[StGeorge]

Originally Posted by Jessica.

German pronunciation is not that much similar to English at all, I studied German for five years and almost every letter of the German alphabet has a different sound to the same letter in English.

Irish is a language too, there are lots of Irish names, it might be a bit difficult to know them first go but it's not an impossible task. Irish has a different alphabet with ten vowels, many of the letters are pronounced differently to in English like in any language, it's not that difficult.

I get what your saying Jessica, but if i read German out of a book, my pronunciation is very near spot on....except for the V and W type mix. So with the recognised (usually) mix of V and W, it can generally be accepted that WHAT is pronounced VOT for example.
I know the rule in language translation is not an exact science, but how some rules are translated confuses me. My missus is Thai and trust me..trying to work out the pronunciation of their language..when the letters are there in front of me..is a head-banger.