IrishEnglish (United Kingdom)
Stair na Gaeilge
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Written by Dáithí   
Tuesday, 27 April 2010 12:10

Irish Language Early History

Irish is one of the six remaining Celtic Languages which are of Indo-European origin and were once spoken from Central Europe, west into the Iberian Peninsula and east into Turkey. The Continental Celtic Languages have been extinct or dying since the fall of the Roman Empire. Those Celtic languages that remain are referred to as Insular Celtic languages as they originated in the British Isles. These languages are divided into two groups p-Celtic and q-Celtic. The distinction is based on a sound shift from 'b-p' to 'q-c' for example Mac (son Irish and Scottish) and Map (Welsh). Gaeilge, Gàidhlig (Gaeilge na hAlban), Gaelg (Manainnis) are three of the six remaining Celtic Languages (teangaí Ceilteacha) and they belong to the Goidelic or q-Celtic Branch. The other three are Cymreag (Breatnais), Kernowek (Coirnis) and Brezhoneg (Briotáinis). They are the Brythonic or p-Celtic branch. Manx and Cornish, no longer have any native speakers and are considered revivals. Cornish and to some extent Manx are essentially reconstructed languages. Although Breton is spoken on the Continent, it is considered an Insular language as it originated in Britain. The Britons who spoke it left England for the North Coast of France (Amorica) when the Germanic Tribes (Angles, Saxons or Jutes) who were coming to England began to become more politically dominant.

Last Updated on Thursday, 17 June 2010 15:37
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Written by Dáithí   
Tuesday, 27 April 2010 12:57

Irish Language (Middle ages - 20th century)

The first Bible published in Irish was translated by a Church of Ireland (Eaglaise na hÉireann) Bishop of Kilmore and Ardagh, named William Bedell. Although it was translated circa 1630, it was not published until 1685. I have read that this Bible was also used by Catholics before there was a completely approved Catholic (Caitliceach) version which was not published until 1981. The tradition in the Catholic Church was that the official version of the Bible was the versio vulgata (Latin version - circa 405 AD) and a later Vulgate translation of 1598 which was used until after the Second Vatican Council when translations of the Bible into the vernacular were authorized to encourage more people to participate in the liturgy.

The use of Irish had begun a slow decline starting in the early 17th century following the Flight of the Earls (Imeacht na nIarlaí) from Ulster when many of the old Irish speaking nobility went into exile.

Last Updated on Thursday, 17 June 2010 15:46
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