13. Rule for Spelling; Aspiration

Rule for Spelling

In words of more than one syllable, the last vowel of the first syllable, and the first vowel of the next syllable must be of the same quality; i.e., if the last vowel of a syllable be broad, the first vowel of the next syllable must be be broad also; but if small, a small vowel follows.

According to this rule, a broad or small vowel is introduced, as the case may be, although it serves no purpose in respect of derivation or pronunciation. Thus sgeirean is the plural of sgeir! an is the plural termination, and the introduction of the e makes no difference in the sound, but is inserted in conformity with the above rule.

Aspiration

Aspiration takes place under the following conditions:

  1. After the possessive pronouns mo, my; do, thy: a, his; e.g., mo bhròg; do chù; a cheann.
  2. After the prepositions do, to; fo, under; bho, o, from; mar, like; triomh, through; roimh, before; de, of; mu, about; gun, without.
  3. After the intensive particles fìor, ro, glé, sàr, very. E.G. Glan, clean; glé ghlan, very clean.
  4. After the numerals aon, one; dà, two; an ceud, a' cheud, the first. E.G. Fear, man; gille, a lad; but, aon fhear; dà ghille.
  5. After the article a'; and after 'n before b,c,f,g,m,p. An aspirates f, if the noun is feminine; as, fras, a shower; an fras, the shower.
  6. In compound words the first consonant of the second word of the compound is aspirated, if the first part of the compound word be a feminine noun. E.G. fraoch, heather; cearc, hen; give us, cearc-fhraoich, a moor-hen.
  7. The initial consonant of the noun is aspirated when preceded by an adjective. E.G. From, droch, bad; and, duine, man; we have, droch dhuine.
  8. An adjective qualifying a feminine noun is aspirated in the Nominative and Dative singular. Bean mhór; leis a' chaileig bhig (with the little girl).
  9. An adjective qualifying a noun whose Genitive singular is like the Nominative plural, is aspirated in the Nominative plural. E.G. dorus, Gen. Sing., doruis; Plur, doruis; hence, doruis mhóra, big doors.
  10. The Vocative-singular and plural-of nouns of both genders; from gille, a lad, Sing. A Ghille! Plur. A Ghillean!
  11. The verb is aspirated after the particles ma, if; cha, not (except d,t, which take both forms); relative a; conjunction ged and the infinitive of the verb after the particle a: the past tense Indicative and past Subjunctive of the verb are aspirated.
  12. The initial of words not beginning with d, t, is aspirated after bu. E.G. Bu cheart dhuit, it was right for you; but, bu dual dhuit; literally, (it was hereditary to you), i.e., just like you (and your folk).
  13. Initial consonants after the article are aspirated in the Genitive singular masculine, Nominative singular feminine, and Dative singular masculine and feminine, except d,t,s.
1996-01-15 CPD