msv133 wrote:
It seems that only the Ulster dialect has \ni\ instead of \naw\
There is /ni/ in Connacht
https://www.teanglann.ie/en/fuaim/an_Sl%c3%a1naitheoir, too.
Different speakers perhaps.
In Munster, it is in both versions /nə/ (or simplified /nuh/) but never /nɑː/ (/naw/)
Quote:
Not sure what you mean about "devoices" and so a "voiceless" \l\ remains
Devoicing = unvoicing = "making a sound voiceless".
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Consonant ... _devoicingThere are
voiced sounds (e.g.
b, g, d, v) and
voiceless sounds (
p, k, t, f)
Voiced sounds involve the vocal cords, voiceless sounds don’t.
An l sound is usually voiced. You can say a long lllllllllllll without any vowel. The vibration of your vocal cords can be heard.
But you can remove the voice, relax the vocal cords, as well, so llllllllllll is just a whisper or even less. So it is made voiceless.
An h sound (voiceless itself) next to l, n, m, or r (all usually voiced) makes these sounds voiceless – more or less so in many languages but certainly in Irish.*