Hew Morrison Collection > Adhamh agus Eubh, no Craobh Sheanachais nan Gàël

220 HISTORy OF THE
CHAPTER X.
Of the Character R.
Power : Ar, Er, Ir, Or ; or othenvise, Ra, Re,
Ri, Ro.
Of all the roots in our alphabet, the sign R pre-
sents, perhaps, the most numerous oflFspring. Its
hieroglyphic is a star, a circle, or a round tower;
and its power, Uke all the rest, syllabic and vari-
able. It is naturally expressive of any rough,
gra\xng sound, but more especially of vibration ;
consequently, whether you put the syllabic power
before or after it, you require to make the tongue
vibrate against the upper gum in pronouncing it.
Let us now try the theory of " Ag, Bag, Dag,"
&c., and our own principle, namely, of language
being based in Nature. First, then, let us put
our own principle to the test. Ran, the grating,
vibratory sound produced by a tree in breaking,
by an oar in rowing, (whence ramh, an oar,) by
the hinges of a door; ("thoisich na gaid-chuil ri
ranich,") or by an infant in great pain.
Achariot in rapid motioncauseth vibration; and
hence carXmd, a chariot; roh, a wheel; and by