Scottish Gaelic language

Orthography

The modern Scottish Gaelic alphabet has 18 letters:

Related Topics:
Alphabet - Letter

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:A, B, C, D, E, F, G, H, I, L, M, N, O, P, R, S, T, U

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The letter h, now mostly used to indicate lenition of a consonant, was not used in the oldest orthography, as lenition was instead indicated with a dot over the lenited consonant. Letters of the alphabet were traditionally named after trees: ailm (elm), beith (birch), coll (hazel), dair (oak), and so on, but this custom is no longer followed.

Related Topics:
Lenition - Consonant - Orthography

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The quality of consonants is partially indicated by the vowels surrounding them. The vowels are classified as caol ("slender", that is e and i) or leathann ("broad", that is a, o and u). The spelling rule is caol ri caol is leathann ri leathann (slender to slender and broad to broad). Slender consonants are palatalised while broad consonants are velarised.

Related Topics:
Vowel - Palatalised - Velarised

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Because of the spelling rule, an internal consonant group must be surrounded by vowels of the same quality to indicate its pronunciation unambiguously, since some consonants change their pronunciation depending on whether they are surrounded by broad or slender vowels: for example, compare the t in slàinte {{IPA|(/sla?nt??/)}} with the t in bàta {{IPA|(/pa?t?/)}}.

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The rule has no effect on the pronunciation of vowels. For example, plurals in Gaelic are often formed with the suffix -an, for example, bròg {{IPA|/pro?k/}} (shoe)/brògan {{IPA|/pro?k?n/}} (shoes). But because of the spelling rule, the suffix is spelled -ean (but pronounced the same) after a slender consonant, as in taigh {{IPA|/t??j/}} (house)/taighean {{IPA|/t??j?n/}} (houses).

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In changes promoted by the Scottish Examination Board from 1976 onwards, certain modifications were made to this rule. For example, the suffix of the past participle is always spelled -te, even after a broad consonant, as in togte 'raised' (rather than the traditional togta).

Related Topics:
Scottish Examination Board - 1976 - Suffix - Past participle

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Using the spelling rule, it is sometimes unclear whether a vowel has been introduced for its own pronunciation or for its effect upon a consonant.

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Unstressed vowels omitted in speech can be omitted in informal writing. For example:

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:Tha mi an dòchas (I hope) > Tha mi 'n dòchas

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Once Gaelic orthographic rules have been learned, the pronunciation of the written language can be seen to be quite predictable. However learners must be careful not to try to apply English spelling rules to written Gaelic, otherwise mispronunciations will result. Gaelic personal names such as Seònaid {{IPA|/????n?t?/}} are especially likely to be mispronounced when they are used by English speakers.

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