and /tv/ and /sv/ in "Tvuít" and "Svaedhpáil" 🤢

It's such this weird combo of being at the same time puritanical with regard to certain words, dismissive in regards to vernacular communities, and ignorant with regards to basic linguistic features of the language.

(Especially when, i mbéal an phobail, there are already such perfectly acceptable terms for these kinda words, like Gairdín na nAinmhithe for "Zú; Tuitéar and Tuít for "twitter" and "tweet"; and Faidhpeáil for "Svaedhpáil".)

Conclusion

This really prescriptivist approach by Irish language institutions needs to end. Not only is it not addressing or engaging with the Irish language as it is spoken by vernacular communities, it is creating this really twisted dynamic between second-language Irish speakers who apparently "know better" than first-language and native speakers of Irish.

This is what "Béarlachas" is. Not the natural adaption of words from a language with which Irish in the present day has most contact with. Not the dynamic inventions of native speakers, and even Second-language-as-vernacular speakers, utilising all the linguistic features available to them, whether that be their own dialects of Irish, English, or whatever OTHER languages/dialects are available to them.

"Béarlachas" is the brute enforcement of English language mentalities and an obsession with "purity" onto Irish, a language that has FOREVER adopted and integrated words, features and people into itself.

“Irish doesn’t have a word for hello you have to use a shorthand religious blessing” buddy do I have news for you about “goodbye”!

“In Polish the word for car is that which walks by itself” BUDDY what do you think an AUTOMOBILE is?

As far as I understand it, “imíonn” (root: imigh) means to leave somewhere and “fágann” (root: fág) means to leave something.

For example, you might leave (imigh) a room - imíonn Pól an seomra nuair a críoch an clár teilifís - but you would leave (fág) a ball outside - fágann Seoirsín an liathróid amach gach oíche.

Lesbian -> Leispiach

Gay -> Aerach

Bisexual -> déghnéasach

Transgender -> tras inscne

Queer -> aiteach

Inter sex -> cuirim-genas

Asexual -> éighnéasach

Aromantic -> cumhramach

Demi boy -> buachiall -demi

Demi girl -> cailín -demi

Non-binary -> Ní dhénártha [quite literally translates to not binary]

LGBTQ+ -> LADTQ+

Pride parade -> pharáid broduil

Pride month -> mí ná bród

Small note about pronouns

Irish as language is a bit weird with pronouns

you can use whatever. Use mé, sé, sí, sibh, siad, you can even use the plural version of a verb/pronoun as long as it makes you happy!

Luibheanna sealgaireachta agus caora as Gaeilge

Dandelion - Caisearbhán

Curly Dock - Duga Chatach

Elderflower - Bláth Troim

Wild/water mint - Miontas Fiáin, Uisce

Blackberries - Sméara Dubha

Modern Irish, also known as Gaeilge (in Irish) or Irish Gaelic (in countries like the USA where Irish is uncommon), is spoken by over a million people in and out of Ireland today as a first or second language. It is recognized as the official language of the Republic of Ireland, taught in schools, used in Irish broadcasting and news reporting, and spoken in everyday social situations. It can also be a lot of fun to learn! (x)

Here are some basic phrases in Irish* 

*There are three major dialects in Irish– Munster, Connacht, and Ulster. This post will be using the Munster dialect, as that is the one my teacher uses and I am more familiar with. Other dialects may vary in spelling, pronunciation, or use different phrases.

Dia dhuit       Hello

Dia dhaoibh      Hello (Plural form)

Dia is Muire dhuit      Hello (Reply)

Dia is Muire dhaoibh   Hello (Reply, plural)

These two phrases literally mean “God to you” and “God and Mary to you” respectively, but they are used as greetings in all contexts, religious and nonreligious.  You can also use “heileo” (hello), which tends to be more informal.

Conas atá tú?         How are you?

Conas atá sibh?     How are you? (Plural)

Tá mé go maith, agus tú féin?     I am well / I am good, and yourself? 

Tá mé go dona.     I am not good

Slán            Goodbye

Oíche Mhaith        Good night

Más é do thoil é / Le do thoil        Please

Go raibh maith agat / agaibh        Thank you / Thank you (Plural)        

Tá fáilte romhat     You are welcome.

Tá brón orm          I am sorry.

Gabh mo leithscéal        Excuse me

In Irish, there is no single word for “no”. Instead, to say no to a question, you rephrase the statement to be negative. For example:

Aon scéal?        Any Story? / What’s up?

Níl aon scéal agam.     I have no story.

There are also a few Irish phrases that are commonly recognized outside Irish-speaking circles, such as: 

Sláinte         Cheers (Literally, “health”)

Fáilte            Welcome

Céad Míle Fáilte    Hundred Thousand Welcomes

Éire go Brách        Ireland to the end of time / Ireland forever

Póg mo thóin         Kiss my ass

For help pronouncing Irish, there are many resources online where you can find text-to-speech audio, IPA notation, and recordings of real speakers. Here are a few:

Forvo.com

Focloir.ie

Abair.ie

Irish Phronology on Wikipedia

ríomhaire: they were literally so right making this one. looking at my laptop like fuck yeah thats a riomhaire

uisce: it has such shape its so effervescent ephemeral stunning brilliant. that brand of water called ishka can catch my fucking blade why would you change its shape its literally perfect i hate you

leabharlinn: its a library. it has illiteration. what's not to love? honourable mention to literally every other place name with 'linn' in it. pictíur, snámh, bia, they literally never miss.

púca: 1000/10 literally the most fitting word ever. does 'ghost' leave an impression? fuck off no it doesnt! does 'púca' leave an impression? yes it shapes your mouth it is incredible

tiocfidh: its very very fun to tell non-irish people that its pronounced like 'chuck-ig'

aiteach: we love the gays we love the lovely words

geimhreadh - winter

sneachta - snow calóg shneachta - snowflake fear sneachta - snowman fuacht (noun) - cold fuar (adjective) - cold aimsir sheaca - freezing weather gealán - aurora réalta - star cuileean - holly drualus - mistletoe gealbhan - sparrow corcrán coille - bullfinch meantán - tit fia - deer réinfhia - reindeer

seacláid the - hot chocolate scailtín fíona - mulled wine arán sinséir - gingerbread maróg - pudding cnóire - nutcracker

sleamhnán - sledge slaghdán - cold (illness) pluid - blanket teallach - fireplace teolaí - cozy lámhainní - gloves scaif olla - wollen scarf cóta te - warm coat

coinneal - candle soilse Nollag - Christmas lights fleasc Nollag - Christmas wreath crann Nollag - Christmas tree carúl Nollag - Christmas carol beithilín - nativity scene féirín - present Saintí / Daidí na Nollag - Santa Claus

an Nollaig - Christmas saoire na Nollag - Christmas holiday Óiche Nollaig - Christmas Eve Óiche Nollaig Beag - New Year’s Eve