The spelling of the word "beag" in Irish Gaelic is influenced by its pronunciation. In IPA phonetic transcription, it is pronounced as /bʲaɡ/, which means that it starts with a "b" sound followed by a palatalized "a" sound (represented by the "ʲ" symbol). The final "g" is pronounced with a slight "h" sound, which is common in Irish Gaelic pronunciation. The spelling "beag" accurately reflects its Irish pronunciation and reminds us of the importance of understanding the relationship between spelling and pronunciation in different languages.
The word "beag" originates from Old Irish and Gaelic languages. In Old Irish, the term for "little" or "small" was "béc", while in modern Irish, it is pronounced as "beag". The word has been directly borrowed into English, maintaining its meaning of smallness or little.