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EXERCISE IX.
We now come to the pronunciation of the vowels.
§ 74. In Ulster the vowels a and o are sounded peculiarly, thus:—
| á | is sounded like | aa | in phonetic key |
| a | „„ | a | „„ |
| ó | „„ | au | „„ |
| ó | „„ | o | „„ |
Examples:
Bád (baadh), mála (maal′-ă), glas (glos), asal (as′ăl), óg (aug), fós (faus), doras (dhor′-ăs), gort (gorth).
| The | Is pronounced in | |||
| Word | Meaning | Conn. | Munster | Ulster |
| árdán | hill | aurdh′-aun | aurdh-aun′ | aardh′-an |
| mórán | much | mо̄r′-aun | mо̄r-aun′ | mо̄r′-an |
| ordóg | thumb | ŭrdh′-о̄g | ŭrdh-о̄g′ | ordh′-og |
| cillín | little church | kil′-een | kil-een′ | kil′-in |
§ 75. Pronunciation of the Vowels in Munster.
In Munster the vowels in words of two or more syllablcs are pronounced regularly; as, falla (foL′-ă) capall (kop′-ăL), ime (im′-ĕ), of butter. It is only in monosyllables (and, to a very slight extent, in words formed from these monosyllables) that any irregularity of pronunciation occurs. The irregularity consists in the fact, that in monosyllables containing a, i,
