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ArchivesCeltic, Gaelic and Welsh names; a general question
This may not be the correct place to post this. So, I am sorry, but, I need an etymological (?) explanation for why can't we simplify or phonetically spell names like these?
I am a decendant of the above ethnic heritages. So it's not an ethnic resentment, or desire to wipe out these wonderful sounding languages. If they are going to have an awkward pronunciation, why not a separate alphabet (is there one). My book of Celtic & Gaelic names and meanings is baffling. I abandoned learning Gaelic five years ago, partly due to my bewilderment over these confusing spelling patterns.
I nearly avoided embarassing my employer, by asking for the spelling of the listed names, when I noticed the customer calling had a Scottish accent.
If anyone reading this can help, thank you.
Yes--I do fret over small things, occasionally!!
I am a decendant of the above ethnic heritages. So it's not an ethnic resentment, or desire to wipe out these wonderful sounding languages. If they are going to have an awkward pronunciation, why not a separate alphabet (is there one). My book of Celtic & Gaelic names and meanings is baffling. I abandoned learning Gaelic five years ago, partly due to my bewilderment over these confusing spelling patterns.
I nearly avoided embarassing my employer, by asking for the spelling of the listed names, when I noticed the customer calling had a Scottish accent.
If anyone reading this can help, thank you.
Yes--I do fret over small things, occasionally!!
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Replies
I'm not sure what you're asking. Of course you can spell these names phonetically if you want to.
If they are going to have an awkward pronunciation, why not a separate alphabet (is there one).
Umm ... The Roman alphabet is not exclusive to English. And it's not as if English spelling makes absolute sense. In the Gaelic languages, consonants are used to indicate the pronunciations of the letters around them, but not pronounced themselves. It's just the way it is. In many languages large numbers of letters go unpronounced - French is the obvious example.
I nearly avoided embarassing my employer, by asking for the spelling of the listed names, when I noticed the customer calling had a Scottish accent.
I'm not sure what you mean, but the vast majority of Scots (a) cannot speak Gaelic (b) do not understand Gaelic spelling either and (c) do not have names with Gaelic spellings. Just over 1% of Scots - those who live out in the Highlands and Islands - know the language. The person you were talking to probably didn't :-)
If they are going to have an awkward pronunciation, why not a separate alphabet (is there one).
Umm ... The Roman alphabet is not exclusive to English. And it's not as if English spelling makes absolute sense. In the Gaelic languages, consonants are used to indicate the pronunciations of the letters around them, but not pronounced themselves. It's just the way it is. In many languages large numbers of letters go unpronounced - French is the obvious example.
I nearly avoided embarassing my employer, by asking for the spelling of the listed names, when I noticed the customer calling had a Scottish accent.
I'm not sure what you mean, but the vast majority of Scots (a) cannot speak Gaelic (b) do not understand Gaelic spelling either and (c) do not have names with Gaelic spellings. Just over 1% of Scots - those who live out in the Highlands and Islands - know the language. The person you were talking to probably didn't :-)
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Welsh pronunciation is fairly simple. There's a high level of correspondence between Welsh pronunciation of the Latin Alphabet, and the way those same letters are pronounced in English. The basic rules are ff= f sound, f= v sound, and dd= "th" as in "thine". 'll' is the only new sound. Y and w are both vowels in Welsh, but beyond that, the differences are few and far between.
Why are Irish Gaelic and Scots Gaelic characterized by complex spellings, and not Welsh? I think it's because Welsh is a Brythonic Celtic language, whose closest relative is Breton. Irish and Scots Gaelic are Goidelic Celtic languages, which generally have more complex orthography.
Why are Irish Gaelic and Scots Gaelic characterized by complex spellings, and not Welsh? I think it's because Welsh is a Brythonic Celtic language, whose closest relative is Breton. Irish and Scots Gaelic are Goidelic Celtic languages, which generally have more complex orthography.
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There are a lot of Gaelic names that have been Anglicized. I know a lot of Irish ones have, like Dermot (Diarmaid), Angus (Aonghus), Eavan (Aoibheann), and Fionola (Fionnghuala), to name a few. Plus a lot don't really need Anglicizations, like Ciaran, Grainne, Llewelyn (well, I just pronounce the ll like l to make it easier :)), or Eira. Even if there isn't an Anglicization, you could always make one up if it bothered you that much.
I personally love the way those names are spelled, and I wouldn't want to change most of them if I was to use them. I don't have a problem with pronunciation generally because there are phonetic patterns in Irish and Gaelic, which if you learn you can figure out names. And Welsh is even easier.
I personally love the way those names are spelled, and I wouldn't want to change most of them if I was to use them. I don't have a problem with pronunciation generally because there are phonetic patterns in Irish and Gaelic, which if you learn you can figure out names. And Welsh is even easier.
This message was edited 1/14/2008, 3:21 PM
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I posted the above as a general question.
This appears not to be the "Ask The Etymologist, Message Board."
I apologize for my mistake.
This appears not to be the "Ask The Etymologist, Message Board."
I apologize for my mistake.
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