Matheson Collection > Gaelic grammar, containing the parts of speech and the general principles of phonology and etymology, with a chapter on proper and place names

153
Baptismal. Popular. Alternative.
Succat Patricius Cothraige
MacCalphtiirn
Magonius
Molemnach
Examples of honorific vowel suffixes :
-a- Barr-a (Island of)
-o- Moli-o (Blackwaterfoot)
-u- Munn-u (St. Miinn)
-e- Barr-e, Dolais-e
-i- Brig-i (Brigit, mo Brigi; — Hy. v. 99), Mo-ninn-i
(Ninian), Kinglas-i
3. Along with these suffixes, prefixes of endearment are used,
i.e. the 1st and 2nd sing, possessive pronouns mo (also ma, mi)
my, do (also da, de) thy (to, t', before vowels or under the accent,
§121, 2) following a locative case of baile, ceall, ceann, dun, eaglais,
teampiil etc., §7 iv., such prefixes one or more are generally used
with the suffix of endearment §7 iv.
St. Earn is styled Mo-Earn-oc — Marnock
T'Eam, Bennchar-t-Earn-an — Banchory Ternan
The pet name may be an entirely different word, recalling
some incident of the Saint's history, e.g. Calumcille — the dove of
the church.
4. The stress seldom rests (except by elision) on the possessive
or other prefix, but almost always on the first syllable of the
stem of the baptismal name or of the pet name. Occasionally it
rests upon the affix — e.g. Kill-mo- Aed-oc — Kilmadock (Doune)
§ 7 ii. 3
5. Unstressed pretonic syllables are sometimes dropped :
(Ecc)Lesmahago Lesmahago, v. Cutus § 112, 9
(Ei) Lean-mo-Lais Lamlash
(I)renaeus Rinnieshill, Kilrenny (Fife)
(Mur)Dockie's Chapel (Monifieth)
Many instances occur of
(1) Assimilation : Maelrubha Maree
(2) Nasahsation : Moness (Aberfeldy) : Bun-ess §16, 4
(3) Denasalisation : Poll-ma-di (Ninian), §112,9