'A LIVING SPEECH'? THE PRONUNCIATION OF GREEK IN EARLY MEDIEVAL IRELAND
Pádraic Moran
While the Irish knowledge of Greek in early Middle Ages has been much debated, evidence language texts largely ignored. Early glossaries (O'Mulconry's Glossary, Sanas Cormaic, Duil Dromma Cetta) cite at least 190 words, and this presents an opportunity to study some sources for available Ireland. This article looks pronunciation particular. In doing so, it aims clarify extent which Ireland was, Zimmer's 'a living speech'.1 1. medieval The among Irish, both home abroad, subject a long often lively debate since Ludwig Traube published his seminal 'O Roma nobilis' 1891.2 boldly asserted that 'anyone on Continent who knew during time Charles Bald was either Irishman or without question had acquired from Irishman, else report surrounded person with such renown fraud'.3 Bernhard Bischoff' s also placed particular emphasis activities peregrini ,4 * Research funded by Council Humanities Social Sciences Arts (UK). I wish thank editors Eriu their corrections suggestions, Jacopo Bisagni, Graham Isaac, Amanda Kelly, PierreYves Lambert, Daibhi O Croinin Paul Russell helpful discussions. Any remaining faults are my own. 1 See note 22 below. 2 Traube, 'О nobilis. Philologische Untersuchungen aus dem Mittelalter , Abhandlungen der Bayerischen Akademie Wissenschaften 19/2 (1891), 299-395. broad survey Walter Berschin, Griechisch-lateinisches Mittelalter: von Hieronymus zu Nikolaus Kues (Berne Munich, 1980), translated Jerold С. Frakes, letters Latin Ages: Jerome Nicholas Cusa (Washington, DC, 1988). Berschin summarised 'Griechisches bei den Iren', Heinz Lowe (ed.), Die Iren und Europa fruheren (Stuttgart, 1982), 501-10, gave synopsis earlier period 'Greek elements manuscripts', M.W. Herren sacred nectar Greeks: West Ages, King's College London studies (London, 1988), 85-104. 3 Cited translation 132. 4 Bischoff, 'Das griechische Element abendlandischen Bildung des Mittelalters', Byzantinische Zeitschrift 44 (1951), 27-55, repr. Mittelalterliche Studien 1967), 246-75. DOI: 10.3318/ERIU.2011.61.29 Lxi (2011) 29-57 © Royal Academy content downloaded 207.46.13.128 Fri, 29 Jul 2016 05:34:19 UTC All use http://about.jstor.org/terms
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