Scottish Gaelic orthography
Scottish Gaelic orthography has evolved over many centuries and is heavily etymologizing in its modern form. This means the orthography tends to preserve historical components rather than operating on the principles of a phonemic orthography where the graphemes correspond directly to phonemes. This allows the same written form in Scottish Gaelic to result in a multitude of pronunciations, depending on the spoken variant of Scottish Gaelic. For example, the word coimhead ('watching') may result in [ˈkʰõ.ət̪], [ˈkʰɔ̃jət̪], [ˈkʰɤi.ət̪], or [ˈkʰɛ̃.ət̪]. Conversely, it allows the sometimes highly divergent phonetic forms to be covered by a single written form, rather than requiring multiple written forms.
Alphabet
Ní íosfadh mé seoidh
Ná mílte de'h op! 'S'ríl agam ach n'gnoth
The alphabet is known as the aibidil in Scottish Gaelic, and formerly the Beith Luis Nuin from the first three letters of the Ogham alphabet: b, l, n. The alphabet now used for writing the Scottish Gaelic language consists of the following letters of the Latin alphabet, whether written in Roman type or Gaelic type:
- a à b c d e è f g h i ì l m n o ò p r s t u ù
From a language internal perspective, the following digraphs are considered single letters:
- bh ch dh fh gh ll mh ng nn ph rr sh th
Older manuscripts made use of the acute accent over vowels, but these are no longer used in standard orthography. Since the 1980s the acute accent has not been used in Scottish high school examination papers, and many publishers have adopted the Scottish Examination Board's (the Scottish Qualifications Authority's after 1997) orthographic conventions for their books.[1] The acute accent is still used in most Scottish universities (and several Scottish academics remain vociferously opposed to the SEB's/SQA's conventions) and by a minority of Scottish publishers, as well as in Canada.
Arboreal names of the letters
The early Medieval treatise "Auraicept na n-Éces" ('The Scholars' Primer') describes the origin of alphabets from the Tower of Babel. It assigns plant names and meanings to Ogham, to a lesser extent to Norse Runes, and by extension to Latin letters when used to write Gaelic. Robert Graves' book The White Goddess has been a major influence on assigning divinatory meanings to the tree symbolism. (See also Bríatharogam.) Some of the names differ from their modern equivalents (e.g. dair > darach, suil > seileach).
| ailm elm | beith white birch | coll hazel | dair oak | eadha aspen | feàrn alder |
| gort ivy | uath hawthorn | iogh yew | luis rowan | muin vine | nuin ash |
| onn furze / oir spindle | peith downy birch | ruis elder | suil willow | teine furze | ura heather |
Consonants
The consonant letters generally correspond to the consonant phonemes as shown in this table. See Scottish Gaelic phonology for an explanation of the symbols used. Consonants are "broad" (velarised) when the nearest vowel letter is one of a, o, u and "slender" (palatalised) when the nearest vowel letter is one of e, i. A "back vowel" is one of the following; o(ː), ɔ(ː), ɤ(ː), u(ː), ɯ(ː), a(ː), au; a "front vowel" is any other kind of vowel.
