Learn the Irish: West Accent

(73.4MB, 77 minutes) 2011 Edition

Western Irish (do you need Northern?  Dublin?  South - Cork?)

This download includes a written examination for learning the Western Irish accent, and the following sound files featuring Accent Help coach Jim Johnson:

Play Audio Sample:

1. Introduction to Sound Placement, Intonation, and Helpful Hints for speaking with a Western Irish accent (4:04)
2. Consonant sound changes when learning an Irish accent for Galway, Sligo, Clare, and Mayo (8:04)
3. Vowel sound changes for this Connaught Irish accent (6:42)
4. changes to Diphthongs in Western Irish accents (6:24)
5. Alternate Pronunciations for words when speaking with a West Irish accent (2:10)
6. Wrap up to learning an Irish accent for the west (2:08)
7. County Galway Female reading (1:20)
8. + her conversation (5:52)
9. Sligo Female reading (1:04)
10. + her conversation (6:09)
11. Galway City Male reading (1:00)
12. + his conversation (6:32)
13. Galway City Female reading (:59)
14. + her conversation (8:32)
15. Aran Islands Female conversation (9:31)
16. Galway City Female reading (1:04)
17. + her conversation (5:43)

This download focuses on learning a Western Irish accent, including recordings of natives from the Aran Islands (Inishmore), Galway and Sligo.  There is a lot in common with accents of the southern parts of Ireland, especially the sound changes, though the intonation pattern is a bit different.  It's quite different from the accents of the north and east of Ireland.  

Whatever accent you're working on, it's a good idea to get our FREE guide to learning accents and dialects - it will help you to get started with some basic terms and ideas for learning accents.  It's also included free in this download.

Though these sound files have been remastered to reduce background noise, most of these recordings are made "in the field" so you will hear such things as birds, cars or other people in the background.  A transcription of the conversations is included to help you follow along.  This download also contains four versions of the written materials:  A printer-friendly pdf, a pdf that is in a larger format for use on a portable reading device, and both mobi and epub editions for other portable readers.