Page:Aids to the Pronunciation of Irish - Christian Brothers.djvu/20

 to proceed from the known to the unknown, but it must be remembered that there is scarcely a single consonant or vowel sound in Irish that is identical with the corresponding consonant or vowel sound in English.

11. (a) (long). This vowel is called the first or low vowel. In producing this vowel sound the mouth is opened wide (but the opening between the lips is not so round, the lips being more drawn to the sides for the production of than for the “a” in the English word “fall”). The back of the tongue is slightly arched towards the soft palate, and slopes down in front towards the teeth, whilst the point of the tongue is just below the lower teeth (Fig. I.) Plate II.

(b) (short). This vowel has the short sound of, the mouth and tongue assuming the same positions for both. It is only when under the tonic accent that a (short) gets this sound.

In Ulster is pronounced like the “a” in the English words “tar,” “far” &c, and is pronounced like the “a” in “fat” “ram” &c. (Craig.)

(c) All the short vowels In Irish when stressed (i.e., under the tonic accent) get the short sound of the