
Gift of the Gab
The Irish Conversation Guide
Tadhg Hayes(Author)
O'Brien Press Ltd
Published on 27. February 2012
Book
Hardback
96 pages
978-1-84717-289-1 (ISBN)
Description
With illustrations by Terry Willers
For the unprepared visitor Irish conversation can be a minefield. 'How's the craic ?' is not an assumption that you are well versed in the properties of narcotics substances, merely an enquiry after your health and general well-being. A seemingly easy question like 'You're not from around here are ye?' requires a far more detailed reply than 'No, I'm not'. In order not to be thought rude you should supply details of where you live, why you are in Ireland, the tiny village, now deserted, from which your great-great grandfather emigrated in the year dot, and, to be really accepted, your salary figure, marital status and daily eating habits!
To the uninitiated, advice like this might seem extreme, but, as Tadhg Hayes points out, the proper answer will save you from insistent and repeated questioning, which, in the case of the Irish, is motivated by genuine interest and not just downright nosiness.
Having safely negotiated the opening gambits, plenty of other conversational pitfalls await the visitor. GIFT OF THE GAB covers them all and will see you through any topic, from THE WEATHER, SPORT, DRINK, DEATH, how to interpret travel directions and statements on a person's financial situation (see THE POOR MOUTH). For Improvers there are useful phrases to add colour to your conversation, including the essential 'feck', 'fecking' and its variations.
All in all, the most essential thing, after your umbrella, you will need for an enjoyable holiday in Ireland.
For the unprepared visitor Irish conversation can be a minefield. 'How's the craic ?' is not an assumption that you are well versed in the properties of narcotics substances, merely an enquiry after your health and general well-being. A seemingly easy question like 'You're not from around here are ye?' requires a far more detailed reply than 'No, I'm not'. In order not to be thought rude you should supply details of where you live, why you are in Ireland, the tiny village, now deserted, from which your great-great grandfather emigrated in the year dot, and, to be really accepted, your salary figure, marital status and daily eating habits!
To the uninitiated, advice like this might seem extreme, but, as Tadhg Hayes points out, the proper answer will save you from insistent and repeated questioning, which, in the case of the Irish, is motivated by genuine interest and not just downright nosiness.
Having safely negotiated the opening gambits, plenty of other conversational pitfalls await the visitor. GIFT OF THE GAB covers them all and will see you through any topic, from THE WEATHER, SPORT, DRINK, DEATH, how to interpret travel directions and statements on a person's financial situation (see THE POOR MOUTH). For Improvers there are useful phrases to add colour to your conversation, including the essential 'feck', 'fecking' and its variations.
All in all, the most essential thing, after your umbrella, you will need for an enjoyable holiday in Ireland.
More details
Language
English
Place of publication
Dublin
Ireland
Illustrations
24 Illustrations, black and white
Dimensions
Height: 177 mm
Width: 110 mm
Thickness: 13 mm
Weight
114 gr
ISBN-13
978-1-84717-289-1 (9781847172891)
Copyright in bibliographic data and cover images is held by Nielsen Book Services Limited or by the publishers or by their respective licensors: all rights reserved.
Schweitzer Classification
Other editions
Previous edition

Tadhg Hayes
The Wit of Irish Conversation
Book
09/2001
2nd Edition
O'Brien Press Ltd
€27.42
Article exhausted; check for reprint
Persons
Tadhg Hayes lives and works in Kerry, one of the richest sources of 'the Gab' in the country.