Re: THEORY: Sound changes in literate societies

Christophe Grandsire scripsit:

> What about French, whose oldest known written document dates from the 9th
> century?
Ogham writing dates back to at least the 3rd century, though most examples
(carved in stone, literally) are 5th-6th century.  It was still in common
use in manuscript form until the 16th century, and in the 20th and 21st
centuries has become an important way for school children to pass notes
during class (though admittedly the notes are in English, not Irish,
most of the time).

I have not been able to nail down the oldest Irish writings in Latin
script (as marginal notes in Latin manuscripts, typically), but
certainly no later than the 6th century.

I should mention the claims of Runic, which was in steady use from
about the 1st century to the 19th; AFAIK, every Germanic language
except German and Dutch has been written using this script.

--
John Cowan <jcowan@...>     http://www.reutershealth.com
I amar prestar aen, han mathon ne nen,    http://www.ccil.org/~cowan
han mathon ne chae, a han noston ne 'wilith.  --Galadriel, _LOTR:FOTR_

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