Blair Collection > Elements of Gaelic grammar

Part I.] AND ORTHOGRAPHY. 7
3. Like (2) e: long, as ' eaflan'j'/ti; fliort, as * feaci'
ivhi/ile.
After a Lingual or a Palatal, not quiefcent, the e lofes
Its found, and only qualifies that of the preceding confo-
nant ; hence,
4. Like ( 1 ) a : long, as ' ceard' an artificer ; fhort, as
' geal' white.
5. Like (3) a : fhort, as * itheadh' eating, ' coireach'
faulty*
Er.
The found of ei is either made up of the founds of both
the vowels, or like that of e alone.
1 . Made up of (i )' <? and ( » ) i : e long, i fliort, as ' fgeimh'
beauty ; e fliort, as ' meidh a balance.
2. Made up of (2) e and (l) ^ •' ^ ^o^^g;) ^ fliort, as ' feidh'
deer ; e fliort, as * greigh' a herd^Jiud,
Before a Lingual or a Palatal, not quiefcent, the i lofes
its found, and only qualifies that of the following confonant j
hence,
3. Like (i) ^ alone ; long, as ' meife' of a plate,
4. Like (2) ^ alone: long, as eigin' neceffity -, fhort, as
* eich' horfes.
Eo.
The found of co is either made up of the founds of both
Towels, or like that of alone.
1. Made up of (2) e and (i) 0: ^ very fliort, long, as
' beo ali'ue^ ^ eolas hnoivledge ; fliort, as ' beothaif lively.
After a Lingual or a Palatal, not quiefcent, the e lofes its
found, and only qualifies that of the preceding confonant ;
hence,
2. Like (l) 0; long, as * leomhann « /ic?« j fliort, as
* deoch' drink.
Eu.
The found of eu is like (2) ^ alone ; long, as ' teum' to
bite, ' gleus' trim, enter tainwent.