INDEX AND PRONUNCIATION OF THE MORE
FREQUENTLY OCCURRING PLACE
AND PERSONAL-NAMES.
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.
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