Ó Siadhail’s LEARNING IRISH

[BruceB]

Greetings,

I have been reading here for a while, but now I have a question.

I have been studying Irish unsystematically for several years, using as a primary tool Rosetta Stone. I am now within sight of an end to Rosetta Stone, which I have found very useful, but obviously not as how the Rosetta Stone people suggest it be used, which for most adults, I would think, is nonsense. I am keeping a running glossary of each new term (or variation) I bump into. And I work to understand the grammar of each bit of the language that is presented. Rosetta Stone uses An Caighdéan Oifigiúil for the grammar and Munster for its pronunciation, both of which are quite fine with me. As a result of my studies I am not expecting to speak Irish. To speak Irish I would need to work face-to-face and one-to-one with someone with a patience of a saint. I am, however, hoping to be able gain some proficiency at reading it (and reading it aloud). The question is where to turn to next.

Ó Siadhail’s LEARNING IRISH holds promise in that there is a lot of reading exercises in it, using complex sentences, which is quite different from the learning to speak books. I am not worried about pronunciation, since I will stay with the Munster, and I am not too worried about the spelling differences, since I should be able to figure those out without too much difficulty, but I wonder about the grammar. I am not worried about the small grammatical difference between An Caighdéan Oifigiúil and the Cois Fhairrge dialect of the book, but I wonder if I am going to run into bigger grammatical differences? Or does the grammar of the CF dialect share enough commonality with An Caighdéan Oifigiúil that using this book will be of value? Any input will be more than welcome.

Go raibh maith agaibh,

Bruce

[Somhairle Óg]

I am not sure about what grammar the official standard shares with Learning Irish but I can vouch learning Irish as being a good comprehensive tool. It’s not very sophisticated for learning, it’s just lists and texts but the reading and writing exercises are good and each lesson enforces words from a previous. I recommend it, though, I never finished it I ended up bored 🙁 I got through Turas Teanga 100x quicker than Learning Irish, but for understanding native speech and understanding grammar I think Learnng Irish is better.

As for the written word I wouldn’t be too worried you will still understand Amáireach as Amárach and ariamh as riamh.

[eadaoin]

I don’t know where on the globe you are, and whether you have good access to Irish books.

If it’s reading that you want, I’d start with books of short stories.
I know nothing about Rosetta Stone, so I don’t know what standard you are, but …

you could try school editions of these first – you can always upgrade if these are too easy!

I love Ó Conaire –“Scothscéalta”
and my kids had a great book (well, I enjoyed it) for their InterCert Exams “Fios Feasa” – I suppose it’s out of print now.
There’s Ré Ó Laighleis

le gach dea-ghuí Eadaoin

[BruceB]

I want to thank the three of you for taking the time to reply. It is greatly appreciated and helpful.

I will be using Learning Irish, as i think it has something of value to offer me in terms of what I looking for.

Again, thanks.

[BruceB]

Actually, I take back some of what I said above. I don’t think you’ll have any major problems with CF after coming from the CO. And any questions you do have, do come and post them here. Best of luck.

Again, thaks. I appreciate the support.

[Author]

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