Gaelic pronounciation (?)

**Tommy Hunt** · 5th April 09, 06:15 PM

Anyone know the Gaelic pronounciation of Aeslinn or Aeslin. I believe I know how the proper pronounciation of Aislinn (AHSH-liñ) but I'm not certain about Aeslinn.

Thanks guys.

**slohairt** · 5th April 09, 07:20 PM

Aeslinn or Aeslin would be pronounced AYSH-LIN.

Aislinn, the woman's name is pronounced ASH-LIN.

**Tommy Hunt** · 5th April 09, 08:46 PM

Originally Posted by slohairt

Aeslinn or Aeslin would be pronounced AYSH-LIN.

Aislinn, the woman's name is pronounced ASH-LIN.

Thanks Slohairt. What I'm getting from this site is the same I believe ~ AEE-SHlin (?):
http://www.standingstones.com/gaelpron.html#Vow

Also any idea the meaning of Aeslinn? I understand Aislinn means 'dream'. They might be the same. I hope they are.

**slohairt** · 5th April 09, 09:35 PM

More or less. The 'Ay' sound would be like 'tray' or 'day'.

You're right, Aislinn (or Aisling as it is more commonly spelled) does mean 'dream' or 'vision.'

The 'ae' combination doesn't actually occur much in Irish. It's used in the words Gael or Gaeilge (Irish language), but those are modern contractions of Gaidheal and Gaidhilge. Anyway, my guess is that Aeslinn is probably just some spelling variant of Aislinn/Aisling that someone came up with. Or possibly a simple spelling mistake.

**Tommy Hunt** · 5th April 09, 10:33 PM

Could the ae spelling be old English? I'm looking at aelfen for elfen, aelf for elf etc. and faerie for fairy.

**slohairt** · 6th April 09, 06:53 AM

I doubt it. I still think it's probably a variant of Aisling. I forgot to mention earlier that 'Ae' also occurs in Anglicisations of Irish words. For example, the Irish word maol meaning 'servant' is often Anglicised as 'mael'.

**Tommy Hunt** · 6th April 09, 10:55 AM

Originally Posted by slohairt

I doubt it. I still think it's probably a variant of Aisling. I forgot to mention earlier that 'Ae' also occurs in Anglicisations of Irish words. For example, the Irish word maol meaning 'servant' is often Anglicised as 'mael'.

I wonder why that is. Pronounciation?

Anyway I went with Aisling for my elf story. It's simple and I love it's meaning.

**slohairt** · 6th April 09, 06:59 PM

Yes, the vowel combination 'ao' is pronounced as 'ay' much like 'ae' is.

Aisling was also a poetic genre developed by Aodhagán Ó Rathaille, considered by many to be the last Irish bard.

**Tommy Hunt** · 6th April 09, 07:27 PM

Originally Posted by slohairt

Yes, the vowel combination 'ao' is pronounced as 'ay' much like 'ae' is.

Aisling was also a poetic genre developed by Aodhagán Ó Rathaille, considered by many to be the last Irish bard.

Well this is all very interesting because in my story Aisling is home to elves and in the first story this homeland is fiercely defended. I never knew about the aisling genre. Wow.