Page:Simple Lessons in Irish, Part 1 - O'Growney.pdf/6

 § 2. These eighteen letters are the only characters needed in writing Irish words. It will be noticed that the Irish corresponds to the English “k,” as it is never soft as c is in the word “cell,” but always hard as in “cold,” or like k in “kill.” Similarly, is never soft, as g in gem, gaol; but hard, as in rag, get, goal.

§ 3. It will also be noticed that these letters differ but little from the ordinary Roman letters which we use in printing or writing English. The Irish forms of the letters, are often used in ornamental English lettering. The only letters which present any difficulty are the small letters, r, and , s; the student who can distinguish these from each other has mastered the Irish alphabet. This so-called “Irish Alphabet” is not of Irish origin; it was taught to the Irish by the early Christian missionaries who came from the Continent in the fifth and sixth centuries of the Christian era. The letters are thus of the same form as the letters then used on the Continent for writing Latin and Greek.

§ 4. The forms of the Irish letters used in writing do not differ from those used in printing. Irish copy-books can be procured of the Dublin booksellers.

§ 5. The letters are divided, as in other languages, into vowels and consonants. The vowels are The other letters are consonants.

§ 6. Each vowel has two sounds—a SHORT sound and a LONG sound. When a vowel has a mark over it, as, it is to be pronounced LONG. When the vowel has a SHORT sound, there is no mark.

§ 7. Vowels are also divided into two classes—the BROAD vowels, ; and the SLENDER vowels, This is an important division. The student is not to confound BROAD and LONG vowels; any of the three