The distribution of 3. pl. pres. ind. -(h)yn(t) and the dating of Welsh prophetic poetry

Guy, Ben 2024. The distribution of 3. pl. pres. ind. -(h)yn(t) and the dating of Welsh prophetic poetry. Journal of Celtic Linguistics 25 (1) , pp. 47-80. 10.16922/jcl.25.4 Item availability restricted.

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Abstract

This article gathers together the evidence for the third-person plural present indicative verbal ending -(h)yn(t) and attempts to trace the history of its usage. The ending is attested primarily in prophetic poetry, though relevant forms are also found in Old Welsh and elsewhere in the Hengerdd. It appears that the ending fell out of general use between the tenth and twelfth century. It lingered a little longer in prophetic poetry, with the latest dateable examples found in a stanza composed shortly after 1211/12. It is suggested that the ending was adopted as a marker of prophetic poetry because it had already developed a specific association with future-time reference.

Item Type:	Article
Date Type:	Publication
Status:	Published
Schools:	Welsh
Subjects:	P Language and Literature > P Philology. Linguistics P Language and Literature > PB Modern European Languages > PB1001 Celtic languages and literature
Publisher:	University of Wales Press
ISSN:	0962-1377
Funders:	Arts and Humanities Research Council
Date of First Compliant Deposit:	3 February 2023
Date of Acceptance:	9 January 2023
Last Modified:	20 Feb 2024 14:15
URI:	https://orca.cardiff.ac.uk/id/eprint/156478

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