Blair Collection > Elements of Gaelic grammar

•6 or PRONUNCIATION [Part I.
Ai.
The found of ai is either made up of the founds of both
the vowels, or like that of the former.
1 . Made up of ( i ^ a and ( i ) i : the a long, the i fliort ;
as ' f aidh' a prophet ; the a flaort, the i Ihort ; as * claidh-
eamh' a fiuord.
2. Made up of (2) a and (i) i ; the a long, the i fhort j
as * faighde' arroivs.
Before a Lingual or a Palatal, not quiefcent, the i oftea
lofes its found, and only ferves to qualify the found of the
following confonant (g). Hence,
3. Like (i) « alone; long; as ' faifg' fqiieeze, * failte'
falutatiofi : lliort ; as ' glaic' a hollow, ' tais'^c/?.
4. Like (2) « alone : fhort j as ' airm' armsy ' gairm' a
call,
Ac.
I. The found of ao Is like (2) a: long, as ' caora' «
Jijeepy * faobhar' the edge of a tool, * faothalr labour.
Ea
The found of ea is either made up of the founds of both
the vowels, or like that of one of them.
1. Made up of (2) e and (i) di ; e very fhort, a long ;
as * beann' a Jummit, pitwacle, * feall' deceit : a fliort ; as
' meal' to enjoy ^ * fpeaf afcythe.
Before a Lingual or a Palatal, not quiefcent, the a fre-
quently lofes its found, and only qualifies that of the fol-
lowing confonant. Hence,
2. Like ( 1 ) e : long, as * dean' do ; fhort, as ' fear' a
Plan, * bean' a ivomatu
3. Like
* laetV •, but it is doubtful how far this is a proper mode of
writing it.
(g^ The effect of the Vowels in qualifying the sound of the
adjoining Consonants will be explained in treating of the Palatals
and Linguals.