Page:A contribution to the phonology of Desi-Irish to serve as an introduction to the metrical system of Munster Poetry (IA contributiontoph00henerich).pdf/19

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generally in Munster lengthening is found only after rr or r in position. fearr fāʀ, dóirse pl. of dorus. Diphthongization is a special Munster characteristic and each subdivision is distinguished by a particular table of those new sounds.

b) Of the consonant groups producing this change some are permanently heavy (inlaut position) some capable of being lightened by the addition of a suffix. Sometimes in composition the accession of au element with consonant initial constitutes a heavy group. Tein-loit tᴇinlot, or tᴇilot T. G. (if from teine and not teann), seandrui sauɴᴅʀi seandamh sauɴᴅǡᴠ, bainrioghan ʙaurīɴ (the writing bain- is only ornamental, the pronunciation comes from ban-) antoil auɴᴛḷ′ Denn, contabairt ᴋauɴᴛᴜʀᴛ P. Walsh song, (Irregular accentuation, usually ᴋɴ′ᴛurᴛ), aungur i buairt an taelso, Cat. 47. (But seanduine sáɴᴅinə andóchus aɴᴅōᴄiꜱ.) Here the first element was accented and formed an integral part of the word, if proclitic as in andóchus it lacked the essential of accent for constituting a heavy group in the sense of this rule. Cf. accent and proclitic groups ionnsaighe auɴꜱī but ionntsamhail iɴᴛŪl When a group capable of suffering such a process is lightened the syllable retains its original sound (radical or umlaut), after or before the accent it becomes the irrational vowel. ceanfhionn compounded of kauɴ and fyauɴ and pronounced kəɴɴ′ exemplifies both cases. nín se ann, auɴ, but dailtín maith athá ann, ɴ′.

c) A comparison of C. M. O. (Clare, 1780) and T. G. (Cork Kerry? same period) with the Dēsi usage revealed the following sound table. Oblique lines denote rare or exceptional in- tonation.

1) meabhair: trom, C. M. O. G. aighneas, faghairt taidhbhse: i, ib. and ll as rachad, doimhin, moill; 1.

2) fallsacht: fáidhchirt ib. 7.

3) gadhar,

4) Diphthongs arising from mh, ch,