Pádraic Moran | University of Galway (original) (raw)
Books by Pádraic Moran
Corpus Christianorum, Lexica Latina Medii Aevi 7, 2019
A new edition of the earliest etymological study of a European vernacular language. De Origin... more A new edition of the earliest etymological study of a European vernacular language.
De Origine Scoticae Linguae (also known as O’Mulconry’s Glossary) is a text originating in seventh-century Ireland that provides etymologies for c. 880 Irish words, mostly drawn from Latin, Greek, and Hebrew. Its Latin prologue declares its affiliation to the Graeco-Roman linguistic tradition, claiming an origin for the Irish language in the Greek dialects Attic, Doric and Aeolic. The glossary attests to the transmission and reception of the Latin grammatical tradition in Ireland and shines light in particular on the Irish knowledge of Greek and Hebrew. The text also represents a milestone in the history of European linguistics, as the earliest etymological study of a European vernacular language.
The glossary was published once before, by Whitley Stokes in 1898. This new edition provides the first translation and textual commentary, clarifying the sense of difficult entries and discussing sources. The introduction analyses the structure and contents, origins and development, linguistic issues, and relationships to other texts. The text is edited here along with a shorter related glossary of 232 entries, entitled Irsan, which includes shared material and sheds further light on its development.
Reviews:
Alderik Blom, Studia Celtica 54 (2020), 190–192.
Johann Corthals, Zeitschrift für Celtische Philologie 67 (2020) 239–243.
Deborah Hayden, Speculum 95 (2020), 1026–7.
Chantal Kobel, Studia Celtica Fennica 17 (2020–2021), 15–19.
Thomas O’Loughlin, Celtica 32 (2020), 272–274.
Erich Poppe, Cambrian Medieval Celtic Studies 80 (Winter, 2020), 87–90.
Nike Stam, Journal of Medieval Latin 31 (2021), 337–341.
Patrick Wadden, The Medieval Review (TMR) 20.05.23 (2020).
Edited book by Pádraic Moran
Theology continually engages with its past: the people, experience, Scriptures, liturgy, learning... more Theology continually engages with its past: the people, experience, Scriptures, liturgy, learning, and customs of Christians. The past is preserved, rejected, modified; but the legacy steadily evolves as Christians are never indifferent to history. Even when engaging the future, theology looks backwards: the next generation's training includes inheriting a canon of Scripture, doctrine, and controversy; while adapting the past is central in every confrontation with a modernity. This is the dynamic realm of tradition, and this series's focus. Whether examining people, texts, or periods, its volumes are concerned with how the past evolved in the past, and the interplay of theology, culture, and tradition.
Articles and chapters by Pádraic Moran
This chapter examines the historical significance of the Latin language in Ireland, Scotland, and... more This chapter examines the historical significance of the Latin language in Ireland, Scotland, and Wales during the medieval period. It provides a historical overview of the linguistic and cultural connections between these regions, surveying the arrival of Latin literary culture and the subsequent development of native Latin scholarship, most notably in the fields of grammar, computistics, biblical exegesis, and hagiography. The chapter also gives a summary account of the characteristic features of Hiberno-Latin in particular, with regard to phonology and orthography, vocabulary, morphology, syntax, and stylistics.
![Research paper thumbnail of ‘Latin Grammar Crossing Multilingual Zones: St Gall, Stiftsbibliothek, 904’, in Michael Clarke & Máire Ní Mhaonaigh (eds), Medieval Multilingual Manuscripts: Case Studies from Ireland to Japan, Studies in Manuscript Cultures 24. (Berlin: De Gruyter, 2022), pp 35–54. [Open access]](https://attachments.academia-assets.com/105646262/thumbnails/1.jpg)
](Medieval Multilingual Manuscripts: Case Studies from Ireland to Japan, 2022
Priscian’s Latin Grammar was originally written to enable Greek-speakers to study Latin. ... more Priscian’s Latin Grammar was originally written to enable Greek-speakers to study Latin. In this ninth-century manuscript, a further dimension is added by the presence of over 9,400 annotations written sometimes in Latin, sometimes in Old Irish, and often code-switching between the two, all in the service of the study of linguistic science.
