Elements of Gaelic Grammar - Alexander Stewart

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      2. Like (1) i: long, as, iodhol an idol; short, as, crios a girdle, biorach pointed.

      After a Lingual or a Palatal, not quiescent, the i sometimes loses its sound, and only qualifies that of the preceding consonant; hence,

      3. Like u in fun, short and obscure: as, cionta guilt, tiondadh to turn.

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      The sound of iu is either made up of the sound of both the vowels, or like u alone.

      1. Made up of (1) i and (1) u: i short, u long, as, fiù worthy; u short, as, iuchair a key.

      After a Lingual or a Palatal, not quiescent, the i loses its sound, and only qualifies that of the preceding consonant; hence,

      2. Like (1) u: long, as, diù worst part, refuse; short, as, tiugh thick, giuthas fir.

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      The sound of oi is either made up of the sounds of both the vowels, or like that of o alone.

      1. Made up of (1) o and (1) i: o long, i short, as, òigh a virgin; o short, as, troidh a foot.

      2. Made up of (3) o and (1) i: o long, i short, as, oidhche night.

      Before a Lingual or a Palatal, not quiescent, the i loses its sound, and only qualifies that of the following consonant; hence,

      3. Like (1) o long: as, mòid more; short, as, toic wealth.

      4. Like (2) o long: as, fòid a turf; short, as, fois rest.

      5. Like (3) o short; as, coileach a cock, doire a wood.

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      The sound of ua is made up of the sounds of both the vowels.

      1. Made up of (1) u and (1) a, equally long; as, cuan the sea, fuar cold.

      2. Made up of (1) u and (2) a; as, tuadh a hatchet, sluagh people.

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      The sound of ui is either made up of the sounds of both the vowels, or like that of u alone.

      1. Made up of (1) u and (1) i: u long, i short, as, suigheag a rasp-berry; u short, as, buidheann a company.

      Before a Lingual or a Palatal, not quiescent, the i loses its sound, and only qualifies that of the following consonant; hence,

      2. Like (1) u long: as, dùil expectation, cùig five; short, as, fuil blood, muir the sea.

      OF THE TRIPHTHONGS.

      There are five Triphthongs, in each of which i is the last letter: aoi, eoi, iai, iui, uai. In these the two first vowels have the same sounds and powers as when they form a diphthong. The final i is sounded short; but before a Palatal or a Lingual, not quiescent, it loses its sound, and only qualifies that of the following consonant.

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      1. Made up of ao and (1) i; as, caoidh lamentation, aoibhneas joy, laoigh calves.

      2. Like ao; as, caoineadh wailing, maoile baldness.

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      1. Made up of (2) eo and (1) i; as, geoigh geese.

      2. Like (1) eo; as, meoir fingers.

      3. Like (2) eo; as, deoir tears, treoir ability.

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      1. Like (1) ia; as, fiaire more awry.

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      1. Like (2) iu; as, ciùil of music, fliuiche more wet.

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      1. Made up of (1) ua and (1) i; as, luaithe quicker.

      2. Made up of (2) ua and (1) i; as, cruaidh hard, fuaim sound.

      3. Like (1) ua; as, uair time, an hour, cluaise of an ear.

      OF THE POWERS OF THE CONSONANTS.

      The simple powers of the consonants differ not much from their powers in English. Those called mediae by the writers on Greek grammar, viz., b, d, g, approach nearer in force to the corresponding tenues p, t, c, than they do in English.

      In accented syllables, where, if the vocal sound be short, the voice necessarily rests on the subsequent articulation, the consonants, though written single, are pronounced with the same degree of force as when written double in English; as, bradan a salmon, cos a foot; pronounced braddan, coss. No consonants are written double except l, n, r.

      A propensity to aspiration is a conspicuous feature in the Gaelic tongue[10]. The aspirating of a consonant has been usually marked, in the Irish dialect, by a dot over the letter aspirated; in the Scottish dialect by writing h after it. All the consonants have their sounds changed by being aspirated, and the effect is different on different consonants. In some cases the articulation is changed, but still formed by the same organ. In others the articulation is formed by a different organ. In others the h alone retains its power. And sometimes both the h and the consonant to which it is subjoined become entirely quiescent.

      In treating of the consonants separately, it will be convenient to depart a little from the alphabetical order of the letters, and to consider first the Labials, next the Palatals, and lastly the Linguals.

      LABIALS.

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