This papers aims to evaluate the sound changes that took place between the Proto-Indo-European stage and the Proto-Celtic stage, that is to say before this proto-language started to be divided into...Show moreThis papers aims to evaluate the sound changes that took place between the Proto-Indo-European stage and the Proto-Celtic stage, that is to say before this proto-language started to be divided into several dialects giving birth to Old Irish, Old Welsh, Old Breton, Old Cornish, Gaulish, Celtiberian, and Lepontic, and to propose a relative chronologic order of those changes.Show less
Research master thesis | Linguistics (research) (MA)
open access
The verbal system of Old Irish is characterized by the existence of two sets of verbal endings, which are used in complementary distribution in a number of moods and tenses inherited from Proto...Show moreThe verbal system of Old Irish is characterized by the existence of two sets of verbal endings, which are used in complementary distribution in a number of moods and tenses inherited from Proto-Indo-European. The distinction between these so-called absolute and conjunct endings is found only in the Celtic branch of Proto-Indo-European, most notably in Old Irish. The PIE origins of the two sets of endings continues to be obscure, although many ideas have been published over the years. The goal of this thesis is to determine which of these scenarios best explains the creation of two sets of verbal endings, through a critical assessment of the most important literature written on this problem in the last century and a half.Show less
Research master thesis | Linguistics (research) (MA)
open access
This thesis aims to adduce new arguments to the discussion concerning the Italo-Celtic hypothesis from the nominal derivational morphology of the relevant languages. This is achieved by...Show moreThis thesis aims to adduce new arguments to the discussion concerning the Italo-Celtic hypothesis from the nominal derivational morphology of the relevant languages. This is achieved by systematically comparing the derivational morphology of the Italic and Celtic languages (predominantly Latin and Old Irish) with the aim of identifying morphological innovations that are possibly exclusive to Italic and Celtic. These shared innovations could then serve as arguments supporting the idea of an Italo-Celtic linguistic unity.Show less