Speculum, 2022
Glossing, the practice of writing between the lines or in the margins of manuscripts, is a phenom... more Glossing, the practice of writing between the lines or in the margins of manuscripts, is a phenomenon that can be observed in a wide variety of historical cultures. Since the 1980s, researchers of European manuscripts have established and refined typologies to describe different varieties of glosses. There has been very little work, however, on the comparability of glossing practices between Europe and other cultural spheres. This paper focuses on “reading glosses,” which function to help the reader recover the literal sense of a text. Our argument is that the basic schemes of classification and analysis that have been developed for the study of medieval European glossing systems can be extended to the study of manuscript glossing in other cultural regions. Furthermore, insights from the comparative study of these systems enhance our understanding of not only medieval European glossing but medieval reading more generally.
Classics and Irish Politics 1916–2016 , 2020
This chapter provides a comparative analysis of the careers of George Thomson and Margaret Heavey... more This chapter provides a comparative analysis of the careers of George Thomson and Margaret Heavey in their endeavours to advance the instruction of Classics through the Irish language at University College, Galway. The political context in which two lectureships were established, one for Thomson and one for Heavey, is re-examined and it is argued that the process by which Thomson was appointed has been unduly romanticized. Thomson’s three years in his position are contrasted with Heavey’s career of over forty years, and new archival materials are adduced to rehabilitate Heavey’s reputation as the tireless champion of initiatives for teaching Classics through the medium of Irish at University College, Galway.
Classics and Irish Politics 1916–2016, 2020
Language & History, 2020
De origine scoticae linguae (DOSL, also known as ‘O’Mulconry’s Glossary’) is an etymological glos... more De origine scoticae linguae (DOSL, also known as ‘O’Mulconry’s Glossary’) is an etymological glossary dating from around the late-seventh or early-eighth century. It discusses the origins of about 884 Irish words, very often deriving them from Latin, Greek or Hebrew. As such it represents the earliest etymological study of any European vernacular language. Despite this, however, the text has to date been almost completely ignored for its significance in the history of linguistics. This article analyses the authors’ methods, particularly with regard to the semantic and formal components of etymologies, and argues that the text shows considerable coherence, both internally and in relation to its sources and models in the Graeco-Roman linguistic tradition. It argues that DOSL is a serious work of scholarship that represents a milestone in the historical development of comparative linguistics.
![Research paper thumbnail of ‘Irish vernacular origin stories: language, literacy, literature’, in Norbert Kössinger, Elke Krotz, Stephan Müller & Pavlína Rychterová (eds), Anfangsgeschichten / Origin Stories […], MittelalterStudien 31 (Munich: Fink, 2018), pp 259–273.](https://attachments.academia-assets.com/56909026/thumbnails/1.jpg)
](Pádraic Moran, ‘Irish vernacular origin stories: language, literacy, literature’, in Norbert Köss... more Pádraic Moran, ‘Irish vernacular origin stories: language, literacy, literature’, in Norbert Kössinger, Elke Krotz, Stephan Müller & Pavlína Rychterová (eds), Anfangsgeschichten / Origin Stories. Der Beginn volkssprachiger Schriftlichkeit in komparatistischer Perspektive / The Rise of Vernacular Literacy in a Comparative Perspective, MittelalterStudien 31 (Munich: Fink, 2018), pp 259–273.
The St Gall Priscian codex, Stiftsbibliothek, MS 904, is well known for its rich collection of gl... more The St Gall Priscian codex, Stiftsbibliothek, MS 904, is well known for its rich collection of glosses: as well as c. 3200 symbol glosses, there are more than 9400 verbal glosses, of which more than 3400 contain Old Irish, the remainder being entirely in Latin. However, any simple opposition between Irish and Latin glosses would ignore a much more complex interaction between Irish, Latin, and indeed Greek, in the manuscript. This study aims to characterise the variety of types of language-switching that occur: within individual glosses, more or less encompassed by the term ‘code-switching’, between adjacent glosses, and between related manuscripts. It aims to contribute towards a broader understanding of the relationship between Latin and Irish, and between classical and vernacular languages, in the scholarly culture of the early middle ages.
While the Irish knowledge of Greek in the early Middle Ages has been much debated, the evidence o... more While the Irish knowledge of Greek in the early Middle Ages has been much debated, the evidence of Irish language texts has been largely ignored. Early Irish glossaries (O'Mulconry's Glossary, Sanas Cormaic, Duil Dromma Cetta) cite at least 190 Greek words, and this presents an opportunity to study some sources for Greek available in Ireland.
Students of early Irish history, archaeology, language and literature are in many ways well serve... more Students of early Irish history, archaeology, language and literature are in many ways well served with digital resources. This paper outlines some of the key resources already available, and discusses a contribution currently under preparation by the Early Irish Glossaries Project at the University of Cambridge. It also makes some general remarks on potential future directions for electronic resources in the field.
