4
| eái | = | aa+ĭ | caisleáin (kosh-laain) = castles. |
| iai[1] | = | eea+ĭ | liaiġ (lee-ĭh) = a physician. |
| uai[2] | = | oo+ĭ | fuair (foo-ĭr) = found. |
| iui | = | ew+i | ciuin (kew+ĭn) = calm. |
The Consonants.
6. The consonants are usually divided into two classes.
- (1) The liquids—l, m, n, r.
- (2) The mutes—b, c, d, f, g, p, s, t.
The letter h is not given, for h is not usually recognised as an Irish letter. It can be used only as a sign of aspiration, or at the beginning of a word, to separate two vowels sounds.
Some grammarians divide the consonants into labials, dentals, palatals, gutturals, sibilants, &c., according to the organs employed in producing the sound.
7. Every Irish consonant has two natural[3] sounds, according as it is broad or slender.
An Irish consonant is broad whenever it immediately precedes or follows a broad vowel (a, o, u) An Irish consonant is slender whenever it immediately precedes or follows a slender vowel (e, i).
8. The Irish consonants, when broad, have a much
- ↑ Pronounced like ille in the French word fille.
- ↑ It cannot be properly represented by any English sound. It is somewhat like oue in the French word ouest.
- ↑ Other sounds will be treated of under the heading "Aspiration."
