Difference between revisions of "Articles"
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==Definite Articles in Gaelic== | ==Definite Articles in Gaelic== | ||
| − | The definite article surfaces variously as [[An (article)|an]], [[Am (article)|am]], [[A' (article)|a']], [[Nam (article)|nam]], [[Nan (article)|nan]] or [[Na (article)|na]] depending upon the [[Case (definition)|case]], [[Gender (definition)|gender]], and [[Number (definition)|number]] of the noun it modifies and depending upon which [[Consonant (definition)|consonant]] the following word begins with. | + | The [[definite (definition)| definite]] article surfaces variously as [[An (article)|an]], [[Am (article)|am]], [[A' (article)|a']], [[Nam (article)|nam]], [[Nan (article)|nan]] or [[Na (article)|na]] depending upon the [[Case (definition)|case]], [[Gender (definition)|gender]], and [[Number (definition)|number]] of the noun it modifies and depending upon which [[Consonant (definition)|consonant]] the following word begins with. |
Throughout the following symbols indicate initial mutations and are not traditionally written out | Throughout the following symbols indicate initial mutations and are not traditionally written out | ||
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The system is complex, so we give four different descriptions. Choose the one that suits you best. | The system is complex, so we give four different descriptions. Choose the one that suits you best. | ||
| − | |||
==Description 1: By Case == | ==Description 1: By Case == | ||
Revision as of 20:49, 23 April 2015
Contents
Indefinite Articles in Gaelic
In Gaelic the indefinite article is silent (e.g. leabhar 'a book') -- the exception being the indefinite genitive, where there is no overt article, but the noun is lenited (Lamb 2003: 29) (e.g.. XXX)
Definite Articles in Gaelic
The definite article surfaces variously as an, am, a', nam, nan or na depending upon the case, gender, and number of the noun it modifies and depending upon which consonant the following word begins with.
Throughout the following symbols indicate initial mutations and are not traditionally written out L means "triggers lenition", Articles ending in -n or -m often trigger voicing of the following consonant through Eclipsis, although this is not indicated in writing.
The system is complex, so we give four different descriptions. Choose the one that suits you best.
Description 1: By Case
This description is based on that found in Fisher (2004).
Common Case (Nominative/Accusative)
The common case form of the article is used with a noun in subject and object positions.
Singular Masculine Common Case Before form Example vowels an t- an t-òran labials am am bòrd all other sounds an an càr
- (table based on Fisher (2004)
Singular Feminine Common Case Before form Example labial and velar stops (b, p, g, c) and m a'L a' phòg f anL an fhaoileag s followed by vowels, l, n, r an t- (i.e. anT) an t-seachdain all other sounds an an sgian
- (table based on Fisher (2004)
Plurals of both genders in the common case Before form Example consonants na na gillean Vowels na h- (i.e. anH) na h-ubhlan
- (table based on Fisher (2004)
Genitive Case
The genitive is used to indicate an object that is a possessor.
The masculine singular genitive pattern is identical to the feminine common case pattern, and dative case forms.
Singular Masculine Genitive Before form Example labial and velar stops (b, p, g, c) and m a'L a' bhòrd f anL an fhuachd s followed by vowels, l, n, r an t- (i.e. anT) an tsluaigh all other sounds an an taighe
- (table based on Fisher (2004)
The feminine genitive is identical to common case plural
Feminine Singular Genitive Before form Example consonants na na muc Vowels na h- (i.e. anH) na h-adhairce
- (table based on Fisher (2004)
The plural of genitive uses some variety of Nan/Nam:
Plural Genitive of both Genders Before form Example labial consonants nam nam bocsaichean All other sounds nan nan taighean
- (table based on Fisher (2004)
Dative Case
The dative case is found after many prepositions. The dative singular of both genders is identical to the feminine singular common case (and the masculine singular genitive).
