Ossian Collection > Defence of the Scots Highlanders, in general; and some learned characters, in particular

( 48 )
J)oetrjr, renders the pronunciation lefs difr
tindt and marked, than happens in lefs har-
monious, and confequently, more barbarous
tongues. Some ignorant writers of the
Gaelic of late, it is true, biriftled over
theii* compofitions with too many confd^
nants ; but they are generally quiefcent iii
the beginning and end of words, and are
preferved only to mark the etymon.
' Yet ftill,' adds P. ' every name that is
' thought to fpring from the Celtic, may,
* with equal propriety, be applied to others ;
' and I fhall engage to derive them with
* equal fitnefs, from any tongue in the v*rorld,
' with the help of a didionary.' Fairly ven-
tured, let us hear him ! — ' Suppofe,' (conti-
nues he) ' we fhould take the SpsLmdifoNada^
' chanca & ardid iov a fpecimen, and apply
' them to names in the Highlands, Arguile-
' fhire ; take fofiachan ^ crdmaliiox inftance,
* which ftart firft to my eye, viz. fonada a
* tune, and chanca a jeft ; (fonadachanca^) a
* place where they ufed to fmg and play ;
' ardld^ a ftratagem, and mal., HI, where a
* confpiracy ag^inft Fingal was defeated.*
7 Where