Page:A contribution to the phonology of Desi-Irish to serve as an introduction to the metrical system of Munster Poetry (IA contributiontoph00henerich).pdf/20

 § 4,1. au. This diphthong, which is produced in the accented position by the nasal mh surrounded by a vowels, or by the influence of double liquids (except r which caused lengthening) under the conditions set forth in the examples hereunder given, is of a strongly nasal character. It accompanies broad consonants and supplants all short root vowels except o ). From the fact that ball and ceann show this sound as well as samha ꜱau, where its origin from a nasal is pretty clear (the mh being in fact an anusvâra sign), one may consider that a parasitic vowel developed nasal timbre before broad liquids and umlauted the root vowel to au. Whatever the order of the process the result from mh and double liquids is the same to-day. Hence it is found convenient to speak of an anusvâra developed by double liquids. So also where w and y are spoken of as developed by liquids there is merely question of identity of results, that is to say, liquids have behaved towards root vowels in the same way that has been observed in the case of w and y. The addition of a vowel even of a svarabhakti resolves an auslaut double group into elements belonging to separate syllables, such an anusváraanusvâra [sic] is not induced, and the original sound is retained. A liquid in inlaut in position produces an insoluble anusvâra. The groups producing the au diphthong are written thus: -ng, ll, nn, m=mm and amha in auslaut, -nd-, -nl-, -bhr-, -mhr-, -mhn- in inlaut. In all those cases au takes the place of the root vowel. long, drong and Conn(?) through influence of the guttural nasal make au though belonging to the ou diphthong.

Note. From the fact that an addition breaks up a heavy liquid group there arises the phenomenon of many words having a long vowel or diphthong as monosyllables but showing a short vowel i. e. preserving the original length as dissyllables. snaidm ꜱɴim, pl. ꜱɴȧᴍɴ′ə, as if from snam-mana, greimm gr′îm,