"mhn" and Dòmhnall

[Daenyth]

What's the correct way to pronouce "mhn"? I've heard Dòmhnall in some audio files I have pronounced somewhat like dò-ll or dò-all. Why is the n silent in there? Is it specific to the name, or is the 'mhn' combination always sort of skipped over?

[GunChleoc]

It's just the name.

[Seonaidh]

mhn ann an Dòmhnall? Coltach ri mhn ann an "comhnard", "comhairle" amsaa.

Quite often, in a fat situation usually, MH does not actually go to a V-type sound but more to a W. And, indeed, sometimes the only way you know it's there is because it makes the vowel before it a bit nasal. When that happens - and it's also followed by an N - you often don't get the N either, but just nasalised vowels (if you know French, that sort of effect).

[Daenyth]

I had wondered about that. My copy of "Teach yourself Gaelic" says that the mh can go to a "w" sound, but it doesn't specify how or when.

Tapadh leibh!

[GunChleoc]

comhairle doesn't have an n though.

But the general point is correct, what the mh does in these examples is to make the stuff in front of it nasal. It is not pronounced as such.

An example where the n is pronounced is an còmhnaidh

[IainDonnchaidh]

Coimhead is another one.

The one I don't get is Aonghas: ah-NOOSE ???

[Seonaidh]

Well, "Aonghas" is the latest of a few attempts (the main earlier one was "Oengus") to render a traditional Pictish name into Gaelic. If I mind right, recorded early forms include such as "Uunuist". One thing is, however, certain: at no time has it sounded particularly like the modern English "Angus" (rather closer to "Innes", in fact).