Old Irish Language
Old Irish, also known as Old Gaelic, is a historical stage of the Goidelic branch of the Celtic languages family. It is the oldest form of the Goidelic language for which extensive written texts are available. Old Irish was primarily used from around 600 to 900 AD.
Historical and Linguistic Context
Old Irish is a part of the Indo-European language family, which includes a range of languages such as the Slavonic, Italic/Romance, Indo-Aryan, and Germanic subfamilies. The Goidelic languages, which include Modern Irish, Scottish Gaelic, and Manx, are a subset of the Celtic languages, defined by their unique linguistic features.
Phonology and Morphology
Old Irish is notable for its complex system of morphology, reminiscent of the Proto-Indo-European language system. It includes a variety of verbal conjugations used to indicate the beginning of relative clauses. Moreover, Old Irish features a system of conjugated prepositions, which is an uncommon characteristic among Indo-European languages but is prevalent in Celtic languages. These prepositions often appear as infixed or prefixed object prepositions inserted between the verb stem and its initial prefix(es). In cases where a verb lacks any such prefixes, a dummy prefix is generally added.
Written Records and Literature
The primary sources of Old Irish are found in various manuscripts from the early medieval period. These texts provide invaluable insights into the linguistic and cultural context of Ireland during this time. Old Irish literature includes a wealth of myths, sagas, and poetry, which play an essential role in preserving the cultural heritage of early medieval Ireland.
Transition to Middle Irish
Old Irish eventually evolved into Middle Irish, which was used from the 10th to the 12th centuries. This transition marks significant changes in the language's phonology and grammar, reflecting broader shifts in the cultural and political landscape of medieval Ireland.