idshanks wrote:
NiallBeag wrote:
The other thing to notice is that any "v" sound isn't really like an English V. The bottom lip doesn't curl in as much -- in English you're almost biting your lip, but in Gaelic, I think it stays in front of the teeth.
So would you say it's more akin to the soft Spanish ‘v’ sound, where it's formed by constricting but not closing the lips (with the teeth basically uninvolved in the actual production of the sound)?
In Barra it is. Elsewhere it seems to be like trying to say B with the bottom lip only -- ie without moving your top lip. If that makes sense.
Don't worry too much about it, but think of it this way: F and V in English are slightly more "toothy" and (depending on your accent) don't change N to M (infamy and invisible, vs impossible, imbalance and immaterial) whereas in Gaelic F is more "lippy" and changes certain Ns to M (am fear, am balach, am pàipear).
But i've probably just confused you now.