Ancient Celtic Language Dictionary Project Takes Shape, Unveiling 1,000 Years of History
A groundbreaking linguistic project has begun compiling what could be the world's first complete dictionary of ancient Celtic. Despite the scarcity of written records from this period, linguists at Aberystwyth University are optimistic about their chances of collecting over 1,000 words from various sources.
The dictionary will focus on the languages spoken in the UK and Ireland around 2,000 years ago, covering a range of texts from Julius Caesar's account of his conquests to ancient memorial stones. Researchers believe that these disparate sources will offer an unparalleled insight into the Celtic languages of the time.
Simon Rodway, senior lecturer at Aberystwyth University, describes the project as "exciting" and emphasizes its significance beyond the realm of linguistics. The dictionary is expected to shed new light on the linguistic landscape of Britain and Ireland during the dawn of history, making it a valuable resource for historians, archaeologists, and archaeogeneticists alike.
One of the most intriguing aspects of this project lies in the similarities between modern Celtic languages. For instance, the words for "sea" in Welsh (môr) and Old Irish (muir) both correspond to the same term, "Mori," used in ancient names such as Moridunum – an ancient name for Carmarthen in south-west Wales.
Researchers are relying on a range of sources to compile this dictionary, including Roman administrative records, letters from soldiers stationed in Britain, and inscriptions on stones using the Ogham alphabet. While the Roman period provides a wealth of material, Ireland was largely outside the Roman Empire's reach, resulting in relatively few written records from that time.
The project's scope is ambitious, with plans to produce both online and printed versions of the dictionary. As Rodway notes, "people have studied placenames before, but we're going to try and get everything together and see what patterns emerge." The resulting dictionary promises to be a groundbreaking achievement in the field of Celtic studies, offering a unique window into the history of these ancient languages.
A groundbreaking linguistic project has begun compiling what could be the world's first complete dictionary of ancient Celtic. Despite the scarcity of written records from this period, linguists at Aberystwyth University are optimistic about their chances of collecting over 1,000 words from various sources.
The dictionary will focus on the languages spoken in the UK and Ireland around 2,000 years ago, covering a range of texts from Julius Caesar's account of his conquests to ancient memorial stones. Researchers believe that these disparate sources will offer an unparalleled insight into the Celtic languages of the time.
Simon Rodway, senior lecturer at Aberystwyth University, describes the project as "exciting" and emphasizes its significance beyond the realm of linguistics. The dictionary is expected to shed new light on the linguistic landscape of Britain and Ireland during the dawn of history, making it a valuable resource for historians, archaeologists, and archaeogeneticists alike.
One of the most intriguing aspects of this project lies in the similarities between modern Celtic languages. For instance, the words for "sea" in Welsh (môr) and Old Irish (muir) both correspond to the same term, "Mori," used in ancient names such as Moridunum – an ancient name for Carmarthen in south-west Wales.
Researchers are relying on a range of sources to compile this dictionary, including Roman administrative records, letters from soldiers stationed in Britain, and inscriptions on stones using the Ogham alphabet. While the Roman period provides a wealth of material, Ireland was largely outside the Roman Empire's reach, resulting in relatively few written records from that time.
The project's scope is ambitious, with plans to produce both online and printed versions of the dictionary. As Rodway notes, "people have studied placenames before, but we're going to try and get everything together and see what patterns emerge." The resulting dictionary promises to be a groundbreaking achievement in the field of Celtic studies, offering a unique window into the history of these ancient languages.
This is pretty cool I guess... I mean, 1,000 years of history in one book? That's crazy! But like, how accurate can we really be with words from 2,000 years ago? It's not like we have a direct translation or anything... I'm also wondering if this project is going to get funding issues. Like, who's gonna pay for all that research and printing? 
And what about the similarities between modern Celtic languages? Is that proof of some kind of language evolution? Can't wait to see how this turns out! 
I'm super stoked about this Ancient Celtic Language Dictionary Project! 
It's like, we're finally getting some insight into how those old Brits and Irish folks communicated back in the day 
. With all the Roman records and stuff, it's gonna be a treasure trove of info on their languages 
️. And who knows, maybe we'll even find out how "sea" was spelled back then 
... 1,000 years is a looong time, but I'm sure those Celtic linguists will crack the code 
. Can't wait to see the finished product and all the cool patterns they might discover 
!
I mean, can you even imagine having a dictionary that showcases what people were saying and writing 2,000 years ago? It's crazy to think about how much we've lost over time, but this project is like, bringing back some of those old words and phrases. And the fact that they're finding similarities between modern Celtic languages is wild - it just goes to show how connected all these ancient cultures were.
. I mean, who wouldn't want to learn more about the history of Britain and Ireland? Its gonna be so dope when its finally out!
I mean, think about it... 1,000 years of Celtic language history, crammed into one dictionary? It's like trying to fit all your old receipts from last century into one folder 
! But seriously, can you imagine having a word for "sea" that's been used for over 2 millennia? That's some ancient vibes right there 
. And the fact that they're using Roman records and Ogham inscriptions to get the info is like, totally cool 
. I'm not exactly fluent in Celtic, but I'm sure it'll be a wild ride deciphering all these words 
. Who knows what secrets this dictionary will unlock? Maybe we'll finally figure out how to make the perfect plate of fish and chips using only ancient Celtic recipes 
and maybe, just maybe, we'll get some answers about how Celtic languages evolved over time. That similarity between modern Welsh and Old Irish words is mind-blowing 
. Can't we just have a simple thread about the Ancient Celtic Language Dictionary Project without all the drama? Anyway, back to the project... it's actually pretty cool that they're trying to compile what could be the world's first complete dictionary of ancient Celtic languages 
.
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, like similarities between modern Celtic languages 
. The scope of this project is insane 
. Can't wait to dive into these texts and uncover the secrets of Celtic languages 
. This dictionary is gonna be EPIC 
!
this is so cool! i mean, can you even imagine learning about words like "mori" that have been used for 2k yrs?! its crazy how much language has evolved & yet, still shares some common roots 
. Ancient languages are hard enough as it is, trying to decipher all that Ogham alphabet nonsense 
. And the fact that they're using all these different sources, like Roman records and old stones with the Ogham alphabet, is just genius