Editing Vocative case (section)

====Goidelic languages====
=====Irish=====
The vocative case in [[Irish language|Irish]] operates in a similar fashion to Scottish Gaelic. The principal marker is the vocative particle {{lang|ga|a}}, which causes [[lenition]] of the following initial letter.

In the singular there is no special form, except for first declension nouns. These are masculine nouns that end in a broad (non-palatal) consonant, which is made slender (palatal) to build the singular vocative (as well as the singular genitive and plural nominative). Adjectives are also [[lenited]]. In many cases this means that (in the singular) masculine vocative expressions resemble the [[genitive case|genitive]] and feminine vocative expressions resemble the [[nominative case|nominative]].

The vocative plural is usually the same as the nominative plural except, again, for first declension nouns. In the standard language first declension nouns show the vocative plural by adding {{lang|ga|-a}}. In the spoken dialects the vocative plural is often has the same form as the nominative plural (as with the nouns of other declensions) or the dative plural (e.g. {{lang|ga|A fhearaibh!}} = Men!)
{| class="wikitable"
! colspan="2" |Gender
! colspan="3" |Masculine
! colspan="3" |Feminine
|-
! rowspan="3" |Sg.
!Nominative
|{{lang|ga|an fear mór}}
|{{lang|ga|an buachaill mór}}
|{{lang|ga|Seán}}
|{{lang|ga|an bhean mhór}}
|{{lang|ga|an deirfiúr mhór}}
|{{lang|ga|Máire}}
|-
!Genitive
|{{lang|ga|an fhir mhóir}}
|{{lang|ga|an bhuachalla mhóir}}
|{{lang|ga|Sheáin}}
|{{lang|ga|na mná móire}}
|{{lang|ga|na deirféar móire}}
|{{lang|ga|Mháire}}
|-
!Vocative
|{{lang|ga|a fhir mhóir}}
|{{lang|ga|a bhuachaill mhóir}}
|{{lang|ga|a Sheáin}}
|{{lang|ga|a bhean mhór}}
|{{lang|ga|a dheirfiúr mhór}}
|{{lang|ga|a Mháire}}
|-
! rowspan="3" |Pl.
!Nominative
|{{lang|ga|na fir móra}}
|{{lang|ga|na buachaillí móra}}
|
|{{lang|ga|na mná móra}}
|{{lang|ga|na deirfiúracha móra}}
|
|-
!Genitive
|{{lang|ga|na bhfear mór}}
|{{lang|ga|na mbuachaillí móra}}
|
|{{lang|ga|na mban mór}}
|{{lang|ga|na ndeirfiúracha móra}}
|
|-
!Vocative
|{{lang|ga|a fheara móra}}
|{{lang|ga|a bhuachaillí móra}}
|
|{{lang|ga|a mhná móra}}
|{{lang|ga|a dheirfiúracha móra}}
|
|-
! colspan="2" |English
|the big man
|the big boy
|John
|the big woman
|the big sister
|Mary
|}

=====Scottish Gaelic=====
The vocative case in [[Scottish Gaelic language|Scottish Gaelic]] follows the same basic pattern as Irish. The vocative case causes [[lenition]] of the initial consonant of nouns. Lenition changes the initial sound of the word (or name).

In addition, masculine nouns are slenderized if possible (that is, in writing, an 'i' is inserted before the final consonant) This also changes the pronunciation of the word.

Also, the particle {{lang|gd|a}} is placed before the noun unless it begins with a vowel (or f followed immediately by a vowel, which becomes silent when lenited). Examples of the use of the vocative personal names (as in Irish):

{| class="wikitable"
 !Nominative case
 !Vocative case
 |-
 |{{lang|gd|Caitrìona}}
 |{{lang|gd|'''a Ch'''aitrìona}}
 |-
 |{{lang|gd|Dòmhnall}}
 |{{lang|gd|'''a Dh'''òmhna'''i'''ll}}
 |-
 |{{lang|gd|Màiri}}
 |{{lang|gd|'''a Mh'''àiri}}
 |-
 |{{lang|gd|Seumas}}
 |{{lang|gd|'''a Sh'''euma'''i'''s}}
 |-
 |{{lang|gd|Ùna}}
 |{{lang|gd|Ùna}}
 |-
 |{{lang|gd|cù}}
 |{{lang|gd|'''a ch'''oin}}
 |-
 |{{lang|gd|bean}}
 |{{lang|gd|'''a bh'''ean}}
 |-
 |{{lang|gd|duine}}
 |{{lang|gd|'''a dh'''uine}}
 |-
|}

The name "Hamish" is just the English spelling of {{lang|gd|Sheumais}} (the vocative of {{lang|gd|Seumas}} and pronounced {{IPA|ˈheːmɪʃ}}), and thus is actually a Gaelic vocative. Likewise, the name "Vairi" is an English spelling of {{lang|gd|Mhàiri}}, the vocative for {{lang|gd|Màiri}}.

=====Manx=====
The basic pattern is similar to Irish and Scottish. The vocative is confined to personal names, in which it is common. Foreign names (not of Manx origin) are not used in the vocative. The vocative case causes [[lenition]] of the initial consonant of names. It can be used with the particle "{{lang|gv|y}}".

{| class="wikitable"
 !Nominative case
 !Vocative case
 |-
 |{{lang|gv|Juan}}
 |{{lang|gv|'''y Y'''uan}}
 |-
 |{{lang|gv|Donal}}
 |{{lang|gv|'''y Gh'''onal}}
 |-
 |{{lang|gv|Moirrey}}
 |{{lang|gv|'''y V'''oirrey}}
 |-
 |{{lang|gv|Catreeney}}
 |{{lang|gv|'''y Ch'''atreeney}}
 |-
 |{{lang|gv|John}}
 |{{lang|gv|John}}
 |-
|}
The name {{lang|gv|Voirrey}} is actually the Manx vocative of {{lang|gv|Moirrey}} (Mary).