Lenition

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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.

Basic phenomenon

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
vɔd̪ɪç/
'old man (voc.)'
/t̪/ /h/ taileat
/uəhənax/
'a farmer'
a thuathanaich
huəhənɪç/
'farmer (voc.)'
/ʧ/ /h/ teachdaire
/ʧɛxkɪɾʲə/ /
'a messenger'
a theachdaire
//ə hɛxkɪɾʲə/
'messenger (voc.)'
/d̪/ /ɣ/ duine
/d̪unʲə/
'a man'
a dhuine
ɣunʲə/
'man (voc.)'
/ʤ/ /j/ Diùrachh
/ʤuːɾax/
'a Jura-man'
a Dhiùraich
juːɾɪç/
'Jura-man (voc.)'
/k/ /x/ cailleach
/kalʲax/
'an old woman'
aig a' chailleach
/ɛgʲ ə xalʲax/
'at the old woman'
/kʲ/ /ç/ ceannaiche
/an̪ˠɪçə/
'a salesman'
a cheannaiche
çan̪ˠɪçə/
'salesman (voc.)'
/g/ /ɣ/ gobha
/goːə/
'a smith'
a ghobha
ɣoːə/
'smith (voc.)'
/gʲ/ /j/ gille
/ɪlʲə/
boy'
a ghille
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

External Links

References