Pre-aspiration

We have already noted that when the consonants t c p (broad and slender) are preceded by a vowel, a h sound precedes them. This is referred to as pre-aspiration. This pre-aspiration normally takes the form of a voiceless breathing h before each of the consonants t c p. However, before c, it is very often realised as ch. Listen carefully to the following examples. You may notice that the pre-aspiration h is not very audible following long vowels.

[hd]	[kahd]	cat	cat
	[lahd]	leat	with you
	[bahdə]	bata	stick (n.)
[ʰd]	[baːʰdə]	bàta	boat
[hb]	[mahb]	map	map (n.)
	[tahbə]	tapadh	cleverness
	[kuhbə]	cupa	cup (n.)
[xg]	[maxg]	mac	son
	[sɔxg]	soc	snout
	[Lʲaxg]	leac	flagstone
	[axgə]	aca	at them
[hdʲ]	[kahdʲ]	cait	cats
	[ihdʲag]	iteag	feather
	[Lʲihdʲə]	lite	porridge
	[Lʲihdʲɪrʲ]	litir	letter
[ʰdʲ]	[aːʰdʲə]	àite	place
[çb]	[kʲiçban]	cipean	stake (n.)
	[suçbər]	suipear	supper
[çgʲ]	[miçgʲ]	mic	sons
	[açgʲə]	aice	at her
	[fɛçgʲ]	faic	see!
	[Lʲiçgʲə]	lice	flagstone (genitive)