Middle Irish, also called Middle Gaelic (Irish: An Mheán-Ghaeilge, Scottish Gaelic: Meadhan-Ghàidhlig), is the Goidelic language which was spoken in Ireland, most of Scotland and the Isle of Man from c. 900–1200 AD; it is therefore a contemporary of Late Old English and Early Middle English. The modern Goidelic languages—Modern Irish, Scottish Gaelic and Manx Gaelic—are all descendants of Middle Irish.
| Middle Irish | |
|---|---|
| Middle Gaelic | |
| Gaoidhealg | |
| Pronunciation | [ˈɡəiðeɫɡ] |
| Native to | Ireland, Scotland, Isle of Man |
| Era | c. 900–1200 |
Indo-European
| |
Early forms | Primitive Irish
|
| Latin (Gaelic alphabet) | |
| Language codes | |
| ISO 639-2 | mga |
| ISO 639-3 | mga |
| Glottolog | midd1360 |
Grammar
This section does not cite any sources. (February 2024) |
Middle Irish is a fusional, VSO, nominative-accusative language, and makes frequent use of lenition.
Nouns decline for two genders: masculine and feminine, though traces of neuter declension persist; three numbers: singular, dual, plural; and five cases: nominative, accusative, genitive, prepositional, vocative. Adjectives agree with nouns in gender, number, and case.
Verbs conjugate for three tenses: past, present, future; four moods: indicative, subjunctive, conditional, imperative; independent and dependent forms. Verbs conjugate for three persons and an impersonal, agentless form (agent). There are a number of preverbal particles marking the negative, interrogative, subjunctive, relative clauses, etc.
Prepositions inflect for person and number. Different prepositions govern different cases, depending on intended semantics.
Sample texts
Poem on Eogan Bél
The following is an untitled poem in Middle Irish about Eógan Bél, King of Connacht.
| Middle Irish | Modern Irish | Late Modern English |
|---|---|---|
| Dún Eogain Bél forsind loch forsrala ilar tréntroch, | Dún Eogain Bél fosna locha cois tráthnóna cléir tréan. | Fort of Eoghan the Stammerer upon the lake, enduring its powerful waves. |
| ní mair Eogan forsind múr ocus maraid in sendún. | ní chónaíonn Eoghan ar an mhuirbhalla ach mhairfidh an sean-dún. | Eoghan no longer lives within the wall, but the old fort remains. |
| Maraid inad a thige irraibe ’na chrólige, | Fanann áit a theach fá chlúid an aeir, | The place of his dwelling remains under the protection of the wind, |
| ní mair in rígan re cair nobíd ina chomlepaid. | níl banríon leis an gceartú ná caithfidh sí ina chomhléarscáil. | The queen no longer lives with him, nor must she abide in his companion. |
| Cairptech in rí robúi and, innsaigthech oirgnech Érenn, | bhí carrthach sa ríocht, an-uaireanta fiach ón Éirinn, | A charioteer was in the kingdom, often indebted from Ireland, |
| ní dechaid coll cána ar goil, rocroch tríchait im óenboin. | níor shiúl sé coirce cách, rinneadh sceach tríocha timpeall ar a chinn. | He didn't walk the rye's path, a bushel of thirty was hung around his neck. |
| Roloisc Life co ba shecht, rooirg Mumain tríchait fecht, | scáilteadh na lámha in aois go 30 bliain, dhein Mumhan greim 30 uair, | His hands were stretched until he was thirty years old, Munster grasped thirty times, |
| nír dál do Leith Núadat nair co nár dámair immarbáig. | níor láidir Leith Núadat ná mí-neart daonra chomh maith. | Leith Núadat was not strong nor of insufficient human force. |
| Doluid fecht im-Mumain móir do chuinchid argait is óir, | chuaigh sé go minic go Mumhain mór le haghaidh airgid agus óir a bhailiú, | He often went to great Munster to gather silver and gold, |
| d’iaraid sét ocus móine do gabail gíall [n]dagdóine. | d'fhéach sé taoibh leis agus gearán a dhéanamh faoi ghealladh na ndaoine dána. | He looked around and complained about the promise of the bold people. |
| Trían a shlúaig dar Lúachair síar co Cnoc mBrénainn isin slíab, | thriail a thríúr a shlí trí Luachair siar go Cnoc mBrénainn san fhásach, | A third of his host went through Luachair westward to Hill of Brénainn in the mountain, |
| a trían aile úa fo dess co Carn Húi Néit na n-éces. | an tríúr eile thriall siar go Carn Uí Néit i gcéin sna clanna eolais. | Another third went southward to Carn Uí Néit far away in the tribes of knowledge, |
| Sé fodéin oc Druimm Abrat co trían a shlúaig, nísdermat, | dó féin ag Druim Abhrat le tríúr de a shlua, gan ach suaitheadh, | He himself at Druim Abhrat with three of his host, with no more than a break, |
| oc loscud Muman maisse, ba subach don degaisse. | ag loiscint Mumhan mar gheall air, bhí sé sona le haghaidh an spóirt. | burning Munster because of him, he was happy for the sport. |
| Atchím a chomarba ind ríg a mét dorigne d’anfhír, | bhím i mo thodhchaí i gcumhacht a rinne an rí dearmad faoi, | I see his successor in the power the king made a mistake about, |
| nenaid ocus tromm ’malle, conid é fonn a dúine. | a mhaighdean agus a theampall le chéile, sin an tslí a dúirt an duine. | a maiden and a heavy load together, that's the way the man said. |
| Dún Eogain. | Dún Eogain. | Fort of Eoghan. |
See also
- Dictionary of the Irish Language
References
- Mittleman, Josh. "Concerning the name Deirdre". Medieval Scotland. Retrieved 13 February 2013.
