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Scotland Languages: Difference between revisions
→Alphabet and pronunciation
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=== Alphabet and pronunciation === | === Alphabet and pronunciation === | ||
Though the Scottish Gaelic and English alphabets are very similar, each has some letters not used in the other. The letters j, k, q, v, w, y, x and z are not used in the Gaelic language except in some 'adopted' words. Gaelic also uses the grave accent above vowels, and until recently used the acute accent over some of them as well. | Though the Scottish Gaelic and English alphabets are very similar, each has some letters not used in the other. The letters j, k, q, v, w, y, x and z are not used in the Gaelic language except in some 'adopted' words and foreign names. Gaelic also uses the grave accent above vowels, and until recently used the acute accent over some of them as well. | ||
Putting an "h" after a consonant changes its sound (much like in certain English combinations) and serves a grammatical function: | Putting an "h" after a consonant changes its sound (much like in certain English combinations) and serves a grammatical function: | ||
*bh/mh (a | *bh/mh (a v or w sound) | ||
*ch (a guttural sound as in German - known as the velar fricative.) | *ch (a guttural sound as in German - known as the velar fricative.) | ||
*dh/gh | *dh/gh | ||