Difference between revisions of "Articles"

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''Article'' is a common name for what linguists typically call [[determiner (definition)| determiners]]. In English ''the'' and ''a/an'' are articles. In Gaelic the [[Indefinite (definition)|indefinite]] article is silent (e.g. ''leabhar'' 'a book') -- the exception being the indefinite [[Genitive Case(definition)|genitive]], where there is no overt article, but the noun is lenited (Lamb 2003: 29). 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.
 
  
−
Throughout the following symbols indicate initial mutations and are not traditionally written out
+
==Indefinite Articles in Gaelic==
−
<sup>L</sup> means "triggers [[lenition]]",
+
In Gaelic the [[Indefinite (definition)|indefinite]] article is silent (e.g. ''leabhar'' 'a book') -- the exception being the indefinite [[Genitive Case(definition)|genitive]], where there is no overt article, but the noun is lenited (Lamb 2003: 29) (e.g.. XXX)
−
Articles ending in ''-n'' or ''-m'' often trigger [[Voice (definition)|voicing]] of the following consonant through [[Eclipsis]], although this is not indicated in writing.
+
 
 +
 
 +
==Definite Articles in Gaelic==
 +
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, two symbols indicate initial mutations and are not traditionally written out:
 +
*<sup>L</sup> means "triggers [[lenition]]" on the first consonant of the word that follows
 +
*Articles ending in ''-n'' or ''-m'' often trigger [[Voice (definition)|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.
 
The system is complex, so we give four different descriptions. Choose the one that suits you best.
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The [[Common Case (definition)|common case]] form of the article is used with a noun in [[Subject (definition)|subject]] and [[Object (definition)|object]] positions.  
 
The [[Common Case (definition)|common case]] form of the article is used with a noun in [[Subject (definition)|subject]] and [[Object (definition)|object]] positions.  
  
−
{| border=1 cellpadding="5", rules="all" style="text-align:center"
+
:{| border=1 cellpadding="5", rules="all" style="text-align:center"
−
|+<b>Singular Masculine</b>
+
|+<b>Singular Masculine Common Case</b>
 
!Before
 
!Before
 
!form
 
!form
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|an càr
 
|an càr
 
|}
 
|}
−
<small>(table based on Fisher (2004)</small>
+
:<small>(table based on Fisher (2004)</small>
  
 +
{|:
 +
|Tha
 +
|Mòrag
 +
|a'
 +
|draibhadh
 +
|an
 +
|càr
 +
|dearg
 +
|-
 +
|is.PRES
 +
|Mòrag
 +
|PROG
 +
|drive
 +
|the
 +
|car
 +
|red
 +
|-
 +
|colspan="5" | "Mòrag is driving the red car."
 +
|}
  
−
{| border=1 cellpadding="5", rules="all" style="text-align:center"
+
:{| border=1 cellpadding="5", rules="all" style="text-align:center"
−
|+<b>Singular Feminine</b>
+
|+<b>Singular Feminine Common Case</b>
 
!Before
 
!Before
 
!form
 
!form
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|an sgian
 
|an sgian
 
|}
 
|}
−
<small>(table based on Fisher (2004)</small>
+
:<small>(table based on Fisher (2004)</small>
  
  
−
{| border=1 cellpadding="5", rules="all" style="text-align:center"
+
:{| border=1 cellpadding="5", rules="all" style="text-align:center"
−
|+<b>Plurals of both genders</b>
+
|+<b>Plurals of both genders in the common case</b>
 
!Before
 
!Before
 
!form
 
!form
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|-
 
|-
 
|Vowels
 
|Vowels
−
|an h-  (i.e. an<sup>H</sup>)
+
|na h-  (i.e. an<sup>H</sup>)
−
|an h-ubhlan
+
|na h-ubhlan
 
|}
 
|}
−
<small>(table based on Fisher (2004)</small>
+
:<small>(table based on Fisher (2004)</small>
  
 
===Genitive Case===
 
===Genitive Case===
  
 +
The [[Genitive Case (definition)|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.
 +
 +
:{| border=1 cellpadding="5", rules="all" style="text-align:center"
 +
|+<b>Singular Masculine Genitive</b>
 +
!Before
 +
!form
 +
!Example
 +
|-
 +
|[[Labial (definition)|labial]] and [[Velar (definition)|velar]] [[Stop (definition)|stops]] (b, p, g, c) and m
 +
|a'<sup>L</sup>
 +
|a' bhòrd
 +
|-
 +
|f
 +
|an<sup>L</sup>
 +
|an fhuachd
 +
|-
 +
|s followed by vowels, l, n, r
 +
|an t- (i.e. an<sup>T</sup>)
 +
|an tsluaigh
 +
|-
 +
|all other sounds
 +
|an
 +
|an taighe
 +
|}
 +
:<small>(table based on Fisher (2004)</small>
 +
 +
 +
The feminine genitive is identical to common case plural
 +
 +
:{| border=1 cellpadding="5", rules="all" style="text-align:center"
 +
|+<b>Feminine Singular Genitive</b>
 +
!Before
 +
!form
 +
!Example
 +
|-
 +
|[[Consonant (definition)|consonants]]
 +
|na
 +
|na muc
 +
|-
 +
|Vowels
 +
|na h-  (i.e. an<sup>H</sup>)
 +
|na h-adhairce
 +
|}
 +
:<small>(table based on Fisher (2004)</small>
 +
 +
The plural of genitive uses some variety of Nan/Nam:
 +
:{| border=1 cellpadding="5", rules="all" style="text-align:center"
 +
|+<b>Plural Genitive of both Genders</b>
 +
!Before
 +
!form
 +
!Example
 +
|-
 +
|[[Labial (definition)|labial consonants]]
 +
|nam
 +
|nam bocsaichean
 +
|-
 +
|All other sounds
 +
|nan
 +
|nan taighean
 +
|}
 +
:<small>(table based on Fisher (2004)</small>
  
