Irish/The Article
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Introduction here
Declension and Mutation
| Masc. Sg. | Fem. Sg. | Plural | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Nom. | an[note 1] | anL | naH |
| Gen. | anL | naH | naN |
Pronunciation
- na is always pronounced as /nə/.
- At the beginning of a sentence or where the previous word ended with a consonant:
- if the qualifying noun begins with a broad consonant,[note 2] an is pronounced as /ə/ with the nasal component dropped.
- if the qualifying noun begins with a slender consonant,[note 2] an is pronounced as /ɪ/ with the nasal component dropped.
- if the qualifying noun begins with a vowel in a broad environment,[note 3] an is pronounced as /ən/.
- if the qualifying noun begins with a vowel in a slender environment,[note 3] an is pronounced as /ɪn´/.
- Where the previous word ended with a vowel:
- if the qualifying noun begins with a vowel in a broad environment,[note 3] an is pronounced as /n/ with the vowel component having been elided by the previous vowel.
- if the qualifying noun begins with a vowel in a slender environment,[note 3] an is pronounced as /n´/ with the vowel component having been elided by the previous vowel.
- if the qualifying noun begins with a broad coronal consonant,[note 2] an is pronounced as /n/ with the vowel component having been elided by the previous vowel.
- if the qualifying noun begins with a slender coronal consonant,[note 2] an is pronounced as /n´/ with the vowel component having been elided by the previous vowel.
- if the qualifying noun begins with a broad labial consonant, an is pronounced as /m/ with the vowel component having been elided by the previous vowel.
- if the qualifying noun begins with a slender labial consonant, an is pronounced as /m´/ with the vowel component having been elided by the previous vowel.
- if the qualifying noun begins with a broad dorsal consonant, an is pronounced as /ŋ/ with the vowel component having been elided by the previous vowel.
- if the qualifying noun begins with a slender dorsal consonant, an is pronounced as /ŋ´/ with the vowel component having been elided by the previous vowel.
Prepositional Forms of the Article
- do + an = don; do + na = dosna
- de + an = den; de + na = desna
- ag + an = aigen; ag + na = aigesna
- le + an = leis an; le + na = leisna
- ó + an = ón; ó + na = ósna
- fé + an = fén; fé + na = fésna
- i + an = insan;[note 4] i + na = insna[note 5]
Notes
- ↑ In the nominative singular, masculine nouns with word initial vowels take t-prothesis, e.g. an t-uisce
- ↑ 2.0 2.1 2.2 2.3 Including masculine nominative singular nouns with t-prothesis.
- ↑ 3.0 3.1 3.2 3.3 Not including masculine nominative singular nouns where t-prothesis would be applied.
- ↑ Often reduced to sa before a consonant or san before a vowel.
- ↑ Often reduced to sna.
References
- ↑ Concept for the table borrowed from An Loingseach's YouTube video on Pronunciation & History of the Definite Article ("The") in Irish/Gaelic/Goidelic
