Key Takeaways
- A team of experts from Aberystwyth University is compiling the first complete dictionary of ancient Celtic, a language spoken in parts of the UK and Ireland 2,000 years ago.
- The dictionary will include over 1,000 words and will draw from sources such as Julius Caesar’s account of his conquest of northern Europe and ancient memorial stones.
- The dictionary will cover words from 325BC to AD500 and will provide insight into the linguistic landscape of Britain and Ireland during that time period.
- The project will bring together disparate sources, including Roman administrative records, inscriptions on stones, and placenames, to reconstruct the ancient Celtic language.
- The dictionary will be available in both online and printed versions, and will be of interest to linguists, historians, archaeologists, and archaeogeneticists.
Introduction to the Project
The compilation of a dictionary of ancient Celtic is a significant undertaking, as the vast majority of the language has been lost to time. However, a team of experts from Aberystwyth University is working to collect the remnants of this language, which was spoken in parts of the UK and Ireland 2,000 years ago. The resulting dictionary will not be a hefty volume, but it is expected to include over 1,000 words, making it a valuable resource for scholars and researchers. Dr. Simon Rodway, a senior lecturer in the department of Welsh and Celtic studies at Aberystwyth, is part of the team bringing together disparate sources to compile the dictionary.
The Significance of the Dictionary
The dictionary will provide a unique insight into the nature of Celtic languages spoken in Britain and Ireland at the dawn of the historical period. By bringing together sources such as Julius Caesar’s account of his conquest of northern Europe, ancient memorial stones, and Roman administrative records, the team hopes to reconstruct the linguistic landscape of the region during that time period. This will be of interest not only to linguists but also to historians, archaeologists, and archaeogeneticists. The dictionary will cover words from 325BC to AD500, a period of significant cultural and linguistic change in the region.
Sources for the Dictionary
The team compiling the dictionary will draw from a range of sources, including Roman administrative records, inscriptions on stones, and placenames. For example, the words for sea in Welsh and Old Irish – môr and muir – correspond to "Mori" in Celtic names such as Moridunum, which means "sea fort" and is an ancient name for Carmarthen in south-west Wales. The team will also use fragments of Celtic language found in letters from soldiers stationed in Britain, as well as inscriptions on stones in places such as Cornwall and Ireland that use the Ogham alphabet.
The Challenges of Compiling the Dictionary
Compiling the dictionary is a complex task, as the vast majority of the language has been lost to time. The team is dependent on documents written in Latin or Greek, which contain names of places, ethnic groups, or individuals that can be identified as Celtic. However, these documents often provide only glimpses of the ancient language, and the team must use careful analysis and reconstruction to build a comprehensive picture of the language. Additionally, the team must navigate the challenges of working with ancient texts, which can be fragmentary, damaged, or difficult to interpret.
The Importance of the Ogham Alphabet
The Ogham alphabet is a significant source of information for the dictionary, as it provides a unique window into the language and culture of ancient Celtic societies. The alphabet, which consists of straight lines designed to be carved on to stone, metal, bone, or wood, was used to inscribe stones and other objects in places such as Cornwall and Ireland. The team will use these inscriptions to reconstruct the language and culture of the people who created them, and to gain a deeper understanding of the linguistic landscape of the region during that time period.
The Plan for the Dictionary
The plan is to produce online and printed versions of the dictionary, which will be available to scholars and researchers. The dictionary will be a valuable resource for anyone interested in the history and culture of the UK and Ireland, and will provide a unique insight into the language and culture of ancient Celtic societies. The team is excited to be involved in this project, which will help to shed new light on a fascinating and complex period of history. By bringing together disparate sources and using careful analysis and reconstruction, the team hopes to create a comprehensive and authoritative dictionary of ancient Celtic.