Corpus Christianorum, Lexica Latina Medii Aevi 7, 2019
A new edition of the earliest etymological study of a European vernacular language. De Origin... more A new edition of the earliest etymological study of a European vernacular language.
De Origine Scoticae Linguae (also known as O’Mulconry’s Glossary) is a text originating in seventh-century Ireland that provides etymologies for c. 880 Irish words, mostly drawn from Latin, Greek, and Hebrew. Its Latin prologue declares its affiliation to the Graeco-Roman linguistic tradition, claiming an origin for the Irish language in the Greek dialects Attic, Doric and Aeolic. The glossary attests to the transmission and reception of the Latin grammatical tradition in Ireland and shines light in particular on the Irish knowledge of Greek and Hebrew. The text also represents a milestone in the history of European linguistics, as the earliest etymological study of a European vernacular language.
The glossary was published once before, by Whitley Stokes in 1898. This new edition provides the first translation and textual commentary, clarifying the sense of difficult entries and discussing sources. The introduction analyses the structure and contents, origins and development, linguistic issues, and relationships to other texts. The text is edited here along with a shorter related glossary of 232 entries, entitled Irsan, which includes shared material and sheds further light on its development.
Reviews:
Alderik Blom, Studia Celtica 54 (2020), 190–192.
Johann Corthals, Zeitschrift für Celtische Philologie 67 (2020) 239–243.
Deborah Hayden, Speculum 95 (2020), 1026–7.
Chantal Kobel, Studia Celtica Fennica 17 (2020–2021), 15–19.
Thomas O’Loughlin, Celtica 32 (2020), 272–274.
Erich Poppe, Cambrian Medieval Celtic Studies 80 (Winter, 2020), 87–90.
Nike Stam, Journal of Medieval Latin 31 (2021), 337–341.
Patrick Wadden, The Medieval Review (TMR) 20.05.23 (2020).
Theology continually engages with its past: the people, experience, Scriptures, liturgy, learning... more Theology continually engages with its past: the people, experience, Scriptures, liturgy, learning, and customs of Christians. The past is preserved, rejected, modified; but the legacy steadily evolves as Christians are never indifferent to history. Even when engaging the future, theology looks backwards: the next generation's training includes inheriting a canon of Scripture, doctrine, and controversy; while adapting the past is central in every confrontation with a modernity. This is the dynamic realm of tradition, and this series's focus. Whether examining people, texts, or periods, its volumes are concerned with how the past evolved in the past, and the interplay of theology, culture, and tradition.
This chapter examines the historical significance of the Latin language in Ireland, Scotland, and... more This chapter examines the historical significance of the Latin language in Ireland, Scotland, and Wales during the medieval period. It provides a historical overview of the linguistic and cultural connections between these regions, surveying the arrival of Latin literary culture and the subsequent development of native Latin scholarship, most notably in the fields of grammar, computistics, biblical exegesis, and hagiography. The chapter also gives a summary account of the characteristic features of Hiberno-Latin in particular, with regard to phonology and orthography, vocabulary, morphology, syntax, and stylistics.
Medieval Multilingual Manuscripts: Case Studies from Ireland to Japan, 2022
Priscian’s Latin Grammar was originally written to enable Greek-speakers to study Latin. ... more Priscian’s Latin Grammar was originally written to enable Greek-speakers to study Latin. In this ninth-century manuscript, a further dimension is added by the presence of over 9,400 annotations written sometimes in Latin, sometimes in Old Irish, and often code-switching between the two, all in the service of the study of linguistic science.
Speculum, 2022
Glossing, the practice of writing between the lines or in the margins of manuscripts, is a phenom... more Glossing, the practice of writing between the lines or in the margins of manuscripts, is a phenomenon that can be observed in a wide variety of historical cultures. Since the 1980s, researchers of European manuscripts have established and refined typologies to describe different varieties of glosses. There has been very little work, however, on the comparability of glossing practices between Europe and other cultural spheres. This paper focuses on “reading glosses,” which function to help the reader recover the literal sense of a text. Our argument is that the basic schemes of classification and analysis that have been developed for the study of medieval European glossing systems can be extended to the study of manuscript glossing in other cultural regions. Furthermore, insights from the comparative study of these systems enhance our understanding of not only medieval European glossing but medieval reading more generally.
