Lenition

Lenition is an Initial Consonant Mutation which "softens" the sound of the first consonant in a word. It is used to mark certain morphological contrasts and to mark |inflection. It also inaccurately known as aspiration (which is the term used for a phonological phenomenon involving a burst of air). we will use the more correct term here.

Orthographic Changes

For most letters, lenition is indicated by putting an <h> after the first consonant in the word. For example, when the word caora "sheep" follows the feminine article a' , it is lenited and is written a' chaora.

The consonants written l,n,r which are subject to lenition phonologically (see below) show no orthographic change.

Phonological Changes

Stops

Radical	Lenited	Example (radical)	Example (lenited)
/p/	/f/	paileat /pailʲət̪/ 'a pilot'	aig a' phaileat /ɛgʲ ə failʲət̪/ 'at the pilot'
/b/	/v/	bodach /bɔd̪ax/ 'an old man'	a bhodaich /ə vɔd̪ɪç/ 'old man (voc.)'
/t̪/	/h/	taileat /t̪uəhənax/ 'a farmer'	a thuathanaich /ə huəhənɪç/ 'farmer (voc.)'
/ʧ/	/h/	teachdaire /ʧɛxkɪɾʲə/ / 'a messenger'	a theachdaire //ə hɛxkɪɾʲə/ 'messenger (voc.)'
/d̪/	/ɣ/	duine /d̪unʲə/ 'a man'	a dhuine /ə ɣunʲə/ 'man (voc.)'
/ʤ/	/j/	Diùrachh /ʤuːɾax/ 'a Jura-man'	a Dhiùraich /ə juːɾɪç/ 'Jura-man (voc.)'
/k/	/x/	cailleach /kalʲax/ 'an old woman'	aig a' chailleach /ɛgʲ ə xalʲax/ 'at the old woman'
/kʲ/	/ç/	ceannaiche /kʲan̪ˠɪçə/ 'a salesman'	a cheannaiche /ə çan̪ˠɪçə/ 'salesman (voc.)'
/g/	/ɣ/	gobha /goːə/ 'a smith'	a ghobha /ə ɣoːə/ 'smith (voc.)'
/gʲ/	/j/	gille /gʲɪlʲə/ boy'	a ghille /ə jɪlʲə/ 'boy (voc.)'

Initial <sp>, <st>, <sg>, and sometimes <sn> (depending upon the dialect) do not undergo lenition.

Lenition Triggers

• certain articles:
• intensifiers: glè, ro

See Also

• Initial Consonant Mutations
• Initial Consonant Mutation (definition)
• Nasalization