Page:Graimear na Gaedhilge.djvu/20

Rh {|
 * width=60pt |
 * width=30pt | =
 * width=60pt | aa+ĭ
 * width=300pt | (kosh-laain) = castles.
 * || = || eea+ĭ || (lee-ĭh) = a physician.
 * || = || oo+ĭ || (foo-ĭr) = found.
 * || = || ew+i || (kew+ĭn) = calm.
 * }
 * || = || ew+i || (kew+ĭn) = calm.
 * }
 * }

The Consonants. The consonants are usually divided into two classes.


 * (1) The liquids—,, ,.
 * (2) The mutes—,, , , , , ,.

The letter is not given, for  is not usually recognised as an Irish letter. It can be used only as a sign of aspiration, or at the beginning of a word, to separate two vowels sounds.

Some grammarians divide the consonants into labials, dentals, palatals, gutturals, sibilants, &c., according to the organs employed in producing the sound.

Every Irish consonant has two natural sounds, according as it is broad or slender.

An Irish consonant is broad whenever it immediately precedes or follows a broad vowel An Irish consonant is slender whenever it immediately precedes or follows a slender vowel.

The Irish consonants, when broad, have a much