Early Gaelic (a.k.a. Old Irish) is the form of Gaelic used in Ireland and parts of Scotland from roughly 600–900 AD. Middle Gaelic (a.k.a. Middle Irish) was used from roughly 900–1200 AD, while Common Classical Gaelic (a.k.a. Early Modern Irish, Common Literary Gaelic, etc.) was used from roughly 1200–1700 AD
- "Middle Irish". www.uni-due.de.
- Mac Eoin, Gearóid (1993). "Irish". In Martin J. Ball (ed.). The Celtic Languages. London: Routledge. pp. 101–44. ISBN 0-415-01035-7.
- Breatnach, Liam (1994). "An Mheán-Ghaeilge". In K. McCone; D. McManus; C. Ó Háinle; N. Williams; L. Breatnach (eds.). Stair na Gaeilge in ómós do Pádraig Ó Fiannachta (in Irish). Maynooth: Department of Old Irish, St. Patrick's College. pp. 221–333. ISBN 0-901519-90-1.
- Healy, John (8 June 2016). Insula Sanctorum Et Doctorum Or Ireland's Ancient Schools And Scholars. Read Books Ltd. ISBN 9781473361331 – via Google Books.
- "CISP - CLMAC/13". www.ucl.ac.uk.
- "A Middle Irish Poem on Eogan Bél [text]". www.ucd.ie.
Further reading
- MacManus, Damian (1983). "A chronology of the Latin loan words in early Irish". Ériu. 34: 21–71.
- McCone, Kim (1978). "The dative singular of Old Irish consonant stems". Ériu. 29: 26–38.
- McCone, Kim (1981). "Final /t/ to /d/ after unstressed vowels, and an Old Irish sound law". Ériu. 31: 29–44.
- McCone, Kim (1996). "Prehistoric, Old and Middle Irish". Progress in medieval Irish studies. pp. 7–53.
- McCone, Kim (2005). A First Old Irish Grammar and Reader, Including an Introduction to Middle Irish. Maynooth Medieval Irish Texts 3. Maynooth.
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Middle Irish also called Middle Gaelic Irish An Mhean Ghaeilge Scottish Gaelic Meadhan Ghaidhlig is the Goidelic language which was spoken in Ireland most of Scotland and the Isle of Man from c 900 1200 AD it is therefore a contemporary of Late Old English and Early Middle English The modern Goidelic languages Modern Irish Scottish Gaelic and Manx Gaelic are all descendants of Middle Irish Middle IrishMiddle GaelicGaoidhealgPronunciation ˈɡeideɫɡ Native toIreland Scotland Isle of ManErac 900 1200Language familyIndo European CelticInsular CelticGoidelicMiddle IrishEarly formsPrimitive Irish Old IrishWriting systemLatin Gaelic alphabet Language codesISO 639 2 span class plainlinks mga span ISO 639 3 a href https iso639 3 sil org code mga class extiw title iso639 3 mga mga a Glottologmidd1360GrammarThis section does not cite any sources Please help improve this section by adding citations to reliable sources Unsourced material may be challenged and removed February 2024 Learn how and when to remove this message Middle Irish inscription from Clonmacnoise Oroit ar Thurcain lasan dernad in chrossa Pray for Turcan by whom this cross was made Middle Irish is a fusional VSO nominative accusative language and makes frequent use of lenition Nouns decline for two genders masculine and feminine though traces of neuter declension persist three numbers singular dual plural and five cases nominative accusative genitive prepositional vocative Adjectives agree with nouns in gender number and case Verbs conjugate for three tenses past present future four moods indicative subjunctive conditional imperative independent and dependent forms Verbs conjugate for three persons and an impersonal agentless form agent There are a number of preverbal particles marking the negative interrogative subjunctive relative clauses etc Prepositions inflect for person and number Different prepositions govern different cases depending on intended semantics Sample textsPoem on Eogan Bel The following is an untitled poem in Middle Irish about Eogan Bel King of Connacht Middle Irish Modern Irish Late Modern EnglishDun Eogain Bel forsind loch forsrala ilar trentroch Dun Eogain Bel fosna locha cois trathnona cleir trean Fort of Eoghan the Stammerer upon the lake enduring its powerful waves ni mair Eogan forsind mur ocus maraid in sendun ni chonaionn Eoghan ar an mhuirbhalla ach mhairfidh an sean dun Eoghan no longer lives within the wall but the old fort remains Maraid inad a thige irraibe na chrolige Fanann ait a theach fa chluid an aeir The place of his dwelling remains under the protection of the wind ni mair in rigan