Singular of both genders in the dative Before form Example labial and velar stops (b, p, g, c) and m a'L a' bhòrd f anL an fhios s followed by vowels, l, n, r an t- (i.e. anT) an t-sùil all other sounds an an taigh
- (table based on Fisher (2004)
The plurals are identical to the common case:
Plurals of both genders in the dative Before form Example consonants na na gillean Vowels na h- (i.e. anH) na h-ubhlan
- (table based on Fisher (2004)
Description 2: By gender and number
Masculine Singular Article
| before | ||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| f | b, m, p | c, g | sV, sl, sn, sr | d, t, l, n, r, sg, sm, sp, st | before vowels | |
| Nom/Acc (common case) | am | an | an t- | |||
| Dat | anL | a'L | an t- | an | ||
| Gen | ||||||
Feminine Singular Article
| before | ||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| f | b, m, p | c, g | sV, sl, sn, sr | d, t, l, n, r, sg, sm, sp, st | before vowels | |
| Nom/Acc (common case) | anL | a'L | an t- | an | ||
| Dat | ||||||
| Gen | na | na h- | ||||
Plural Article
| before | ||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| f, b, m, p | all other consonants | before vowels | ||||
| Nom/Acc (common case) | na | na h- | ||||
| Dat | ||||||
| Gen | nam | nan | ||||
Description 3: By form of the article
| Form | location |
|---|---|
| a'L | Feminine Nom/Acc Singular before "b, c, g, m, p" |
| Feminine Dative Singular before "b, c, g, m, p" | |
| Masculine Dative Singular before "b, c, g, m, p" | |
| Masculine Genitive Singular before "b, c, g, m, p" | |
| am | Masculine Nom/Acc Singular before "f, b, m, p" |
| an | Feminine Nom/Acc Singular before vowels and d, n, t, l, r, sg, sp, st, sm |
| Feminine Dative Singular before vowels and d, n, t, l, r, sg, sp, st, sm | |
| Masculine Dative Singular before vowels and d, n, t, l, r, sg, sp, st, sm | |
| Masculine Genitive Singular before vowels and d, n, t, l, r, sg, sp, st, sm | |
| Masculine Nom/Acc Singular before anything except vowels and "b, f, m, p" | |
| anL | Feminine Nom/Acc Singular before f |
| Feminine Dative Singular before f | |
| Masculine Dative Singular before f | |
| Masculine Genitive Singular before f | |
| an t- | Feminine Nom/Acc Singular before sV, sl, sn, sr |
| Feminine Dative Singular before sV, sl, sn, sr | |
| Masculine Dative Singular before sV, sl, sn, sr | |
| Masculine Genitive Singular before sV, sl, sn, sr | |
| Masculine Nom/Acc Singular before vowels | |
| na | Nom/Acc plural before consonants |
| Dative plural before consonants | |
| Feminine Genitive singular before consonants | |
| na h- | Nom/Acc plural before vowels |
| Dative plural before vowels | |
| Feminine Genitive singular before vowels | |
| nam | Plural Genitive before b, f, m, p |
| nan | Plural Genitive before other sounds |
Description 4: An Abstract Analysis
The following description is based on the insightful description found at [[1]]. The symbols in the next chart are abstract! You need to translate them using the guides that follow.
| singular | plural | ||
|---|---|---|---|
| Masculine | Feminine | ||
| Nom/acc (common) | W | X | Y |
| Dative | X | ||
| Genitive | X | Y | Z |
Each of these abstract forms is realized the following ways, predictable from the phonology:
Pattern W
| Form | Context |
|---|---|
| an t- | before vowel |
| am | before b, f, m, p |
| an | elsewhere |
Pattern X
| Form | Context |
|---|---|
| a'L | before b, c, g, m, p |
| anL | before "f" |
| an t- | before sV, sl, sn, sr |
| an | elsewhere |
Pattern Y
| Form | Context |
|---|---|
| na | before consonants |
| na h- | before vowels |
Pattern Z
| Form | Context |
|---|---|
| nam | before b, f, m, p |
| nan | elsewhere |
External Links
- http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Article_(grammar)
- http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Determiner_(class)
- http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Definiteness
References
- Lamb, William (2003) Scottish Gaelic. Lincom-Europa.
- Fisher, Muriel (2004) Scottish Gaelic: Level 1. Seattle: Each-Mara Publications
