the long sounds of those diphthongs, which may be sometimes short. This sign is not intended to mark the syllable on which the stress of the voice falls.
13. In simple words of two syllables the tonic accent is usually upon the first syllable, as agus (óg-us), and; Úna (oón-a), Una: but in derived words of two or more syllables the accented syllable varies in the different provinces.
In Munster the accent falls on the termination or second syllable; in Connaught it falls on the first syllable, or root; in Ulster the accent falls on the first syllable, as in Connaught, but the termination is unduly shortened. For instance, the word casán, a path, is pronounced kos-aún in Munster, kós-aun in Connaught, and kós-ăn in Ulster.
The Obscure Vowel Sounds.
Whenever a vowel has neither a tonic nor a written accent, it has so transient and indistinct a pronunciation that it is difficult to distinguish one broad or one slender vowel from another; hence in ancient writings we find vowels substituted for each other indiscriminately: e.g., the word slánuiġṫe, saved, is frequently spelled slánaiġṫe, slánoiġṫe, slánuiġṫi.
14. Words distinguished by their accent.
| áit, a place. | ait, funny, peculiar (what one likes or wishes). |
| ár, our; slaughter. | ar, on; says. |
