Page:Aids to the Pronunciation of Irish - Christian Brothers.djvu/24

 (f) (long). This is the or   vowel. The back of the tongue is arched up very much towards the soft palate, but at the same time the passage between the tongue and palate must be wide enough to prevent audible friction. The point of the tongue is drawn back as far as possible, but is nevertheless close to the bottom of the mouth. The lips are brought much closer together than for, and are protruded as far as possible (Fig. III.).

(g) (short). When accented this vowel gets the short sound of. This sound corresponds fairly with the “u” in the English words “bull;” “pull,” “full.”

(h) When unstressed the three vowels have the same sound. This sound resembles the irrational sound of “o” in the words “conceive” “commence” “continue” or the second “o” in “doctor.”

(i) As the three vowels when unstressed have the same sound we frequently meet with variant spellings, such as—; &c.

12. (a) ā (long). There is not in the Irish alphabet a distinct character to represent the first or low vowel sound. The sound of this vowel is heard in the “a” of the words “Maggie,” “father,” “rather,” “farther” (i.e., in the low flat sound given to these words by country people in the south of Ireland). In the production of this sound the point of the tongue is pressed firmly against the lower teeth, the centre of the tongue is slightly arched towards the front portion of