h2g2 The Hitchhiker's Guide to the Galaxy: Earth Edition

By "Scottish" I don't mean talk like Lorraine Kelly...

I'm off to Scotland in summer, staying in a tiny hamlet called Portuairk. Just off the shore are some small rocky islands, which I notice on the map have names which I'm guessing are in Gaelic. They are:

Sgeir Ghobhlach
and Sgeir Horsgate

There is also a stunning beach named Eilean Carrach.

I'd love to know how to pronounce these names, and also know if there is a translation into English.

Thanks!

o_0

I'm jealous! I think the beach is just eye-leen karrach (the ch is a throaty slur like 'loch'). As for the other names, I've no idea, they look nordic or icelandic! I'm still jealous though, I wanna go!

Thank you - I'll put up some pics once I've been... (look on Google Earth for Portuairk - there's a few Panoramio photos on there by me - look for ones by Matt Phillips) That should give you an idea of how fantastic it is up there...

I will do when I'm home! I'm a personal fan of Balnakiel on the western part of the north coast... it's the last accessable part before the main headland on the north west corner which is only accessable by boat or perhaps horse!

mmm... Scotland. Home of my heart

You might even get to see his knees

Oh, noodles!

A standard semi colon, dash and end bracket works too hun... and is quicker to type

I do that in msn and emails, I just never thought of doing here

Have to go now, hunny.. catch you later

Ah, the basics all work. Smile, big smile etc Have fun!

Eilean Carrach - ay(as in hay)lan(maybe more lin than lan) kar-ach(ch as in loch sound).

Sgeir Ghobhlach - scar (or maybe scare) go-vlach (ch as in loch)

Sgeir Horsgate - scar (or scare) horsh-gat.

The first 95% certain, next 75% certain, last 45-55% certain. However it is how I would pronounce them myself (until corrected ). Eilean is island, sgeir is a small island, or rock in the sea. Enjoy Until later....
BCNU - Crescent

that all sounds pretty likely

I can't see why you'd want to pronounce it.

We're not all Rob Roys.

So as not to sound like an uninterested tourist? (it's edin-burruh/bruh not burg!)

Crescent - many thanks!

The sgier translation is perfect - they are indeed rocks - but big ones. And yes, it is so I can at least sound like I am taking some interest. I probably won't actually use thenames in conversation, but it's nice to know I know how to pronounce them properly if I had to.

It really is a beautiful place up there - Portuairk is the most westerly village in the British mainland, just a couple of miles from Ardnamurchan Point. We hire a static caravan from a local in summer, and sitting at the breakfast table, looking out over Sanna Bay, and seeing the Hebrides islands (weather permitting) is simply stunning.

Somebody stop me, I'll go on all day about my holidays if you let me...

Thanks again!

In Gaelic, most combinations of consonants seem to be either silent or pronounced 'V'. So chances are, any unfamiloar word will be pronounced 'Vah'.

That's my theory, anyway.

in Scotland it's more likely to be an 'augh' or 'och' sound

And do go on, I'm there in my head! It's beautiful!

Here's my favourite Scottish beach:
http://www.flickr.com/photos/fletchphoto/698936582/

Surely Lizard point or Lands End (I forget which) is the most westerly point on the British Mainland.

Maybe you mean the Scottish mainland?

Hmmm.

*reminds himself to look at the map *before* posting comments like that*

You're right, sorry.