Re: "Usefull languages"

On Wed, 13 Feb 2002 15:35:34 -0000
Kieth Gaughan <kgaughan@...> wrote:


> From: Stephen Mulraney [mailto:ataltanie@OCEANFREE.NET]
>
> <snipping explaination of why Irish orthography actually rocks>
Well, I didn't want to say before I explained it, but you're right ;)


> > Interesting... must study OI some day. What you say makes it look
> > systematic rather than just bad ;). Maybe the palatalised/velarised
> > distinction, e.g. of /c'/ vs. /c/, arose as allophones conditioned by
> > surrounding vowels, where the allophones became phonemes as a result of
> > a change in the vowel system removing the conditioning environment.
>
> I think there is a good reason for the the distinction in the old system.
> I don't have a copy of Thurneysen here in the office, but I'm sure somebody
> who does will mention it. If not, I'll look it up tonight and post something
> tomorrow.
You'd have one interested reader anyway ;)


> Get a copy of Thurneysen's Old Irish Grammar. I snapped a copy up in the
> Waterstones in UCC for next to nothing. I'm sure you could get it somewhere.
> It's rather hard going and a bit heavy, but a great grammar reference.
Thanks for the reference, I like heavy grammars ;) I'll keep an eye out for it -
In fact I found something today I was keeping an eye out for - Sweet's Anglo-Saxon
primer.


> Cripes!
'Sblood!


> I'm just after getting it and it's 3:30 (pm) here. I'm in Ireland
> and I presumed you were too, Ocean Free email address and everything. Late
> mail?
Well, I'm indeed in the land of ire (in "Ballyackley" as I like to call it),
but I forgot to send it in the morning; I think I send it about 3pm. I don't
think 30mins delay is too unusual, and the fact that we're in the same coutry
makes no difference since it has to get to you via the listserv at brown.edu
(wherever the hell that is) anyway ;)

Stephen

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