Breton for Beginners:
Lesson 1: Greetings I
Lesson 2: Greetings II / Partings / Please & Thank you
Lesson 3: In the Café
Lesson 4: Conversation I: Where do you live?
Lesson 5: Conversation II: Do you speak Breton?
Lesson 6: Place Names
LESSON 1
Breton is the native language of the western part of Brittany. It is less-widely spoken now than in former times, but in rural areas in particular, having a basic knowledge of Breton can do more to break the ice than the most complete knowledge of the French language.
The CBJ is therefore sponsoring the world's first online Breton / English language course, designed to give English speakers a basic knowledge of the language:
GREETINGS Part 1
It is often said that there is no standard greeting in the Breton language, which is probably true. However, there is an equivalent to the English phrases 'how's things?' 'how's it going?' 'how do you do?' (in French 'comment ca va?'), it is 'mont a ra?' , which could be translated literally as 'does it go?'
The response could be 'mat-tre, ha ganit?' (very good, and you?)
To which you would reply 'mat eo' (it is good).
As with all languages, the key to success is pronunciation. Click on the buttons below, to hear the correct pronunciation; repeat the phrases until you are happy that you have got the pronunciation correct - and then try them out on a Breton speaker!
Mont a ra?
Mat-tre, ha ganit?
Mat eo.
Click on the play button to hear the pronunciation - in each case it is repeated 3 times, with enough time between repetions for you to practice the phrase yourself.
If the play buttons don't work on your browser, try clicking the links below to hear the files:
Note 2nd February 2011: If this lesson proves to be a success, more phrases, vocubulary, grammar, etc. will be added on a weekly basis.
Thanks to Rafael Urien for the pronunciation and for help with all aspects of the Breton on this course.