[From Manx Soc vol 2, Kelly's Manx Grammar]

A GRAMMAR OF THE MANKS LANGUAGE.

CHAPTER I.

OF THE LETTERS.

The Capital Letters.

A B C Ch* D E F G H I J K L M N O P Ph Q R S T U V W Y,

Small Letters.

a b c ch d e f g h i j k l m n o p ph q r s t u v w y.

The Alphabet consists of seventeen single and two double consonants, and seven vowels, viz., a, e, i, o, u, w, y.

Of the consonants fourteen are mutable, viz., b, c, ch, d, f, g, j, k, m, p, ph, q, s, t.

The immutables are l, n, r, which always retain their sound, and alter not.

The j, k, and q consonants are properly no Manks letters; yet, as we have no single characters of our own to express their sounds, we have adopted those of the Roman alphabet, and instead of di, according to the Irish, and si, according to the Welsh, we use j; as Jee, God; Juan, John--Ir. Dia, &c. The sound of c we often express by k; as, instead of cione, we read kione, a head. For cw in cwaiyl, we use q; as, quaiyl, a court.

The diphthongs, or union of two vowels, are twenty­three, and the triphthongs fourteen.

DIPHTHONGS.

TRIPHTHONGS.

Sciopius and Carisius have remarked that a syllable may be formed of two or three vowels; as, aquae; yet Quintilian will not allow that three vowels can be united in one syllable. But a syllable of three vowels, nay of four, as rieau, &c., is easy and natural to the Manks and Irish, as also to many other branches of the great Celtic language. But, contrary to the spirit of that language, and to the disguising of many of the roots, we have admitted into our orthography unnecessary and superfluous double vowels; such as oo, ee, &c.

* This letter does not originally belong to our alphabet; but, like the Welsh, is a modern corruption of t; as, instead of teas, heat, we say chiass.