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

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1. Approximation of the assimilating consonants: —
-n- of the Art. §87 becomes -m- before labials and is as-
similated and disappears before aspirates except
-fh- §89
An is still used before aspirates in Uist, an chàisg f. Easter.
-n- of an as a Rel. Pro. §115; §116, 2: as Interrogative
Proclitic §144 ; as a Conjunction, gu'n §145, 1, mu'n
§219, na'n §145, 5 becomes -m- before labials. Proclitic
agus is reduced to 'gus, a's, is, 's ; an do becomes na :
Far na dh'àraicheadh na gaisgich— I-FAere the heroes were
reared: — C.R. v. 85
do is scarcely heard before the verb in : gu'n ghabh
mi — that I took
cha not, before vowels cha n- : O.G. ni co n- ;
The -n- is assimilated before consonants, except -t- which it
eclipses § 144, 3 ; and f which it aspirates § 16, 5
cha tug e, he did not give — often misspelt cha d'thug e
§13, 3
mur unless : O.G. manip § 145, 4
nic grand-daughter : nighean mhic
2. Identity of the assimilating consonants, to take only recent
examples § 13 II. :
colainn f. body g.s. colna, coUa
cosmhuil like : con-samhuil, L. similis
eugsamhuil unlike : an-con-samhuil
aotrom light : an-trom § 150, 5
cothrom equilibrium : com-trom
cumail f. keeping : congbhail f., v. n. of con-gab
Sasunn England : Sasgun Saxon : — D. Ban
20, 13
coslach like, colsach § 11, coltach, coUach
§64
§62
§9. DISSIMILATION.
1. Dissimilation of joined consonants :
ceirsle, ceirtle f. clew : ceircle, L. circul-us
arsa for alsa : O.G. olse
curta E. curst