6 - General morphological rules
Published online by Cambridge University Press: 05 June 2012
Summary
General discussion
It cannot be said that these rules are the product of any particular grammatical function but they are, so to speak, simply ‘available’ for use in certain syntactic or semantic circumstances. This means that, on one level, these morphological rules resemble the phonological rules (see Part I) inasmuch as they are not directly connected with the syntax or with the semantics. In that sense, these rules might be regarded as phonological rules which have limited functions. Nevertheless, these morphological rules differ from the phonological ones in that they are not simply determined by the phonetic environment but are affected by grammatical and lexical considerations.
The general morphological rules are broadly similar in the various dialects, even though differences may occur in the way in which they are employed. They are discussed here under two main headings: firstly, initial mutations – those which affect the beginning of the first syllable – and secondly, final changes – those which affect word endings.
Initial mutations
General description
Initial mutations are shown in Table 6.1. There is obviously regularity in these phonetic changes. In the process of lenition plosives become continuants (the non-sonant dentals then become back sonants) and there is a loss of tension in laterals, vibrants and nasals. In the case of eclipsis, the rules involve nasalization of voiced plosives and voicing of voiceless consonants.
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- Modern IrishGrammatical Structure and Dialectal Variation, pp. 111 - 142Publisher: Cambridge University PressPrint publication year: 1989