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Help[Facts] Pronounciation of Gaelic words and the name Gael
The site has Gail and Gale, but no Gael. I have a cousin.. like some 3rd cousin.. distant... removed etc etc ie. not really related
But her name is Gael. It's not a spelling variation on Gail or Gale, but she is named after THE 'Gaels'.
That is to say the Gaelic people. Her mother says the name isn't common, but there is deffinatly several Gael's around her area.
For pronounciation, I wanted to how to pronounce:
Dubh - dark
I read somewhere that 'bh' in Gaelic is said as 'v'
Ty
~ S!LVAH
But her name is Gael. It's not a spelling variation on Gail or Gale, but she is named after THE 'Gaels'.
That is to say the Gaelic people. Her mother says the name isn't common, but there is deffinatly several Gael's around her area.
For pronounciation, I wanted to how to pronounce:
Dubh - dark
I read somewhere that 'bh' in Gaelic is said as 'v'
Ty
~ S!LVAH
1
Replies
Pronounced 'Duff.'
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Dubh
Hi Silver,
in Scottish Gaelic Dùbh sounds like "doo"
in Irish Gaelic Dubh sounds like "doov".
Regards, Satu
Hi Silver,
in Scottish Gaelic Dùbh sounds like "doo"
in Irish Gaelic Dubh sounds like "doov".
Regards, Satu
1
so exactly what sound does 'bh' make then, in scottish gaelic?
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As far as I have understood it, it's sometimes pronounced like v and sometimes it's silent. The name Dùbhghlas is pronounced dooluhs and the name Dabhaidh is pronounced daeevee.... I'm no Gaelic-expert, so I don't know anything about the reasons... sorry!
Regards, Satu
Regards, Satu
1
My knowledge of Gaelic is hazy too, but it looks as if the bh cluster used to make a sound and then the sounds of the language changed after it took its written form, so the old spelling was retained - same as the gh cluster in through and thorough in English.
As for the sound, that h seems to signal breath, so it would have made the b into a fricative. Same idea as the mh cluster, which still makes a v sound; presumably not a v, therefore, as there wouldn't be much point in having two ways of writing the same consonant. (When I try to make a labial fricative I close the door! Not very ladylike, I fear, though no doubt respectable in ancient Ireland.)
As for the sound, that h seems to signal breath, so it would have made the b into a fricative. Same idea as the mh cluster, which still makes a v sound; presumably not a v, therefore, as there wouldn't be much point in having two ways of writing the same consonant. (When I try to make a labial fricative I close the door! Not very ladylike, I fear, though no doubt respectable in ancient Ireland.)
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If I recall my Irish classes (and, in a convoluted way, ScotsGael) the presence of the "h" after a consonant in a word signals that the aforementioned consonant is "slenderized". The Gaelic pronunciations in Northern Ireland are much closer to those of the Scottich Highlands (I think), but it has been about three years since I've taken a formal class in Irish. I could ask my former Gaelic instructor if he could shed some light on this, if you wish.
Phyllis (aka Sidhe Uaine or Gia Euphoria)
Phyllis (aka Sidhe Uaine or Gia Euphoria)
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