Date: Mon, 23 Oct 2000 18:56:36 +0100
From: Colin Mark <[email protected]>
Subject: Tip of the Week 30 - Final *n* prevents lenition of a following dental, liquid or s (sometimes!)
Tip of the Week 30
In Calder's Grammar ** we find the following:
P20 #4. Final *n* prevents aspiration of a following dental, liquid or s:
(d,t,n,l,r,s) e.g.
sean sluagh - old people
Note that the term 'aspiration' has now been replaced by 'lenition'.
Now, while this still holds true to some extent, it is a rule which has long
been going into decline.
So, what is the present position?
Where it would have been proper to write *is urrainn domh* - and the late
Eilidh Watt (who died only a few years ago) did this regularly - you are now
far more likely to see *is urrainn dhomh*. Using the same author as an
example, she wrote a short story called *Latha a' Choin Duibh* (The Black
Dog's Day). A younger writer would more likely have called it *Latha a'
Choin Dhuibh*
You are far more likely to encounter *Chunnaic mi nighean dhonn
bhòicheach an-diugh.* I met a pretty, brown-haired lass today. than
*nighean donn* etc.
We are also more likely to encounter *móran dhaoine* than
*móran daoine*
*Sean*, however, appears to adhere closely to the old rule
e.g.
*seann taigh* old house (the origin of the word *shanty*
apparently)
*seann saighdear* an old soldier
*an seann dachaigh* their old home
*seann daoine* old people
Note that, when *sean* precedes a noun, it is more usually spelt
(and pronounced) *seann*
** Note for newcomers. Don't get too excited by the mention of Calder's
Gaelic Grammar. It is primarily intended for University students and is of
very little use to beginners.
Cailean
Am Marcair Dubh
Is i a' Ghàidhlig Cànan mo Dhùthcha.
URL: http://www.gaeldesign.com/colinmark
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