Rithim na Teanga 2

Rithim na Teanga 2 (Cadence)

Cadences 2

Irish Language rhythms/ cadences

Language is best learned by immersion. A child learns its mothertongue by hearing and imitating. Irisg has words aplenty but comhrá is generally in phrases. So we need to recognise and replicate the cadences -the rise, fall, inflection - within phrases. In simple terms it means knowing where to place emphasis, eliding  parts of non-important words eg

'Cá (bhfu)il tú ag dul?'. What you hear is one phrase: 'cawl too ag DUL?'

'Tá a fhios agam'. What you hear is: 'tá's a'm'

In the natural flow the essential word will be heard eg

'Is mise PÁDraig'.

'Tá mé i mo chónaí i ...what you hear is: 'tá'm im' 'chónAÍ i ...'

Our Gaelic poets really captured the cadences. It makes their poems so memorisable:

In the poem below the rhythm is so catchy even after a couple of centuries. Every line is a complete flowing phrase. I've put (') to mark emphasis

At one time this verse was on the Irish £5 note.

Keep reading until you feel the rhythm.

Raifteiri 1780s) (blind wandering fiddler)

1.   

       Mise Raif'teirí an fi'le I'm Rafteirí the Poet

       lán dó'chas is grá' full of hope and love

       le su'ile gan sol'as with eyes without light,

       le ciún'as gan chrá stillness without torment

       Féach anois' mé Look at me now

       mo chúl' le balla my back to the wall

       ag seinm ceol playing music

       do phócaí' folamh to empty pockets

Rithim 2 Raifteirí

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2. Raifteirí

       Anois' teacht an Earr'aigh now Spring is here

       beidh an lá' dul chun sín'eadh the day will be stretching

       Is tar éis na Féile Bríde' After St Bridgid's feast

       ardóigh mé mo sheol' I'll hoist my sail

       go Coillte' Mach rachad I will go to Coillte Mach

       .....

Ní stopfaidh mé choíche' I'll never stop

       go seas'faidh mé síos 'til I stand there

       i lár Con'tae Mhaigh eo mid Contae Mhaigh eo

Rithim 2 Anois teacht

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