Vocative Case
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- for a definition of Vocative Case, see Vocative Case (definition)
The vocative case is used when you are calling someone (or more rarely something) by name.
Contents
[hide]Proper Names
In Gaelic, the vocative is formed by preceding the noun with the particle aL (the L is not typically written, it is provided here to indicate that it tirggers lenition). If the noun begins with a vowel, then the particle is omitted. If the noun is masculine and ends in a broad consonant, then that consonant is attenuation.
Gender Initial sound Way to Form Vocative Example Masculine vowel attenuate Aonghais consonant aL+attenuate a Sheumais Feminine vowel none Anna consonant aL a Mhàiri
- Chart adapted from Fisher (2004)
Nouns that form the genitive by attenuation
singular'
vocative prefixes a, which lenites the noun; Make the final consonant slender
- balach --> a bhalaich
Nouns that form the genitive by suffixing e
singular
vocative prefixes a, which lenites the noun, otherwise the form of the noun is the same
- cas --> a chas
=Nouns that form the genitive by suffixing a
singular
vocative prefixes a, which lenites the noun, otherwise the form of the noun is the same
- feoil --> a fheoil
See Also
External Links
References
- Fisher, Muriel (2004) Scottish Gaelic: Level 1. Seattle: Each-Mara Publications