 
===Dative Case===
 
===Dative Case===
−
The [[Dative (definition)|dative]] case is found after many [[Preposition (definition)|prepositions]]. The dative singular of both genders is identical to the feminine singular common case (and the masculine singular genitive).
+
The [[Dative Case (definition)|dative]] case is found after many [[Preposition (definition)|prepositions]]. The dative singular of both genders is identical to the feminine singular common case (and the masculine singular genitive).
  
−
{| border=1 cellpadding="5", rules="all" style="text-align:center"
+
:{| border=1 cellpadding="5", rules="all" style="text-align:center"
−
|+<b>Singular of both genders</b>
+
|+<b>Singular of both genders in the dative</b>
 
!Before
 
!Before
 
!form
 
!form
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|an taigh
 
|an taigh
 
|}
 
|}
−
<small>(table based on Fisher (2004)</small>
+
:<small>(table based on Fisher (2004)</small>
  
  
 
The plurals are identical to the common case:
 
The plurals are identical to the common case:
−
{| border=1 cellpadding="5", rules="all" style="text-align:center"
+
:{| border=1 cellpadding="5", rules="all" style="text-align:center"
−
|+<b>Plurals of both genders</b>
+
|+<b>Plurals of both genders in the dative</b>
 
!Before
 
!Before
 
!form
 
!form
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|-
 
|-
 
|Vowels
 
|Vowels
−
|an h-  (i.e. an<sup>H</sup>)
+
|na h-  (i.e. an<sup>H</sup>)
−
|an h-ubhlan
+
|na h-ubhlan
 
|}
 
|}
−
<small>(table based on Fisher (2004)</small>
+
:<small>(table based on Fisher (2004)</small>
−
 
 
−
 
 
−
 
 
  
 
== Description 2: By gender and number==
 
== Description 2: By gender and number==
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|colspan="2"|nan
 
|colspan="2"|nan
 
|}
 
|}
−
 
−
 
  
 
== Description 3: By form of the article==
 
== Description 3: By form of the article==
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−
===W===
+
=== Pattern W===
 
{|cellpadding="2" rules="all" style="text-align:center"
 
{|cellpadding="2" rules="all" style="text-align:center"
 
!Form
 
!Form
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−
===X===
+
===Pattern X===
 
{|cellpadding="2" rules="all" style="text-align:center"
 
{|cellpadding="2" rules="all" style="text-align:center"
 
!Form
 
!Form
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−
===Y===
+
===Pattern Y===
 
{|cellpadding="2" rules="all" style="text-align:center"
 
{|cellpadding="2" rules="all" style="text-align:center"
 
!Form
 
!Form
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−
===Z===
+
===Pattern Z===
 
{|cellpadding="2" rules="all" style="text-align:center"
 
{|cellpadding="2" rules="all" style="text-align:center"
 
!Form
 
!Form
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*http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Article_(grammar)
 
*http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Article_(grammar)
 
*http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Determiner_(class)
 
*http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Determiner_(class)
 +
*http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Definiteness
  
  
 
==References==
 
==References==
−
Lamb, William (2003) ''Scottish Gaelic.'' Lincom-Europa.
+
*Lamb, William (2003) ''Scottish Gaelic.'' Lincom-Europa.
 +
*Fisher, Muriel (2004) ''Scottish Gaelic: Level 1.'' Seattle: Each-Mara Publications
  
−
[[Category: Technical Definitions]]
 
 
[[Category: Lexical Item]]
 
[[Category: Lexical Item]]
 
[[Category: Morphology]]
 
[[Category: Morphology]]

Latest revision as of 20:00, 23 April 2015

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, two symbols indicate initial mutations and are not traditionally written out:

  • L means "triggers lenition" on the first consonant of the word that follows
  • 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)
Tha Mòrag a' draibhadh an càr dearg
is.PRES Mòrag PROG drive the car red
"Mòrag is driving the red car."
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


References

  • Lamb, William (2003) Scottish Gaelic. Lincom-Europa.
  • Fisher, Muriel (2004) Scottish Gaelic: Level 1. Seattle: Each-Mara Publications
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