Celtic (Irish, really) is impenetrable to me. There doesn't seem to be any rhyme or reason—no connection between how words are spelled and how they're pronounced. Kinda' makes me want to try to tackle the language and experience another aspect of my roots. Here's a snippet from an Irish pronunciation guide I found online a few minutes ago:
Siobhan — “sheh-VAWN”Aoife – “EE-fa”
Aislin – “ASH-linn”
Bláithín - “BLAW-heen”
Caoimhe - “KEE-va”
Eoghan - Owen (sometimes with a slight “y” at the beginning)
Gráinne - “GRAW-nya”
Iarfhlaith - “EER-lah”
Méabh - “MAYV”
Naomh or Niamh - “NEEV”
Oisín - OSH-een or USH-een
Órfhlaith - OR-la
Odhrán - O-rawn
Sinéad - shi-NAYD
Tadhg - TIEG (like you’re saying “tie” or “Thai” with a G and the end)
I knew "Siobhan" already, and I attended grad school with a "Grainne" ("Pronounce it 'groan-ya,'" she said), so I could already say those names. I know "Sinéad," and I also know "Saoirse" (not listed), thanks to the movie star. Everything else, though, is a shit-show.
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