A New Irish Language Spelling System

One of the nice things about the Irish language is that its spelling is very regular. However for non-Irish speakers some of the pronunciation rules can be confusing.

This is particularly true of some of the lengthened consonants which in the modern spelling are indicated by adding an “h”:

“th” and ”sh” (pronounced /h/)

“bh” and ”mh” (pronounced /w/ or /v/ depending on context)

dh” and ”gh” (pronounced /y/ or a /g/, /h/ mixture depending on context)

“fh” (silent)

I propose that we adopt a new spelling system that is more accessible to non-Irish speakers.

Consonant Lengthened, In Standard Spelling Lengthened, In New Spelling Example

p ph f̃ Gaiṽ mo f̃ardún.

t th ĥ Go raiṽ maiĥ agat.

c ch k̃ Óik̃e w̃aiĥ.

b (+aou) bha bho bhu ŵa ŵo ŵu An laŵarann tú ...?

b (+ei) bhe bhi ṽe ṽi Sa ṽliain 2005 ...

d (+aou) dha dho dhu ĥa ĥo ĥu Dia ĥuit.

d (+ei) dhe dhi ŷe ŷi rud a ŷéanfaí

g (+aou) gha gho ghu ĥa ĥo ĥu Cuireaĥ ĥá ~oclóir

g (+ei) ghe ghi ỹe ỹi k̃uir an taiỹde seo

m (+aou) mha mho mhu w̃a w̃o w̃u Tá fáilte row̃at.

m (+ei) mhe mhi ṽe ṽi teanga a ṽíniú

s sh ĥ míle bliain ó ĥin

f fh ~ K̃un treorak̃a a ~áil

Eamonn O'Brien-Strain

A New Irish Language Spelling System