| Letter(s) | Phoneme(s) | Examples | ||
|---|---|---|---|---|
| b | broad | /p/ | bàta /paːʰt̪ə/, borb /pɔrɔp/ | |
| slender | before front vowel, or finally | /p/ | bean /pɛn/, caibe /kʰapə/, guib /kɤp/ | |
| before back vowel | /pj/ | beò /pjɔː/, bealltainn /pjauɫ̪t̪ɪɲ/, bealach /pjaɫ̪əx/ | ||
| bh | between vowels, sometimes | /./ | siubhal /ʃu.əɫ̪/, iubhar /ju.əɾ/ | |
| finally, sometimes | none | dubh /t̪u/, ubh /u/ | ||
| usually | broad | /v/ | cabhag /kʰavak/, sàbh /s̪aːv/ | |
| slender, before front vowel | /v/ | dhuibh /ɣɯiv/, dibhe /tʲivə/ | ||
| slender, before back vowel | /vj/ | ro bheò /rɔ vjɔː/, dà bhealltainn /t̪aː vjauɫ̪t̪ɪɲ/ | ||
| see below for abh, oibh when they come before consonants | ||||
| c | broad | initially, or non-finally after consonant | /kʰ/ | cas /kʰas̪/, cam /kʰaum/ |
| between vowels | /ʰk/ | bacadh /paʰkəɣ/, mucan /muʰkən/ | ||
| finally after vowel | /ʰk/ | mac /maʰk/ | ||
| finally after consonant | /k/ | corc /kʰɔrʰkʲ/ | ||
| slender | initially or after consonant | /kʰʲ/ | ceòl /kʰʲɔːɫ̪/, ceum /kʰʲeːm/ | |
| between vowels | /ʰkʲ/ | lice /ʎiʰkʲə/, brice /prʲiʰkʲə/ | ||
| finally after vowel | /ʰkʲ/ | mic /miʰkʲ/ | ||
| finally after consonant | /kʲ/ | cuilc /kʰulʰkʲ/ | ||
| ch | broad | /x/ | loch /ɫ̪ɔx/, dòchas /t̪ɔːxəs̪/ | |
| slender | /ç/ | deich /tʲeç/, dìcheall /tʲiːçəɫ̪/ | ||
| chd | /xk/ | lionntachd /ʎuːn̴̪t̪ʰəxk/, doimhneachd /t̪ɔiɲəxk/ | ||
| cn | /kr/ | cneap /krɛʰp/, cneasta /krʲes̪t̪ə/ | ||
| d | broad | /t̪/ | cadal /kʰat̪aɫ̪/, fada /fat̪ə/ | |
| slender | /tʲ/ | diùid /tʲuːtʲ/, dearg /tʲɛrak/ | ||
| dh | in final -aidh, -éidh | none | pòsaidh /pʰɔːs̪ɪ/, méidh /meː/ | |
| broad | between vowels | /./ /ɣ/ |
odhar /o.ər/, cladhadh /kʰɫ̪ɤ.əɣ/ modhail /mɔɣal/ | |
| elsewhere | /ɣ/ | dhà /ɣaː/, modh /mɔɣ/, tumadh /t̪ʰuməɣ/ | ||
| slender | between vowels | /./ | Gàidheal /kɛː.əɫ̪/ | |
| elsewhere | /ʝ/ | dhìth /ʝiː/, dhìol /ʝiəɫ̪/ | ||
| see below for adh, aidh, iodh when they come before consonants | ||||
| f | broad | /f/ | fathan /fahan/, gafann /kafənˠ̪/ | |
| slender | before front vowel | /f/ | fios /fis̪/, féill /feːʎ/ | |
| before back vowel | /fj/ | fiùran /fjuːran/, feòl /fjɔːɫ̪/ | ||
| fh | usual | none | fhios /is̪/, a fharadh /arəɣ/ | |
| exceptionally | /h/ | fhathast /ha.əs̪t̪/, fhèin /heːn/, fhuair /huəɾʲ/ | ||
| g | broad | /k/ | gad /kat̪/, ugan /ukən/ | |
| slender | /kʲ/ | gille /kʲiʎə/, leig /ʎekʲ/ | ||
