hmmm, I never knew you couldn't use "is féidir liom" like that! In what context are you suppose to use it then? That's the way everyone seems to use it.

I heard before that "níos éasca" is aother one of those things that everybody uses but its not right! Is there any truth in that either? I have, naturally, always used "níos fusa" anyway being from Munster.

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Please wait for corrections/ more input from other forum members before acting on advice

"Is féidir liom" (literally "is possible with me") is the equivalent of "I can/I am able."

"Tá cead agam" (literally "I have permission") is the equivalent of "I may."

Redwolf

I think the distinction between "can" and "may" is very "Englishy".

Although "An bhfuil cead agam dul go dtí an leithreas, le do thoil?" is used in schools as a direct translation of "may I go to the toilet, please?", it is a contrived expression.

An bhféadfainn ...? "Could I ... ?" is the more natural way to ask permission in Irish, as the boys have it above. (The politeness of "please" is expressed instead in the use of the conditional mood, "could" as opposed to "can".)

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Múinteoir Gaeilge - Irish Teacher
My "specialty" is Connemara Irish, particularly Cois Fhairrge dialect, but I can also speak Ulster and Munster Irish with native-level pronunciation.
Is fearr Gaeilge ḃriste ná Béarla cliste, cinnte, aċ i ḃfad níos fearr aríst í Gaeilge ḃinn ḃeo na nGaeltaċtaí.
Gaeilge Chonnacht (GC), go háraid Gaeilge Chois Fhairrge (GCF), Gaeilic Uladh (GU), Gaelainn na Mumhan (GM), agus Gaeilge an Chaighdeáin Oifigiúil (CO).

Regarding do, this was the original spelling and is also related to the original meaning of the idiom.

Ba mhaith liom an bóthar do shiúl = I would like the road for (the purpose of) a walk

Eventually though the do, became silent, being pronounced as a.

Ba mhaith liom an bóthar a shiúl

This is the original reason you can't say Ba mhaith liom a shúil as it would mean:

Ba mhaith liom a shiúl = I would like for a walk.

This makes no sense, what would you like "for a walk". Instead you simply say:

Ba mhaith liom siúl = I would like a walk.

Although at least in Munster the do can still be found, as forms of do are lenited after vowels and so:

Ba mhaith liom bó dh'fháil.

However in writing people now think there always should be a a, so this can be confusingly written as:

Ba mhaith liom bó a dh'fháil.

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The dialect I use is Cork Irish.
Ar sgáth a chéile a mhairid na daoine, lag agus láidir, uasal is íseal

Yeah, this is very common in Ulster before vowel sounds...

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Ultach mé agus Gaeilg Uladh a labhraim go measardha maith!

What a fascinating conversation that was! Thank you so, so much for your help. I'm going with this, I think:

A athair, an bhféadfainn mo prátaidhe do chur annso?

I am not a student of languages, but I was trying to keep up with your discussion. When you spoke of the "p" not being lenited in older Munster Irish, do you mean that it was then pronounced as a hard "p," and not softened by the "h"?

If it wouldn't be too difficult, and I haven't already monopolized too much of your time, could someone take a stab at what the pronunciation of this sentence should be? I don't need it for the writing I'm doing, but I'm just curious.

I've visited the Beara several times, and I love so much hearing the Irish spoken out there. It reminds me that my ancestors (Harrington and Sullivan) left so much behind when they emigrated during the Great Hunger. The language, to me, symbolizes their many losses. I wish I could learn it, but it seems an impossible task.

Again, thanks! I hope you will continue to help me now and again, as I work on this novel.
Jane H

Quite a number of the very capable members here began their journey with Irish as adults living in countries other than Ireland. Not impossible! Plus it would give you an excuse to drop into ILF from time to time with interesting questions for everyone to disagree over!! - not that you need an excuse!

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Here's my attempt, somebody better will probably give theirs soon!

Prátaí

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The dialect I use is Cork Irish.
Ar sgáth a chéile a mhairid na daoine, lag agus láidir, uasal is íseal

Lovely.

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Múinteoir Gaeilge - Irish Teacher
My "specialty" is Connemara Irish, particularly Cois Fhairrge dialect, but I can also speak Ulster and Munster Irish with native-level pronunciation.
Is fearr Gaeilge ḃriste ná Béarla cliste, cinnte, aċ i ḃfad níos fearr aríst í Gaeilge ḃinn ḃeo na nGaeltaċtaí.
Gaeilge Chonnacht (GC), go háraid Gaeilge Chois Fhairrge (GCF), Gaeilic Uladh (GU), Gaelainn na Mumhan (GM), agus Gaeilge an Chaighdeáin Oifigiúil (CO).

The temptation would certainly be to reply with, "Is féidir ach níl cead!"

http://www.focloir.ie suggests that may and can are more interchangeable than I learned on Inis Oirr years ago.

5 modal verb expressing a polite request
how many books may I borrow? cá mhéad leabhar is féidir liom a fháil ar iasacht?
may I borrow your car? an dtiocfadh liom do charr a fháil ar iasacht?; an dtabharfá do charr ar iasacht dom, le do thoil?may I have a look round the house? an dtiocfadh liom amharc thart ar an teach?, an bhféadfainn breathnú timpeall an tí?, an bhfuil cead agam breathnú timpeall an tí?

6 modal verb expressing or refusing permission
'May I have some more?' 'You may, indeed.' 'An bhféadfainn tuilleadh a bheith agam?' 'D'fhéadfá, cinnte.'; 'An dtig liom níos mó a bheith agam?' 'Tig, cinnte.'
you may leave the room tá cead agat an seomra a fhágáil, féadfaidh tú an seomra a fhágáil, is féidir leat an seomra a fhágáil

http://www.focloir.ie/en/dictionary/ei/ ... y#may_1__5

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