Re: Cein

--- Eric Christopherson <rakko@...>
> wrote:
>On Mon, Jun 04, 2001 at 07:26:30PM +0200, daniel andreasson wrote:
>> Aiworegs Ghristobhorosyo wrote:
>>
>> > >  I just thought that you might avoid some of the problems
>> > >  with palatal /nh/ and suchlike by using the Irish version
>> > >  of the nasal mutation, sometimes called "eclipses". This
>> > >  is how it goes :
>> > >  /mb/ >> /mm/
>> > >  /mp/ >> /bb/ >> /b/
>> > >
>> > >  /nd/ >> /nn/
>> > >  /nt/ >> /dd/ >> /d/
>>
>> > Didn't /nn/ then differentiate itself from /n/ by being dental
>> > instead of alveolar? Or is that just a modern orthographic
>> > distinction? (i.e. Irish and Gaelic <nn> vs. <n>)
>>
>> Ooh. That's interesting. I like the dental /n/ better,
>> so my original plan was to have dental /n/ everywhere,
>> but having alveolar /n/ for <nn> and dental for <n>
>> is really cool. It wouldn't be phonemic, but still a
>> neat feature.
>
>I think in Irish and (Scottish) Gaelic <nn> is dental, <n> alveolar, just to
>clarify. But do what you like :)
Actually, in either variety, <n> is dental if next to a back vowel (in writing) and
alveolar/palatal if next to a written front vowel. (At least, that's the rule,
to which there are a few exceptions). <nn> is a different beast, which
sometimes has an effect on the preceding vowel (e.g. <ann> pronounced [aun]
rather than [An_d]) and when next to a front vowel is in some dialects (e.g.
Scottish Gaelic, Southern Irish) pronounced [N'].

==

   Tom Pullman

"Dochuala as borb nad légha."

Sùgi òl yrregoon lo! Jèkeri yrrego!

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