Mamun -university roman -german philology english department

tensed l,n,r

The consonants l,n,r are differentiated in some dialects in a tensed form [L], [N], [R] and the non-tensed form [l], [n], [r]. ([m] counts always as tensed, so therefore there's no need ofr a special notation)
The difference comes roughly in the precision of the pronunciation, [L], [N], [R] are somewhat lengthened, [l], [n], [r] are spoken a bit more lax. [L], [N] are formed by a pressing of the tongue on the front teeth, [l], [n] are produced on the alveolae.
In written Irish, the tensed variant (except at the beginning of a word) often expressed as a double (nn, ll, rr).
Tensed consonants also have an effect on neighbouring vowels:
The "tension" reaches over to the neighbouring vowels. This is why they are either lengthened or diphthongised, if the tensed consonants are in a stressed syllable at the end of a word (or preceding further consonants):
In Munster, the difference tensed/non-tensed was lost, only the vowels show dipthongisation or lengthening:
e.g. donn [daun] instead of [doN], ceann [k'aun] instead of [k'aN], fillte [f'i:l't'@] instead of [f'iL't'@].
Only in Ring and Clare is [i] also diphthongised: e.g. cill [k'ail]
In some dialects, (bes. Connemara) there is a lengthening and diphthongisation also in a sustaining of the tensed consonants, but the diphthongisation is only with middle vowels
e.g. donn [dauN], ceann [k'å:N], fillte [f'i:L't'@]
In Ulster there is only lengthening, no dipthongs,
e.g. donn [du:N], ceann [k'æ:N], fillte [f'i:L't'@]
In the Lárchanúint, the tensed consonants are completely ignored and handled like the non-tensed ones, and the vowels remain mostly short,
e.g. donn [don], ceann [k'an], fillte [f'il't'@]
at the beginning of a word:
Where the differences between tensed and non-tensed consonants remain, then it also applies that if [L], [N] at the beginning of a word as the unlenited form, then [l], [n] as the lenited form,
e.g.: the book = an leabhar [@ L'aur], my book = mo leabhar [m@ l'aur]
tensed n [N] is also used in the eclipsed form (except ng): e.g. ten doors = deich ndoras [d'e: Nor@s], ten fish = deich n-iasc [d'e: N'i@sk]
Only the word le appears resistant to start with a non-tensed l [l@]