Tip of the Week 34

Feminine first names are much easier to deal with.
The rule is that they lenite if possible, but do not change at all in form. Here are some Examples. . As before, the pronunciation guide is:
 
ch - always as in 'loch'
tch - always as in 'church'
uh - a very short sound
gh - as described in Tip of the Week 31 The vocative Case 1.
 
Previous Tips of the Week are to be seen, courtesy of George Seto, at http://www.geocities.com/george_seto.geo/tip_o_wk.htm
 
Beathag (pron. either beh-hak or beh-ak) = Betty
a Bheathag (pron. uh veh-hak/uh veh-ak)
 
Barabal (pron. ba-ra-bul) = Barbara
a Bharabal (pron. uh va-ra-bul)
 
Cairistìona (pron. karis-tchee-unna) = Christine, Christina, Kirsty
a Chairistìona (pron. uh charis-tchee-unna)
 
Catrìona (pron. katree-unna) = Catherine, Katrina etc.
a Chatrìona (pron. uh chatree-unna)
 
Sìne (pron. sheenuh) = Jean, Jane
a Shìne (pron. uh heenuh)
 
Fionnghal (pron. f-yoon-ughal) = Flora
Fhionnghal (pron. yoon-ughal
 
Note that Flòraidh, a Fhlòraidh (pron. flawree, lawree) is also found for Flora.
 
Note also that the 'a' disappears before 'Fhionnghal' because the 'f' is followed by a vowel, while it remains before 'Flòraidh' because the 'f' is followed by a consonant. ('f' becomes silent when lenited except in a very few words).
 
More next time.
 
Cailean
Am Marcair Dubh
Is i a' Ghàidhlig Cànan mo Dhùthcha.
 
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