Page:Graimear na Gaedhilge.djvu/21

Rh thicker sound than in English; e.g. broad has nearly the sound of th in thy, i.e. d + h;  broad has nearly the sound of th in threw, &c. When slender the Irish consonants (except ) have somewhat the same sound as in English; but when they are followed by a slenderbroad [sic] vowel, they are pronounced somewhat like the corresponding English consonant followed immediately by a y, e.g. (music) is pronounced k' yōl;  (alive) = b'yō.

It must not, however, be understood that there is a "y sound" in the Irish consonant. The peculiar sound of the Irish consonants when followed by a slenderbroad [sic] vowel is fairly well represented by the corresponding English consonant + an English "y sound." In some parts of the country this "y sound" is not heard. The y is only suggestive, and is never heard as a distinct sound.

Combination of the Consonants.

There are certain Irish consonants which, when they come together in the same word, do not coalesce, so that when they are uttered a very short obscure vowel sound is heard between them.

This generally occurs in the case of two liquids or a liquid and a mute. Thus (dumb) is pronounced boll-ŭv ;  (a child) is lyan-ŭv;  (dark) is dhur-ŭchŭ;  (a market) is mor-ŭgu.

The following combinations do not coalesce:, , , , , , , , , , , , ,.