Page:The ancient Irish epic tale, Táin bó Cúalnge (Dunn).djvu/417



It will simplify matters for the English reader if the following points respecting the pronunciation of proper names in medieval Irish, are borne in mind:

Each simple word is accented on the first syllable. Pronounce:

á (long), as in aught; a (short), as in hot.

c with slender vowels (e, i), as in king; never as s.

c with broad vowels (a, o, u), as in car; never as s.

ch with slender vowels (e, i), as in German Ich; never as in church.

ch with broad vowels (a, o, u), as in German Buch; never as in church.

d with slender vowels (e, i), as in French dieu.

d with broad vowels (a, o, u), as in thy.

é (long), as in ale; e (short), as in bet.

g with slender vowels (e, i), as in give; never as j.

g with broad vowels (a, o, u), as in go; never as j.

gh with slender vowels (e, i) is slender ch voiced.

gh with broad vowels (a, o, u) is broad ch voiced.

í (long), as in feel; i (short), as in it.

mh and bh intervocalic with slender vowels, as v.

mh and bh intervocalic with broad vowels, as w.

ó (long), as in note; o (short), as in done.

s with slender vowels (e, i), as in shine; never as z.

s with broad vowels (a, o, u), as s.

t with slender vowels (e, i), as in tin.

t with broad vowels (a, o, u), as in threw.

th, like h.

ú (long), as in pool; u (short), as in full.

The remaining consonants are pronounced almost as in English.

Ailè: north-east of Baile, on