Classics and Irish Politics 1916–2016 , 2020
This chapter provides a comparative analysis of the careers of George Thomson and Margaret Heavey... more This chapter provides a comparative analysis of the careers of George Thomson and Margaret Heavey in their endeavours to advance the instruction of Classics through the Irish language at University College, Galway. The political context in which two lectureships were established, one for Thomson and one for Heavey, is re-examined and it is argued that the process by which Thomson was appointed has been unduly romanticized. Thomson’s three years in his position are contrasted with Heavey’s career of over forty years, and new archival materials are adduced to rehabilitate Heavey’s reputation as the tireless champion of initiatives for teaching Classics through the medium of Irish at University College, Galway.
Classics and Irish Politics 1916–2016, 2020
Language & History, 2020
De origine scoticae linguae (DOSL, also known as ‘O’Mulconry’s Glossary’) is an etymological glos... more De origine scoticae linguae (DOSL, also known as ‘O’Mulconry’s Glossary’) is an etymological glossary dating from around the late-seventh or early-eighth century. It discusses the origins of about 884 Irish words, very often deriving them from Latin, Greek or Hebrew. As such it represents the earliest etymological study of any European vernacular language. Despite this, however, the text has to date been almost completely ignored for its significance in the history of linguistics. This article analyses the authors’ methods, particularly with regard to the semantic and formal components of etymologies, and argues that the text shows considerable coherence, both internally and in relation to its sources and models in the Graeco-Roman linguistic tradition. It argues that DOSL is a serious work of scholarship that represents a milestone in the historical development of comparative linguistics.
Pádraic Moran, ‘Irish vernacular origin stories: language, literacy, literature’, in Norbert Köss... more Pádraic Moran, ‘Irish vernacular origin stories: language, literacy, literature’, in Norbert Kössinger, Elke Krotz, Stephan Müller & Pavlína Rychterová (eds), Anfangsgeschichten / Origin Stories. Der Beginn volkssprachiger Schriftlichkeit in komparatistischer Perspektive / The Rise of Vernacular Literacy in a Comparative Perspective, MittelalterStudien 31 (Munich: Fink, 2018), pp 259–273.
The St Gall Priscian codex, Stiftsbibliothek, MS 904, is well known for its rich collection of gl... more The St Gall Priscian codex, Stiftsbibliothek, MS 904, is well known for its rich collection of glosses: as well as c. 3200 symbol glosses, there are more than 9400 verbal glosses, of which more than 3400 contain Old Irish, the remainder being entirely in Latin. However, any simple opposition between Irish and Latin glosses would ignore a much more complex interaction between Irish, Latin, and indeed Greek, in the manuscript. This study aims to characterise the variety of types of language-switching that occur: within individual glosses, more or less encompassed by the term ‘code-switching’, between adjacent glosses, and between related manuscripts. It aims to contribute towards a broader understanding of the relationship between Latin and Irish, and between classical and vernacular languages, in the scholarly culture of the early middle ages.
While the Irish knowledge of Greek in the early Middle Ages has been much debated, the evidence o... more While the Irish knowledge of Greek in the early Middle Ages has been much debated, the evidence of Irish language texts has been largely ignored. Early Irish glossaries (O'Mulconry's Glossary, Sanas Cormaic, Duil Dromma Cetta) cite at least 190 Greek words, and this presents an opportunity to study some sources for Greek available in Ireland.
Students of early Irish history, archaeology, language and literature are in many ways well serve... more Students of early Irish history, archaeology, language and literature are in many ways well served with digital resources. This paper outlines some of the key resources already available, and discusses a contribution currently under preparation by the Early Irish Glossaries Project at the University of Cambridge. It also makes some general remarks on potential future directions for electronic resources in the field.
Early Medieval Europe , 2020
A network of researchers dedicated to advancing our understanding of glossing—that is, practices ... more A network of researchers dedicated to advancing our understanding of glossing—that is, practices of annotating texts between the lines or in the margins of books.
F. Cinato« Carnet de Voyage et perspectives » in F. Cinato & J. Whitman (éd.), Lecture vernaculai... more F. Cinato« Carnet de Voyage et perspectives » in F. Cinato & J. Whitman (éd.), Lecture vernaculaire des textes classiques chinois / Reading Chinese Classical texs in the Vernacular, Dossier HEL 7 [publication électronique dans les dossiers HEL, hypothèse.org, comprenant un avant-propos et un compte-rendu assorti d'un résumé].