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Book I:
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§ 49. In many part of Ireland:

l broad is always sounded like our symbol L
l slender is always sounded like our symbol l
n broad is always sounded like our symbol N
n slender is always sounded like our symbol n

We recommend to private students this simple method of pronunciation in preference to the following more elaborate rule, which is followed in Connaught Irish:

§ 50 (A) Between vowels, single l and n are pronounced as in English; as mála (maul'-a), a bag; milis (mil'-ish), sweet; Úna (oo'na), Una; minic (min'ik), often. At the end of words, single l and n, preceded by a vowel, are also pronounced as in English: as, bán (baun), white-haired; asal (os'-al), an ass. Single l and n, when next any of the gutturalsg, c, or the labialsb, f, p, are like English l, n: as, olc (ŭlk), bad; blas (blos), taste.

(B) In the beginning of words,

1 broad is pronounced L
l slender is pronounced l
n broad is pronounced N
n slender is pronounced n

(C)

ll broad is always pronounced L
ll slender is always pronounced l
nn broad is always pronounced N
nn slender is always pronounced n

(D) When next to d, r, t, l, m, n, r (the consonants in don't let me stir), l and n, if broad, are pronounced L, N; if slender, l, nI.

§ 51. The student should not be discouraged by the rich variety of sounds for the two characters. It may be borne in mind (1) that words involving these letters will be perfectly understood, even if each l and n is pronounced with the ordinary English sound; (2) that in many districts the people have simplified the pronunciation, as noted above in §49; and (3) that, by a careful reference to our table of sounds, the student will soon learn by practice the sound to be given to l and n in each particular case. We give, for practice, some words for pronunciation.

L sounds: lag (Log), log (Lŭg), slán (sLaun), dlún (dhLoon), tlú (thLoo).
l sounds: lín (leen), slím (shleen), fille, (fil'e).
N sounds: Nús (Noos), snag (sNog), Nóra (Nōră)
n sounds: Finne (fin'-ĕ), binne (bin'-ĕ) , (nee)

 

 

note that
phonetic
symbols
are not
necessarily pronounced
as in English

See § 13-16

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