Which dialect...

Since I am a beginner as I have stated, I hope someone can please

help me with this question. I understand that Ireland, as in the U.S.

has different dialects. Example: I'm from the south so I would say

ya'll instead of you all.  What I don't understand is, say for example I

said "madadh" in a conversation with someone who would say

"madra", would the other speaker still know I'm saying dog? And

if I pronounced , for example...An bhfuil as "un wil" would someone

who pronounced it  "un vwil" be offended ?

It's just as important to me to not offend someone as it is to learn the

language.  Now please hang in there with me for the final question...

The Irish taught in schools. Is that like the English taught here? You learn

the "proper" way of speaking English, but then of course you actually

speak it the way you choose according usually to where you live.

I hope I haven't given ya'll a headache, but I do want to learn Irish so

very badly and yet I'm terrified at the thought that I might offend someone.

So whatever advice anyone can give me please know that I will be forever

grateful to you. Thank you!!

Slán,

Deb

Well your idea of a "dialect" is wrong. America doesn't have dialects because English is standardised it's just locacl accents and phrases which change it so they aren't dialects whereas Irish has different dialects with different wrods, differences in grammar etc. There is "An Caighdeán Oifigiúil" which is the standardised version. Learn this and then you can pick up any variations with ease. Although  at the end of the day it doesn't matter which one you learn.

 Max Weinreich once said that "A language is a dialect with an army and navy". But I think things are different now...a language is a dialect with a tv station...the more people who hear your 'dialect' the more accepted it becomes as the 'norm'.

According to wikipedia, a dialect (from the Greek word διάλεκτος, dialektos) is a variety of a language that is characteristic of a particular group of the language's speakers. I think in some cases, a dialect can be hugely different from the 'official' language...but in others the differences can appear quite superficial.

American English is a standard form of English, and is distinct from British English. American English contains many dialects. Apparently these have been influenced by the immigrants in particular areas. So the Irish influenced how English was spoken in NYC, Boston and Chicago.

British English counts Canadian and Australian English as among its dialects. But also various Welsh, English, Scots and Irish dialects. Hiberno-English is the dominant English dialect in Ireland. Many of the 'peculiarities' of Hiberno-English are a direct result of the influence of the Irish language (where I'm from, you'd say 'I have a hunger on me' instead of 'I am hungry' - which comes from the Irish 'Tá ocras orm'.

As Leprechaun as said, Irish has an 'official' dialect - an Caighdeán Oifigiúil - much like English has the Queen's English. And there are three main dialects: Ulster in the North, Munster in the south, and Connacht in the West.

There are distinct differences in the grammar and word usage between the three main dialects. And actually these can be considerable. The classic example everyone uses is that of 'How are you?' Which can be said

    * Ulster: Cad é mar atá tú? ("What is it as you are?")
    * Connacht: Cén chaoi a bhfuil tú? ("What way [is it] that you are?")
    * Munster: Conas taoi? or Conas tánn tú? ("How are you?")
    * "Standard" Irish: Conas atá tú? ("How are you?")

I'm afraid that as a learner I get intimidated by all the dialects and differences. But I think that TG4 - the national Irish language tv station - has helped people gain exposure to other dialects. It's certainly helped me. TG4 is required to broadcast in all three dialects, so you can hear a Kerry accent, a Connemara accent, a Donegal accent. And there's lots of Dublin Irish there too!

I was on Inis Oírr (East Island) which is part of the Aran Islands in Galway Bay a few years ago. I ended up getting stranded there during a hurricane. I was sitting in the pub listening to the older men talk in Irish, so pleased I could pick up a few words or a phrase here or there. TG4 was on in the background, showing Irish speakers from Donegal. I found their Irish easier to understand, partly because they spoke slower, more clearly (TV talk) but also because I'd been learning Ulster Irish. One of the fellas at the bar turned around and asked me if I understood what was being said on the TV. I said I was catching bits of it. I asked him what he thought of the show. He replied that he couldn't understand a word they were saying! I'm not sure if he really really couldn't understand a word they were saying, or if he was exaggerating.

I think you shouldn't worry about 'insulting' speakers of different dialects. I think your awareness of the different dialects shows a great respect for the language and its variations. I'm still just hoping to become passable in just one dialect!

Loads more reading here if anyone's interested!

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/American_and_British_English_differences (info on American and British English)
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/List_of_dialects_of_the_English_language (list of English dialects)
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Dialect (definition of a dialect)
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Irish_language (info on Irish dialects)

Thanks Leprechaun!  I think your advise is very good and I will try to find lessons

on the "Standard".  There are some posted lessons presented by the "Irish

People" and maybe that will help me. Then once I learn that, I can, as you

say, worry about a dialect.  We do have dialects even though it's all English.

Southerners speak differently than Northerners and so on. We have different

words for the same things. Example:  couch / sofa/ devan etc. We even

pronounce the same words differently. lol

But I will most definately take your advice and I do thank you for your help

To be honest, I was thinking...I don't think I'm smart enough to learn all

three dialects in Irish, so you have taken a huge weight off me!!

Have a great day and thank you again!!

Deb

I know what you mean. If I could at least speak basic Irish I would be

thrilled!! lol

I have met some fluent Irish speakers here and I would love to be

able to just hold a simple conversation with them. So I'm off to find these

lessons from the Irish People and see if I can get a good start on learning

the basics. I believe that between all of you and your help and these

Standard lessons, I just might reach my goal. Thank all of you so much

for your help and your encouragement!!

Deb