This dissertation provides a comprehensive account of the development of Gaelic script written in the eleventh and twelfth centuries in the Gaelic world. This has involved palaeographical and codicological examinations of the surviving manuscripts and fragments. Most manuscripts which survive from this period were written in Latin; however, this period also signals the first surviving manuscripts produced entirely in Middle Gaelic (most notably, Leabhar na hUidhre, Leabhar na Nuachongbhála, and OBL Rawl. B.502 [B]). One purpose of this dissertation is to contextualise the Middle-Gaelic language manuscripts within their Latin background. Two script-types were used in this period in Gaelic manuscripts (Gaelic National minuscule and Insular Half-uncial) which are both discussed in this dissertation. Much fundamental palaeographical work on the manuscripts in question has not previously been undertaken. On a very basic level, this study therefore provides arguments for distinguishing between the number of hands in manuscripts based on palaeographical and codicological observations. As a result of close palaeographical analysis I have been able to argue a chronological development for Gaelic script situated within the few reliable arguments for dating and locating some manuscripts. The employment of some abbreviations, monograms, and ligatures, new to Gaelic scribes, has proven to be particularly significant in terms of distinguishing between the layers of palaeographical development. These palaeographical features examined in light of ascetic qualities of the script has allowed me to place many script-specimens in ‘groups’ or ‘styles’ which subsequently reveal some argument for dating and locating manuscripts. This study of Gaelic script reveals that big scribal changes were underway in the eleventh and twelfth century: new styles of script were developed and a wealth of new abbreviations were used by some scribes. However, the evidence indicates that these developments were not necessarily felt simultaneously across the Gaelic World.

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Thesis (M.A.)--Brigham Young University. Dept. of English, 2008. / Includes bibliographical references (p. 103-110).

Thesis (Ph. D.)--UCLA, 2007. / Vita. Includes bibliographical references (leaves 191-204).

The objective of this thesis is to investigate examples of mythological motifs regarding their history and meaning. The thesis aims to show that the symbolic language used in myths, legends, folk and fairy tales have an important role within modern society and still have an effect on people's lives. Chapter I gives an overview of the Lady of the Lake tales contained in John Rhys' work Celtic Folklore Welsh and Manx and investigates whether those tales express in symbolic language actual historic events and issues of the times during which those tales were formulated. Chapter II widens the perspective by looking at various examples of water legends in Wales which are related to the Lady of the Lake cycle. It becomes evident that the uniting factor of all those tales is that they deal with conflicting ethical systems. Chapter III engages a detailed analysis of the motifs contained in the Legend of the "Lady of Llyn y Fan Fach" and combines the historic interpretation approach with a psychological method of interpretation. Chapters IV and V are concerned with tracing the motifs discussed in the previous chapters in twentieth-century works. Chapter IV looks at how one author uses motifs and universal symbols to make personal statements. Chapter V interprets the Walt Disney cartoon "The Little Mermaid". The Conclusion expands on the previously introduced idea of the development of the human mind. It has been suggested that symbolic language can reflect aspects of human reality and an attempt has been made to show how symbolic language operates. The Conclusion discusses the idea that the mythological way of thinking should be amalgamated with the rational capabilities of the human mind in order to create a new and effective understanding of reality.

The medieval English poem Sir Gawain and the Green Knight evidences much of its Celtic heritage in the plot and subplot, as well as in the characters themselves. The Ulster Cycle, an ancient Irish story group, and the Mabinogion, a medieval collection of traditional Welsh tales, both contain parallels to the English romance. In addition to these numerous analogues, other Celtic features appear in the poem. Knowingly or not, the Gawain-poet used the conventions of the Irish and Welsh traditions in the Other World journey, the battle-belt/lace, the pentangle/ sun symbol, and the color green. A study of these elements as Celtic features of the poem ensures a proper reading of Sir Gawain and the Green Knight.

This collection contains 13 papers presented in the workshop on the "The Celtic Languages in Contact" organised by Hildegard L. C. Tristram at the XIII International Celtic Congress in Bonn (Germany), July 23rd - 27th, 2007. The authors of two papers from another section also contributed their papers to this volume, as they deal with closely related issues. The time-span covered ranges from potential pre-historic contacts of Celtic with Altaic languages or Nostratic cognates in Celtic, through the hypothesis of Afro-Asiatic as a possible substrate for Celtic, Latin and Gaulish contacts in Gaul, the impact of Vulgar Latin on the formation of the Insular Celtic Languages as a linguistic area (Sprachbund), to various contact scenarios involving the modern Insular Celtic languages as well as English and French. The final paper reflects on the political status of the modern Insular Celtic languages in the Europe of the 27 EU countries.

Rev. version of the author's Thesis (doctoral)--École pratique des hautes études, Paris, 1996. / Includes bibliographical references and index.

Doctorat en philosophie et lettres / info:eu-repo/semantics/nonPublished