| gh | finally, sometimes | none* | an-diugh /əɲˈtʲu/, nigh /ɲiː/ | |
| between vowels | /./* /ɣ/ |
aghaidh /ɤː.ɪ/, fiughar /fju.əɾ/, nigheann /ɲiː.an̪ˠ/ laghail /ɫ̪ɤɣal/ | ||
| elsewhere | broad | /ɣ/ | mo ghoc /mə ɣɔʰk/, lagh /ɫ̪ɤɣ/ | |
| slender | /ʝ/ | mo ghille /mə ʝiʎə/, do thaigh /t̪ə hɤj/ | ||
| see below for agh, aigh, eagh, iogh, ogh, oigh when they come before consonants *the preceding vowel is often lengthened | ||||
| gn | /kr/ | gnè /krɛː/ | ||
| h | /h/ | a h-athair /ə hahɪɾʲ/, Hearach /hɛɾəx/ | ||
| l | broad | /ɫ̪/ | lachan /ɫ̪axan/, a laoidh /ə ɫ̪ɯj/, balach /paɫ̪əx/ | |
| slender | initially, unlenited | /ʎ/ | leabaidh /ʎepɪ/, leum /ʎeːm/ | |
| initially, lenited | /l/ | dà leabaidh /t̪aː lepɪ/, bho leac /vɔ lɛʰk/ | ||
| elsewhere | /l/ | cuilean /kʰulan/, sùil /s̪uːl/ | ||
| ll | broad | /ɫ̪/ | balla /paɫ̪ə/, ciall /kʰʲiaɫ̪/ | |
| slender | /ʎ/ | cailleach /kʰaʎəx/, mill /miːʎ/ | ||
| m | broad | /m/ | maol /mɯːɫ̪/, màla /maːɫ̪ə/ | |
| slender | before front vowel | /m/ | milis /milɪʃ/, tìm /tʰʲiːm/ | |
| before back vowel | /mj/ | meall /mjauɫ̪/, meòg /mjɔːk/ | ||
| mh | between vowels, sometimes | /./ | comhairle /kʰo.əɾlə/ | |
| broad | /v/ | àmhainn /aːvɪɲ/, caomh /kʰɯːv/ | ||
| slender | before front vowel | /v/ | caoimhin /kʰɯːvɪɲ/, làimh /ɫ̪aiv/ | |
| before back vowel | /vj/ | do mhealladh /t̪ɔ vjaɫ̪əɣ/, dà mheall /t̪aː vjauɫ̪/ | ||
| see below for amh, eamh, oimh, uimh when they come before consonants | ||||
| n | broad | initially, unlenited | /n̴̪/ | nàbaidh /n̴̪aːpi/, norrag /n̴̪ɔr̴ak/ |
| initially, lenited | /n/ | mo nàire /mɔ naːɾʲɪ/, bho nàbaidh /vɔ naːpɪ/ | ||
| elsewhere | /n/ | dona /t̪ɔnə/, sean /ʃɛn/ | ||
| slender | initially, unlenited | /ɲ/ | neul /ɲiaɫ̪/, neart /ɲɛɾʃt̪/ | |
| initially, lenited | /n/ | mo nighean /mɔ ni.an/, dà nead /t̪aː nɛt̪/ | ||
| elsewhere, after back vowel | /ɲ/ | duine /t̪ɯɲɪ/, càineadh /kʰaːɲəɣ/ | ||
| elsewhere, after front vowel | /n/ | cana /kʰanə/, teine /tʰʲenɪ/ | ||
| ng | broad | /ŋɡ/ | teanga /tʰʲɛŋɡə/, fulang /fuɫ̪əŋɡ/ | |
| slender | /ŋʲɡʲ/ | aingeal /aiŋʲɡʲəɫ̪/, farsaing /faɾs̪ɪŋʲɡʲ/ | ||
| nn | broad | /n̴̪/ | ceannaich /kʰʲan̴̪ɪç/, ann /aun̴̪/ | |
| slender | /ɲ/ | bainne /paɲɪ/, tinn /tʰʲiːɲ/ | ||
| p | broad slender not before back vowel |
initially or after consonant | /pʰ/ | post /pʰɔs̪t̪/, campa /kʰaumpə/, peasair /pʰes̪ɪɾʲ/, |
| between vowels | /ʰp/ | cupa /kʰuʰpə/, cipean /kʰʲiʰpan/ | ||
| finally after vowel | /ʰp/ | cuip /kʰuiʰp/ | ||
