Correct pronunciation of "Blathaich"?

[Nagual]

Hey there everyone,

I'm hoping someone out there will have a strong grasp of Gaelic and be able to help. Having a discussion with some Forestry Commission folk over the pronunciation of "Blathaich", and it's meaning. I know that letters and combination of letters can sound completely different in Gaelic than English so really am not sure of the correct way. The FC reckon it sounds like "Bla" I think this is a more Englified version by someone who doesn't know how to pronounce it. I suspect it may be a bit like "Blath-aid" but then I know little about the mother tongue..


I hope someone can enlighten me further...


ps any online links so I can prove it to the FC would be handy too , I've tried googling but this has proven to be a minefield of not much use.

 

[Toddy]

My Gaelic's so rudimentary that it's shameful, but blidaich.........I heard it sort of sworn, it meant blackmail so it kind of stuck in my head as (think Scots accent) bliddyache.

Is this the word you meant ?

cheers,
M

 

[Bigfoot]

I would pronounce that "blaa-eech" with the "th" not being pronounced and the "ch" the same as in loch. However, some Gaelic speakers might make the end "ch" siilent (I'm thinking Islay here, as Bruichladdich has a silent ending) .

 

[Nagual]

Cheers Toddy n Bigfoot. Had bivibabe message an old mate who still teaches Gaelic, as it turns out.. Her reply was that it's pronounced Blaa-ach. and means warmth. Interesting that you say that some speakers drop the 'ch' which would then fit with the FC's version of the word. Hmmm yet still more to ponder..

 

[Toddy]

I've just checked the Gaelic dictionary, and you're quite right; it's a verb meaning (to) warm, (to)heat.

No idea what Seumas was on about then I'll ask.

The pronunciation in this dictionary, MacLennan, Malcolm, Gaelic Dictionary; A Pronouncing & Etymological Dictionary of the Gaelic Language, Mercat Press, Edinburgh, 1995, is blahich, if that's of any help.

cheers,
Mary

 

[Bigfoot]

Yes, it means warm, with blathas (blaas) meaning warmth, (or can also mean kindliness). You'll find lots of variation in Gaelic pronunciation depending on what area the speaker originates from. Try asking half a dozen natives picked from different parts of the west coast and Hebrides to say the word for "bed" and you will get different ways to say the same word. You'll also find Gaelic names being pronounced and spelled in Anglicised form by the locals in areas where the Gaelic language has long since died out (or where Victorian map makers have bastardised the original Gaelic words).

 

[Bushwhacker]

Reminds me of the story about the Australians who wanted to know how to get to 'Looga borooga'. They pointed out 'Loughborough' on the map.