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The Distribution of 3. pl. pres. ind. -(h)yn(t) and the Dating of Welsh Prophetic Poetry

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This article gathers together the evidence for the third-person plural present indicative verbal ending -(h)yn(t) and attempts to trace the history of its usage. The ending is attested primarily in prophetic poetry, though relevant forms are also found in Old Welsh and elsewhere in the Hengerdd. It appears that the ending fell out of general use between the tenth and twelfth century. It lingered a little longer in prophetic poetry, with the latest dateable examples found in a stanza composed shortly after 1211/12. It is suggested that the ending was adopted as a marker of prophetic poetry because it had already developed a specific association with future-time reference.

Document Type: Research Article

Affiliations: Cardiff University

Publication date: January 1, 2024

More about this publication?
  • The Journal of Celtic Linguistics publishes articles and reviews on all aspects of the linguistics of the Celtic languages, modern, medieval and ancient, with particular emphasis on synchronic studies, while not excluding diachronic and comparative-historical work. This journal is of great interest to students of languages and Celtic studies, as well as members of the general public interested in the linguistic progression within Celtic languages and linguistic history. The editor is Lecturer in the Welsh Department at Aberystwyth University, and is supported by an editorial board including representatives from Oxford and Cambridge universities, and from universities across Europe and North America. Papers are invited in English, French or German on all fields/‘levels’ of analysis; phonology, morphology, syntax, semantics, pragmatics; formal or functional, cross-language typological or language-internal, dialectological or sociolinguistic, any theoretical paradigm.

    Mae’r Journal of Celtic Linguistics yn cynnwys erthyglau ac adolygiadau ar bob agwedd ar ieithoedd Celtaidd - modern, canoloesol a hynafol - gyda phwyslais arbennig ar astudiaethau syncronig, a heb eithrio gwaith diacronig a hanesyddol-gymharol. Y mae’r cyfnodolyn hwn yn ddefnyddiol i fyfyrwyr sydd yn astudio ieithoedd ac astudiaethau Celtaidd, yn ogystal â darllenwyr sy’n ymddiddori yn hanes datblygiadau’r ieithoedd Celtaidd. Mae’r golygydd yn Ddarlithydd yn Adran y Gymraeg, Prifysgol Aberystwyth, ac yn cydweithio â’r bwrdd golygyddol sydd â chynrychiolaeth o brifysgolion Rhydychen, Caergrawnt, ac o brifysgolion ledled Ewrop a Gogledd America.

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