| finally after consonant | /p/ | ailp /alp/ | ||
| slender before back vowel | after consonant, or initially | /pj/ | piuthar /pju.əɾ/, peall /pjauɫ̪/ | |
| ph | broad | /f/ | sa phost /s̪ə fɔs̪t̪/, bho phàiste /vɔ faːʃtʲə/ | |
| slender | before front vowel | /f/ | dà pheasair /t̪aː fes̪ɪɾʲ/, mo pheata /mɔ fɛʰt̪ə/ | |
| before back vowel | /fj/ | mo phiuthar /mɔ fju.əɾ/, sa pheann /s̪ə fjaun̴̪/ | ||
| r | initially, unlenited | /ᵲ/ | ràmh /ᵲaːv/, rionnag /ᵲun̴̪ak/ | |
| initially, lenited | /ɾ/ | do rùn /tɔ ɾuːn/, bho réic /vɔ ɾeːʰkʲ/ | ||
| elsewhere | broad | /ɾ/ | caran /kʰaɾan/, mura /muɾə/ | |
| slender | /ɾʲ/ | cìr /kʰʲiːɾʲ/, cuireadh /kʰuɾʲəɣ/ | ||
| rr | /ᵲ/ | cearr /kʰʲaːᵲ/, barra /paᵲə/ | ||
| -rt, -rd | /ɾʃt̪/ | neart /ɲɛɾʃt̪/, bord /pɔːɾʃt̪/ | ||
| s | broad | /s̪/ | sàr /s̪aːɾ/, casan /kʰas̪ən/ | |
| slender | /ʃ/ | siùcair /ʃuːʰkɪɾʲ/, càise /kʰaːʃɪ/ | ||
| sh | broad | /h/ | ro shalach /ɾɔ haɫ̪əx/, glé shoilleir /kleː hɤʎɪɾʲ/ | |
| slender | before front vowel | /h/ | dà shìl /t̪aː hiːʎ/, glé shean /kleː hɛn/ | |
| before back vowel | /hj/ | de shiùcair /tʲe hjuːʰkɪɾʲ/, a sheòladh /ə hjɔːɫ̪əɣ/ | ||
| sr, str | /s̪t̪ɾ/ | sràc /s̪t̪ɾaːʰk/, strì /s̪t̪ɾiː/ | ||
| t | broad | initially, or non-finally after consonant | /t̪ʰ/ | tasdan /t̪ʰas̪t̪an/, molta /mɔɫ̪t̪ə/ |
| between vowels | /ʰt̪/ | bàta /paːʰt̪ə/ | ||
| finally, after vowel | /ʰt̪/ | put /pʰuʰt̪/ | ||
| finally, after consonant | /t/ | |||
| slender | initially, or non-finally after consonant | /tʰʲ/ | tiugh /tʰʲu/, caillte /kʰaiʎtʲə/ | |
| between vowels | /ʰtʲ/ | litir /ʎiʰtʲɪɾʲ/ | ||
| finally, after vowel | /ʰtʲ/ | cait /kʰɛʰtʲ/ | ||
| finally, after consonant | /tʲ/ | ailt /altʲ/ | ||
| th | finally | none | teth /tʰʲe/, leth /ʎe/, srath /s̪t̪ɾa/ | |
| between vowels | /./ /h/ |
leotha /lɔ.ə/, piuthar /pju.əɾ/, cnòthan /kɾɔː.ən/ beatha /pɛhə/, fathan /fahan/, a mhàthair /ə vaːhɪɾʲ/ | ||
| initially | broad | /h/ | mo thòn /mɔ hɔːn/, do thaigh /t̪ɔ hɤʝ/ | |
| slender, before front vowel | /h/ | thig /hikʲ/, ro thinn /r̴ɔ hiːɲ/ | ||
| slender, before back vowel | /hj/ | do theaghlach /t̪ɔ hjɔːɫ̪əx/, glé thiugh /kleː hju/ | ||
Vowels
Many of the rules in this section only apply in stressed syllables. In unstressed syllables, the range of vowels is highly restricted, with mainly /ə/, /ɪ/ or /a/ appearing and on occasion /ɔ/. Only certain vowel graphs exist in unstressed syllables: a, ai, e, ea, ei and i and very infrequently o, oi, u and ui.
