Book 2:
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Preface
Phonetics

Dictionary

exercise XLVIII

§289. bh and mh continued

In the beginning of words ḃ and ṁ if slender are pronounced like v, if broad are pronounced somewhat like w.

§ 290. In Munster, ḃ and ṁ broad, followed by a LONG VOWEL, á, ó, ú, are pronounced v.

§ 291. Thus—Mo ṁáṫair, my mother (mŭ wauh'-er), is in Munster (mŭ vauh'- ĕr). This sound we shall mark by a capital W.

Examples—

Mac an Ḃáird (mok ăn Waurd), son of the bard, Ward.
A Ṁáire (ă Wir'-ĕ), O Mary, the Blessed Virgin (Hence, wirra-wirra, = O Mary Mary)

§ 292. Translate into English

• Ní’l iasg ar biṫ in mo ḃád anois, atá mo ḃád follaṁ.
• Cuir an sgilling in mo mhála.
• Atá mo bhróg dubh.
• Fuair mé bróg úr ins an siopa.
• Fuair m’athair bás ins an Oileán Úr.
• Ní raibh uisge ins an abhainn, bhí an aimsear tirim.
• Ní raibh túirne ag mo mháthair.

§ 293. Translate into Irish

• My boat is heavy, your boat is empty.
• I found your boat in the land.
• My mother is not alive now, she died in IReland.
• Daniel Ward came to Ireland and died.
• My mother got a pound from my father and she gave the pound to Niall.
• My cow was not white, she was black.
• My shoe was not wide enough.

note that
phonetic
symbols
are not
necessarily pronounced
as in English

See § 13-16