Blair Collection > Elements of Gaelic grammar

Part I.] AND OIITIIOGRAPHY. 19
Of L, N, R.
A dlftin(5i:ion between a confonant when plain ^ and the
fame confoniint when a/pirated, has been eaflly traced thus
far. This diftin6tion readily difcovers idelf, not only in
the pronunciation and orthography, but alfo (as will be
feen in its proper place) throughout the fyilem of inflexion.
It takes place uniformly in thofe confonants which have
been already conlldered. With refpedl tr the remaining
hnguals, /, «, r, a correfponding dili:in<5lion will be found
to take place in their pronunciation, and likewife in the
charges they fufFer by infledlion. This clofe correfpondence
between the changes incident to l, n, r, and the changes
which the other confonants undergo, feems to be a fufficient
reafon for fìiU ufing the fame difcriminative terms in treat-
ing of their powers ; though thefe terms may not appear to
be fo ftri(Stly applicable to thefe three confonants as to the
reft. The powers of/, n, r, fhall accordingly be explained
tinder the diviflons plain and a/pirated, broad and /mall.
L.
1. Plain. Broad; has no found like it in Englifli *,' lorn'
bare, ' \zh\\2Ìiv /peak, " mall'T^ow, ' alt' zjoi/iif * aid' a brookf
* flat' a rody ' dlu' near.
2. Small: like // in million ,- as ' linn' an age, ' Viotl fll,
* piir to return, * flighe' a way
3. Afpirated. Broad : like / in loom^ fool ; as ' labhair'
fpokcy ' lorn' feminine of * lorn' bare, * mol' to praife, ' dhlu*
feminine of * dlù' near.
4. hmall : nearly like / in limb, Jill; as * a linn' his age,
' Vxqvl Jilled, * mil' honey, * dligheach' due, lawful,
N.
1 . Plain. Broad; has no found like it in Englifh j * nuadh'
neiVy * naifg* bind, * lann' a blade, * cam' a heap ofjiones,
2. Small : like n in the fecond fyllable of opinion ,- as
* nigh' wq/h, ' binn' melodious, * cuirn' heaps ofjiones.
3. Afpirated.