| Letter(s) | Phoneme(s) | Examples | ||
|---|---|---|---|---|
| a | unstressed | in -ag in -an (when not plural) |
/a/ | cnèatag /kʰriaʰt̪ʰak/, luchag /ɫ̪uxak/ lochan /ɫ̪ɔxan/, beagan /pekan/ |
| elsewhere | /ə/ | balach /paɫ̪əx/, balla /paɫ̪ə/ | ||
| stressed | before dh/gh then vowel or word end | /ɤ/ | dragh /t̪ɾɤɣ/, laghail /ɫ̪ɤɣal/ | |
| before ll/m/nn then consonant or word end | /au/ | bann /paun̴̪/, calltainn /kʰauɫ̪t̪ɪɲ/, campa /kʰaumpə/ | ||
| before rr then consonant or word end before rn, rd |
/aː/ | barr /paːr̴/, carnadh /kʰaːɾnəɣ/ | ||
| elsewhere | /a/ | acras /aʰkɾəs̪/, gealladh /kʲaɫ̪əɣ/, barra /par̴ə/ | ||
| See below for abh, adh, agh, amh when they come before consonants | ||||
| ai | unstressed | in -ail | /a/ | modhail /mɔɣal/, eudail /eːt̪al/ |
| elsewhere | /ɪ/ /e/ /ə/ |
caraich /kʰaɾɪç/, mholainn /vɔɫ̪ɪɲ/ air an fhéill /eɾʲəˈɲeːʎ/ comhairle /kʰo.əɾlɪ/ | ||
| stressed | before ll/m/nn then consonant or word end before bh/mh then consonant |
/ai/ | caill /kʰaiʎ/, cainnt /kʰaiɲtʲ/ aibhne /aivɲə/, aimhreid /aivɾʲɪtʲ/ | |
| before rr then consonant or word end before rn, rd |
/aː/ | aird /aːɾʃt̪/ | ||
| elsewhere | /a/ | baile /palɪ/, lainnir /ɫ̪aɲɪɾʲ/ | ||
| See below for aidh, aigh when they come before consonants | ||||
| à | /aː/ | àlainn /aːɫ̪ɪɲ/, bràmar /praːməɾ/ | ||
| ài | /aː/ /ɛː/ |
àite /aːʰtʲɪ/, càil /kʰaːl/ Gàidheal /kɛː.əɫ̪/, pàipear /pʰɛːʰpəɾ/ | ||
| ao | /ɯː/ | maol /mɯːɫ̪/, caomh /kʰɯːv/ | ||
| aoi | before mh/bh then consonant or word end | /ɯi/ | aoibhneas /ɯivɲəs̪/, caoimhneas /kʰɯivɲəs̪/ | |
| elsewhere | /ɯː/ | faoileag /fɯːlak/, caoimhin /kʰɯːvɪɲ/ | ||
| e | unstressed | /ə/ | maise /maʃə/, cuine /kʰuɲə/ | |
| stressed | /e/ | teth /tʰʲe/, le /le/ | ||
| ea | unstressed | in -eag | /a/ | faoileag /fɯːlak/, uiseag /ɯʃak/ |
| elsewhere | /ə/ | rinnear /ɾiɲəɾ/, mìltean /miːltʲən/ | ||
| stressed | before dh/gh finally | /ɤ/ | feadh /fjɤɣ/, seagh /ʃɤɣ/ | |
| before d/g/s | /e/ | eadar /et̪əɾ/, creagan /kʰɾekən/ | ||
| before ll/nn then consonant or word end | /au/ | peann /pʰjaun̴̪/, teannta /t̪ʰʲaun̴̪t̪ə/ | ||
| before rr then consonant or word end before rn |
/aː/ | fearna /fjaːɾnə/, dearrsadh /t̪ʲaːr̴s̪əɣ/ | ||
| before ll/nn/rr then vowel, initially | /ja/ | eallach /jaɫ̪əx/, earrach /jar̴əx/ | ||
| before ll/nn/rr then vowel, elsewhere | /a/ | ceannard /kʰʲan̴̪aɾʃt̪/, gealladh /kʲaɫ̪əɣ/ | ||
| elsewhere | /ɛ/ | fear /fɛɾ/, earrann /ɛr̴ən̴̪/ | ||
| See below for eagh, eamh when they come before consonants | ||||
| èa | /ia/ | dèan /tʲian/, cnèatag /kʰɾiaʰt̪ak/ | ||
| ei | unstressed | /ɪ/ | aimhreid /aivɾʲɪtʲ/, bigein /pikʲɪɲ/ | |
| stressed | before ll/m/nn then consonant or word end | /ei/ | greim /kɾeim/, peinnsean /pʰeiɲʃan/ | |
| elsewhere | /e/ | ceist /kʰʲeʃtʲ/, seinneadair /ʃeɲət̪ɪɾʲ/ | ||
| è, èi | /ɛː/ /eː/ |
crè /kʰrɛː/, sèimh /ʃɛːv/ dè /tʲeː/, cèile /kʰʲeːlə/ | ||
| eo | /ɔ/ | deoch /tʲɔx/, leotha /lɔ.ə/ | ||
| eò, eòi | initially | /jɔː/ | eòlas /jɔːɫ̪əs̪/, eòin /jɔːɲ/ | |
