One of the chief reasons for this state of affairs is the attempt which has been made to represent an exceedingly numerous and varied series of sounds with a meagre alphabet of eighteen letters. The system of orthography developed, though highly ingenious, has proved entirely inadequate to its purpose. But if this be true of the so-called classical speech of the few educated persons, whose original pronunciation has been to some slight extent modified by the influence of books, far more decidedly must it be affirmed of the actual peasant dialects which, for two hundred years at least, have taken each of them its own way, uncontrolled by any central influence. Of these the mere sounds cannot be given at all on the basis of the common spelling. Here are two of the simplest examples. The Donegal pronunciation of the word “tá” cannot be written by any device known to Irish orthography; neither can the Kerry pronunciation of “glean.” The strange spectacle is sometimes witnessed of an attempt to give the actual sound of Irish words by means of a spelling based on English values,—of Chaos applying for help to Confusion.
In addition to the reasons which might be urged generally in favour of recording folk-lore in the dialect of the narrators, is one which is largely peculiar to Irish tales. I will indicate it in the briefest manner. Words are of frequent occurrence which are not to be found in the dictionaries. If one of these words contains the sound of v or w, you cannot tell, if writing in the ordinary way, whether to use b or m aspirated. If by mistake you choose the wrong letter, you may afterwards throw yourself or others entirely on a wrong scent. But if the actual v or w is written, you will not be responsible for misleading any one. It is further to be observed that these stories constitute the only body of matter having an intrinsic interest, which can be used as a vehicle for placing some considerable specimens of the spoken language before Continental and other students, who have little opportunity of gaining acquaintance with it directly.
It is true that the difficulties in the way of accurately writing the dialects are formidable. Not only, as already remarked, are the sounds of Irish exceptionally numerous and subtle in any one dialect that may be chosen, but the dialects are well-nigh innumerable. While certain broad differences are characteristic of Kerry, Connaught, and Donegal respectively, there are minor varieties in every district, shading off in every possible combination into those of the surrounding districts. The native of Ballymore does not speak as the inhabitant of Ballybeg, only two miles away; and the native of Ballybeg probably has several pronunciations, of which he will give you the benefit impartially. This last statement must appear almost incredible, but its truth is unquestionable. I have taxed the peasants with these variations, and they have admitted them, only observing “that’s how the word’s said there,” i.e., in that context.
The alphabet which now follows is the work of Mr. James Lecky, whose untimely death was a severe blow to the study of modern Irish. In addition to the list here given, Mr. Lecky had noted some additional distinctions, the precise value of which I do not understand. I have therefore not employed them in my own stories, and though I have included one story written down by himself, I have been obliged to omit them.
THE ALPHABET.
| Phonetic Spelling. | Ordinary Spelling. | English. | |
|---|---|---|---|
| a | maq | mac | son |
| aa | laa | lá | day |
| ai | maih | maith | good |
| aai | faainnje | fáinne | a ring |
| æ | bæn | bean | a woman |
| ææ | fæær | feárr | better |
| e | lesj | leis | with |
| ee | sjee | sé | he |
| eei | eeisjg | éisg | of a fish |
| i | min | min | meal |
| ï or ii | sjï | sí | she |
| o | qos | cos | foot |
| oo | boo | bó | cow |
| ou | qoul | ca bh-fhuil | where is? |
| oi | oiărq | adharc | a horn |
| u | muq | muc | a pig |
| uu | tuu | tú | thou |
| ă, ĕ, ĭ, ŏ, ŭ, are obscure sounds of the ordinary short vowels, ă occurs frequently, the others rarely. i final has the value of y in English “city.” | |||
| b | baan | bán | white |
| d | madu | madadh | a dog |
| dj | djæs | deas | pretty |
| dd | meeădd-sjin | meud-sin | all that[18] |
| f | fis | fios | knowledge |
| fj | fjuu | fiú | worth |
| g (slender g) | gæær | geárr | short |
| c (broad g) | cas | gas | stalk |
| ç (broad asp.) | mŏ çort | mŏ ghort | my field |
| h | huc | thug | took |
| hj | mŏ hjool | mŏ sheól | my sail |
| j | mŏ jæærher[19] | mŏ dhearbhráthair | my brother |
| k (slender c) | kool | ceól | music[20] |
| q (broad c) | qos | cos | foot |
| x (q asp.) | xirj | chuir | put[21] |
| l | lee | lé | with |
| lj | balje | baile | town |
| ll | llonc | long | ship |
| llj | lljæbwi | leaba | bed |
| m | maq | mac | son |
| n | noos | nós | custom |
| nj | njïr | nior | neither |
| nn | bonn | bonn | bottom |
| nnj | qrinnju | cruinniughadh | assembly |
| p | paaisjdje | páisde | child |
| r | rud | rud | thing |
| rj | erjĕ | aire | attention |
| rr | } | see remarks | |
| rrj | } | ||
| s | saal | sál | heel |
| sj | sjæn | sean | old |
| t | taa | tá | is |
| tj | tjïrj | tír | country |
| tt[22] | hitt-sjee | thuit-sjee | he fell |
| v | mŏ væn | mŏ bhean | my wife |
| w | waru | mharbh | killed |
| ) = a glide. (iota subscript) is the sign of nasality, mrææ̧. | |||
[18] Sound hard, as English d.
[19] Donegal pronunciation.
[20] k asp. = hj.