re cair nobid ina chomlepaid nil banrion leis an gceartu na caithfidh si ina chomhlearscail The queen no longer lives with him nor must she abide in his companion Cairptech in ri robui and innsaigthech oirgnech Erenn bhi carrthach sa riocht an uaireanta fiach on Eirinn A charioteer was in the kingdom often indebted from Ireland ni dechaid coll cana ar goil rocroch trichait im oenboin nior shiul se coirce cach rinneadh sceach triocha timpeall ar a chinn He didn t walk the rye s path a bushel of thirty was hung around his neck Roloisc Life co ba shecht rooirg Mumain trichait fecht scailteadh na lamha in aois go 30 bliain dhein Mumhan greim 30 uair His hands were stretched until he was thirty years old Munster grasped thirty times nir dal do Leith Nuadat nair co nar damair immarbaig nior laidir Leith Nuadat na mi neart daonra chomh maith Leith Nuadat was not strong nor of insufficient human force Doluid fecht im Mumain moir do chuinchid argait is oir chuaigh se go minic go Mumhain mor le haghaidh airgid agus oir a bhailiu He often went to great Munster to gather silver and gold d iaraid set ocus moine do gabail giall n dagdoine d fheach se taoibh leis agus gearan a dheanamh faoi ghealladh na ndaoine dana He looked around and complained about the promise of the bold people Trian a shluaig dar Luachair siar co Cnoc mBrenainn isin sliab thriail a thriur a shli tri Luachair siar go Cnoc mBrenainn san fhasach A third of his host went through Luachair westward to Hill of Brenainn in the mountain a trian aile ua fo dess co Carn Hui Neit na n eces an triur eile thriall siar go Carn Ui Neit i gcein sna clanna eolais Another third went southward to Carn Ui Neit far away in the tribes of knowledge Se fodein oc Druimm Abrat co trian a shluaig nisdermat do fein ag Druim Abhrat le triur de a shlua gan ach suaitheadh He himself at Druim Abhrat with three of his host with no more than a break oc loscud Muman maisse ba subach don degaisse ag loiscint Mumhan mar gheall air bhi se sona le haghaidh an spoirt burning Munster because of him he was happy for the sport Atchim a chomarba ind rig a met dorigne d anfhir bhim i mo thodhchai i gcumhacht a rinne an ri dearmad faoi I see his successor in the power the king made a mistake about nenaid ocus tromm malle conid e fonn a duine a mhaighdean agus a theampall le cheile sin an tsli a duirt an duine a maiden and a heavy load together that s the way the man said Dun Eogain Dun Eogain Fort of Eoghan See alsoFor a list of words relating to Middle Irish see the Middle Irish language category of words in Wiktionary the free dictionary Dictionary of the Irish LanguageReferencesMittleman Josh Concerning the name Deirdre Medieval Scotland Retrieved 13 February 2013 Early Gaelic a k a Old Irish is the form of Gaelic used in Ireland and parts of Scotland from roughly 600 900 AD Middle Gaelic a k a Middle Irish was used from roughly 900 1200 AD while Common Classical Gaelic a k a Early Modern Irish Common Literary Gaelic etc was used from roughly 1200 1700 AD Middle Irish www uni due de Mac Eoin Gearoid 1993 Irish In Martin J Ball ed The Celtic Languages London Routledge pp 101 44 ISBN 0 415 01035 7 Breatnach Liam 1994 An Mhean Ghaeilge In K McCone D McManus C o Hainle N Williams L Breatnach eds Stair na Gaeilge in omos do Padraig o Fiannachta in Irish Maynooth Department of Old Irish St Patrick s College pp 221 333 ISBN 0 901519 90 1 Healy John 8 June 2016 Insula Sanctorum Et Doctorum Or Ireland s Ancient Schools And Scholars Read Books Ltd ISBN 9781473361331 via Google Books CISP CLMAC 13 www ucl ac uk A Middle Irish Poem on Eogan Bel text www ucd ie Further readingMacManus Damian 1983 A chronology of the Latin loan words in early Irish Eriu 34 21 71 McCone Kim 1978 The dative singular of Old Irish consonant stems Eriu 29 26 38 McCone Kim 1981 Final t to d after unstressed vowels and an Old Irish sound law Eriu 31 29 44 McCone Kim 1996 Prehistoric Old and Middle Irish Progress in medieval Irish studies pp 7 53 McCone Kim 2005 A First Old Irish Grammar and Reader Including an Introduction to Middle Irish Maynooth Medieval Irish Texts 3 Maynooth a href wiki Template Cite book title Template Cite book cite book a CS1 maint location missing publisher link