| elsewhere | /ɔː/ | seòl /ʃɔːɫ̪/, meòir /mjɔːɾʲ/ | ||
| eu | before m | /eː/ | Seumas /ʃeːməs̪/, leum /ʎeːm/ | |
| elsewhere | /ia/ | ceud /kʰʲiat̪/, feur /fiaɾ/ | ||
| i | unstressed | /ɪ/ | litir /ʎiʰtʰʲɪɾʲ/, fuirich /fuɾʲɪç/ | |
| stressed | before ll/m/nn then consonant or word end | /iː/ | till /tʰʲiːʎ/, sinnsear /ʃiːɲʃəɾ/ | |
| elsewhere | /i/ | thig /hikʲ/, tinneas /tʰʲiɲəs̪/ | ||
| ì | /iː/ | cìr /kʰʲiːɾʲ/, rìbhinn /r̴iːvɪɲ/ | ||
| ia | /iə/ /ia/ |
liath /ʎiə/, iarraidh /iər̴ɪ/ sgian /s̪kʲian/, dia /tʲia/ | ||
| io | before ll/nn then consonant or word end | initially | /ju/ | ionnsaich /juːn̴̪sɪç/ |
| elsewhere | /uː/ | lionn /ʎuːn̴̪/, fionntach /fjuːn̴̪t̪əx/ | ||
| before ll/nn then vowel | /u/ | fionnar /fjun̴̪əɾ/, sionnach /ʃun̴̪əx/ | ||
| elsewhere | /i/ | fios /fis̪/, lios /ʎis̪/ | ||
| See below for iodh, iogh when they come before consonants | ||||
| ìo | /iə/ | mìos /miəs̪/, cìoch /kʰʲiəx/ | ||
| iu | initially | /ju/ | iubhar /ju.əɾ/ | |
| before rr, rs | /uː/ | ciurr /kʰʲuːr̴/, siursach /ʃuːɾs̪əx/ | ||
| elsewhere | /u/ | fliuch /flux/, siubhal /ʃu.əɫ̪/ | ||
| iù, iùi | /uː/ | diù /tʲuː/, ciùil /kʰʲuːl/ | ||
| o | before b/bh/g/gh/m/mh | /o/ | gob /kop/, bogha /po.ə/ | |
| before ll/m/nn then consonant or word end | /ɔu/ | tom /t̪ʰɔum/, tolltach /t̪ʰɔuɫ̪t̪əx/ | ||
| before rr then consonant or word end before rn, rd |
/ɔː/ | torr /t̪ʰɔːr̴/, dornan /t̪ɔːɾnan/ | ||
| elsewhere | /ɔ/ | loch /ɫ̪ɔx/, follais /fɔɫ̪ɪʃ/, dorra /t̪ɔr̴ə/ | ||
| See below for ogh when it comes before consonants | ||||
| oi | before b/bh/g/gh/m/mh | /o/ | ||
| before ll/m/nn then consonant or word end | /əi/ | broinn /pɾəiɲ/, oillt /əiʎʲtʲ/ | ||
| elsewhere | /ɤ/ /ɔ/ |
goid /kɤtʲ/, doirbh /t̪ɤɾʲɤv/, coileach /kʰɤləx/ toil /t̪ʰɔl/, coire /kʰɔɾʲə/ | ||
| See below for oibh, oigh, oimh when they come before consonants | ||||
| ò, òi | /oː/ /ɔː/ |
bò /poː/, còig /kʰoːkʲ/ òir /ɔːɾʲ/, bòid /pɔːtʲ/ | ||
| u | before ll/m/nn then consonant or word end before rr/rn |
/uː/ | cum /kʰuːm/, sunndach /s̪uːn̴̪t̪əx/, murn /muːɾn/ | |
| elsewhere | /u/ | dubh /t̪u/, cumail /kʰumal/ | ||
| ua, uai | before m/n/ng | /ua/ | cuan /kʰuan/, uaine /uaɲə/ | |
| elsewhere | /uə/ | tuagh /t̪ʰuəɣ/, duais /t̪uəʃ/ | ||
| ui | before m/n/ng/s | /ɯ/ | uisge /ɯʃkʲə/, duine /t̪ɯɲə/ | |
| before dh | /ɯi/ | buidhe /pɯi.ə/, suidhe /s̪ɯi.ə/ | ||
| before ll/m/nn then consonant or word end | /ɯi/ | druim /t̪ɾɯim/, muinntir /mɯiɲtʲɪɾʲ/ | ||
| before ll/m/nn then vowel | /ɯ/ | cluinneadh /kɫ̪ɯɲəɣ/, tuilleadh /t̪ʰɯʎəɣ/ | ||
| elsewhere | /u/ | cuir /kʰuɾʲ/, tuit /t̪ʰuʰtʲ/ | ||
| See below for uimh when it comes before consonants | ||||
| ù, ùi | /uː/ | sùil /s̪uːl/, cùis /kʰuːʃ/ | ||
Vowel-consonant combinations
Lenited bh, dh, gh, mh are commonly pronounced as vowels or are deleted if they are followed by a consonant. For example, in cabhag the bh is usually /v/ but in cabhlach the bh has turned into an /u/ vowel, yielding /au/ rather than /av/ in the first syllable.
