Page:Aids to the Pronunciation of Irish - Christian Brothers.djvu/100

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84

NG.

132. As already explained the combination ng in such words long, ling, seang, &c, is a simple consonantal sound, and should therefore be represented by a single character. In the following words, however, ng does not get its ordinary sound:—ṫángas (=ṫánas in Munster, ṫánagas in Connaught); iongna (M. = úna, C.=íona); iongantas (M.=úntas, C.= íontas); iongantaċ (M.=úntaċ) C.=íontaċ); fairsing (Des.=farseag or fairsing); congnaṁ (=cúnaṁ); congantaċ (=cúntaċ); tarraing (Des.=tarrag, tarrac); áṫċuingim (=aṫċuiním); túirling (Des.=túirlig).

133. In Ulster when a word ends in “n” and the following word begins with d, the d is pronounced n.

aon duine is pronounced aon nuine
sean-duine sean-nuine
aon deor aon neor

sc, sp, and st.

134. C, p, and t are always voiced (i.e., are pronounced g, b, d) after s, except when they are final. The student may convince himself of this by placing the forefinger on the pharynx while pronouncing such words as:—scéal, stól, sparán, &c, or the words school (sgúl), speak (sbíc), &c. The vocal chords will be felt to vibrate for the consonant after s.

As, however, sc, sp, st is the usual[1] spelling, as no


  1. Except in the case of sg, which for some time has been the accepted spelling. As, however, sd and sb have never bean usual it is illogical to insist on retaining sg, while rejecting sb and sd.