View Message

In Gaelic spelling, every consonant has to be preceded and followed by the same type of vowel. there are two types of vowels: broad (a,o,u) and slender (i,e). So, Alastriona is actually a misspelling-- it should be Alaistriona, because the "str" is followed by an "i" it has to be preceded by a slender vowel too (Alaestriona would theoretically work too, but it looks weird). Since it ends with an A, the N has to be preceded by a broad vowel hence the o. You actually pronounce it very slightly, it's /al us TREE uh'na/-- there's a very slight extra syllable before the last "a" so slight that most people don't bother with it.