| Letters | Phoneme(s) | Examples |
|---|---|---|
| abh, amh | /au/ | cabhlach /kʰauɫ̪əx/, samhradh /s̪auɾəɣ/ |
| adh, agh | /ɤː/ | adhbran /ɤːpɾan/, ladhran /ɫ̪ɤːɾan/ |
| aidh | /ai/ | snaidhm /s̪naim/ |
| aigh | /ɤi/ | saighdear /s̪ɤitʲəɾ/, maighdean /mɤitʲən/ |
| eagh | /ɔː/ | do theaghlach /t̪ə hjɤːɫ̪əx/ |
| eamh | /ɛu/ | geamhradh /kʲɛuɾəɣ/, leamhrag /ʎɛuɾak/ |
| iodh, iogh | /iə/ | tiodhlaic /tʰʲiəɫ̪ɪʰkʰʲ/, ioghnadh /iənəɣ/ |
| ogh | /oː/ | foghnaidh /foːnɪ/, roghnaich /r̴oːnɪç/ |
| oibh | /ɤi/ | goibhle /kɤilə/, goibhnean /kɤinən/ |
| oigh | /ɤi/ | oighre /ɤiɾʲə/, sloighre /s̪ɫ̪ɤiɾʲə/ |
| oimh | /ɔi/ | doimhne /t̪ɔiɲə/, doimhneachd /t̪ɔiɲəxk/ |
| uimh | /ui/ | cuimhne /kʰuiɲə/, cuimhneachadh /kʰuiɲəxəɣ/ |
Epenthetic vowels
Where an l, n or r is followed (or in the case of m, preceded) by a b, bh, ch, g, gh, m or mh, an epenthetic vowel is inserted between the two. This is usually a copy of the vowel that preceded the l/n/r. Examples; Alba /aɫ̪apə/, marbh /maɾav/, tilg /tʰʲilikʲ/, arm /aɾam/, iomradh /imiɾəɣ/.
If this process would lead to the sound sequence /ɛɾɛ/, the epenthetic vowel is an /a/ in many dialects. Example; dearg /tʲɛɾak/.
Defunct combinations
The acute accent is no longer used in standard Scottish Gaelic orthography, although it may be encountered in late twentieth century writings, and occasionally in contemporary writings, especially in Canadian Gaelic.
| Letter(s) | Phoneme(s) | Examples | ||
|---|---|---|---|---|
| á | /aː/ | ás | ||
| é, éi | /eː/ | Dùn Éideann /dun ˈeːtʲən̪ˠ/, déan | ||
| ó, ói | /oː/ | bó /poː/, cóig /kʰoːkʲ/, mór /moːɾ/ | ||
Certain spellings have also been regularised where they violate pronunciation rules. "Tigh" in particular can still be encountered in house names and certain place names, notably Tighnabruaich and Eilean Tigh.
- So → Seo
- Sud → Siud
- Tigh → Taigh
References
- "Gaelic Orthographic Conventions 2005". Scottish Qualifications Authority, publication code BB1532. p. 5. Archived from the original (PDF) on 2007-05-07. Retrieved 2007-03-24. First published by the Scottish Certificate of Education Examination Board (SCEEB) in 1981 and revised by the Scottish Qualifications Authority (SQA) in 2005.
Sources
- Bauer, Michael Blas na Gàidhlig - The Practical Guide to Gaelic Pronunciation (2011) Akerbeltz ISBN 978-1-907165-00-9
External links
A comprehensive critique of the "New" Gaelic Orthographic Conventions by a fluent speaker, originally published in the Stornoway Gazette
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