Intense debate on Cerys Matthews' radio show this morning about how to pronounce Samhain. Some said it was "Sa-win", others "Sa-wain", but nobody pronounces it phonetically.
It seems to me that since the words originated in Celtic script, they should use a phonetic spelling (to make it easy to learn). Whoever came up with the Celtic translation to Western lettering (Latin alphabet) needs to have their grave danced upon.As a mebyon kernow, I gather that the Cornish pronunciation is sa-win.
But, as with all celtic languages, the pronunciation is always significantly divorced from the spelling (which I suppose ought to be in some runic or ogham script).
It seems to me that since the words originated in Celtic script, they should use a phonetic spelling (to make it easy to learn). Whoever came up with the Celtic translation to Western lettering (Latin alphabet) needs to have their grave danced upon.
I pronounce it sow-in. That's Munster dialect Gaeilge.
I pronounce it like you.I've heard sow-en and tend to pronounce it that way.