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fandomhigh2005-09-22 06:08 pm
godinakilt.livejournal.com) wrote in fandomhigh2005-09-22 06:08 pm
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Celtic Studies classes for Thursday
Feagar math, everyone. I'd just like to mention that very few people handed in their homeowrk from Tuesday's class. *eyes flash* I'm taking notes. On with the lessons.
Celtic Language (CELT 100) Lesson Two
Today's lesson is brought to you by the letter 'H'.
I'd like to assume that by this point in your education you'd have learned an alphabet of some type. One would hope, anyway. Well here's another one for you to learn. The Gaelic alphabet is as follows:
a b c d e f g h i l m n o p r s t u
You will notice that j, k, q, and everything following u has been omitted. You should further note that h isn't really a letter. It's more in the line of a grammatical marker. While the addition of the letter h to a word changes its pronunciation, it is used to indicate the possessive, when following a preposition, or when the word in feminine. The addition of the h in this manner is called lenition, and words may be said to be lenited. The letters l, n, and r are never lenited, as are consonant pairs with s, such as 'sg', and vowels.
Lenited consonants are transformed thus:
b+h = v
m+h = v
t+h = h
f+h = [ ] (both letters effectively disappear)
d+h = gn (this is a very hard sound to convey phonetically. It's kind of a nasal g.)
g+h = gn (again, the nasal g)
c+h = ch (the harsh horking sound of 'loch')
p+h = f
s+h = h
There are, of course, a few exceptions to this rule. A second spelling rule we will be looking at is that which concerns the vowels. Gaelic vowels (a, e, i, o, u) are divided into two groups: broad vowels (a, o, u) and slender vowels (e, i). The general rule is broad to broad and slender to slender. Each consonant is surrounded by either broad or slender vowels which determine how they are pronounced; for example, s by a slender vowle is produced 'sh', while s by a broad vowel is pronounced as a sibilant. I'm still working on language tapes to make this all clearer. [[Have you ever tried phonetically typing Gaelic? Can't be done.]]
There will be no homework tonight. Next lesson we'll begin working on vocabulary and simple sentences, in the form of 'Tha mi tinn'.
Arthurian Tradition (CELT 120) Lesson Two
I'm looking forward to reading your homework on Arthur - hint hint hint.
Today we will be talking about Arthur before he was Arthur. Much of what is now the modern view of Arthur stems from 'A History of the Kings of Britain', written by Geoffrey of Monmouth in 1167 CE. As his sources, Geoffery of Monmouth named several Celtic documents, including a rather sketchy work that has never been described or proven to exist. These are the main works which have survived:
The Battle of Badon Hill is a very important event in the history of Arthur. It occured in approximately 500 CE and was the last stand of the Celts agains the Anglo-Saxons invaders from Germany. While all of these sources clearly say that Ambrosius, who was possibly the model for Arthur, or Arthur himself died at Mount Badon. However, Geoffrey of Monmouth's work very clearly states that Arthur died in 542 CE. In some Celtic myths Arthur also appears, often as a periphery to the story. One rather famous example is the story of Culhwch and Olwen in the epic saga 'The Mabinogian'.
That's all for today. We'll pick up tomorrow with discussing Geoffrey and 'A History of the Kings of Britain'. Homework for tonight is to read the story of Culhwch and Olwen.
That will be everything. I will not be available in my office tonight, as I made the mistake of eating the food from the cafeteria and will be recuperating in mysarcophagus quarters.
[[In other words, Cammie-mun is still very, very sick and will be going to bed, directly to bed, do not pass party, do not collect two pints.]]
Celtic Language (CELT 100) Lesson Two
Today's lesson is brought to you by the letter 'H'.
I'd like to assume that by this point in your education you'd have learned an alphabet of some type. One would hope, anyway. Well here's another one for you to learn. The Gaelic alphabet is as follows:
You will notice that j, k, q, and everything following u has been omitted. You should further note that h isn't really a letter. It's more in the line of a grammatical marker. While the addition of the letter h to a word changes its pronunciation, it is used to indicate the possessive, when following a preposition, or when the word in feminine. The addition of the h in this manner is called lenition, and words may be said to be lenited. The letters l, n, and r are never lenited, as are consonant pairs with s, such as 'sg', and vowels.
Lenited consonants are transformed thus:
b+h = v
m+h = v
t+h = h
f+h = [ ] (both letters effectively disappear)
d+h = gn (this is a very hard sound to convey phonetically. It's kind of a nasal g.)
g+h = gn (again, the nasal g)
c+h = ch (the harsh horking sound of 'loch')
p+h = f
s+h = h
There are, of course, a few exceptions to this rule. A second spelling rule we will be looking at is that which concerns the vowels. Gaelic vowels (a, e, i, o, u) are divided into two groups: broad vowels (a, o, u) and slender vowels (e, i). The general rule is broad to broad and slender to slender. Each consonant is surrounded by either broad or slender vowels which determine how they are pronounced; for example, s by a slender vowle is produced 'sh', while s by a broad vowel is pronounced as a sibilant. I'm still working on language tapes to make this all clearer. [[Have you ever tried phonetically typing Gaelic? Can't be done.]]
There will be no homework tonight. Next lesson we'll begin working on vocabulary and simple sentences, in the form of 'Tha mi tinn'.
Arthurian Tradition (CELT 120) Lesson Two
I'm looking forward to reading your homework on Arthur - hint hint hint.
Today we will be talking about Arthur before he was Arthur. Much of what is now the modern view of Arthur stems from 'A History of the Kings of Britain', written by Geoffrey of Monmouth in 1167 CE. As his sources, Geoffery of Monmouth named several Celtic documents, including a rather sketchy work that has never been described or proven to exist. These are the main works which have survived:
- Gildas, 'On the Downfall and Conquest of Britain' (540 CE): Told the story of a Romanised/Christianised Welsh warrior by the name of Ambrosius Aurelianus, who was in later documents identified as the uncle of Arthur and the father of Merlin.
- Bede, 'An Ecclesiastical History of the English Nation' (731 CE): Informs us that Ambrosius Aurelianus was killed at the Battle of Badon Hill (also known as Mount Badon).
- Nennius, 'History of the Britons' (800 CE): Ambrosius Aurelianus was killed on Mount Badon while defending his Celtic homeland; this is also the first Latin text to mention Arthur by name.
- Unknown author, 'Annals of Wales' (950 CE): Arthur was killed at the Battle of Badon Hill by Medraut (who evolves into Modred or Mordred).
The Battle of Badon Hill is a very important event in the history of Arthur. It occured in approximately 500 CE and was the last stand of the Celts agains the Anglo-Saxons invaders from Germany. While all of these sources clearly say that Ambrosius, who was possibly the model for Arthur, or Arthur himself died at Mount Badon. However, Geoffrey of Monmouth's work very clearly states that Arthur died in 542 CE. In some Celtic myths Arthur also appears, often as a periphery to the story. One rather famous example is the story of Culhwch and Olwen in the epic saga 'The Mabinogian'.
That's all for today. We'll pick up tomorrow with discussing Geoffrey and 'A History of the Kings of Britain'. Homework for tonight is to read the story of Culhwch and Olwen.
That will be everything. I will not be available in my office tonight, as I made the mistake of eating the food from the cafeteria and will be recuperating in my
[[In other words, Cammie-mun is still very, very sick and will be going to bed, directly to bed, do not pass party, do not collect two pints.]]
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Culhwch, eh? Related to cthulhu, in any way?
((wishes for cammie-mun to feel better soon!))
((eat oranges, they're good!))
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Homework
"May as well read the story now." She perches at the edge of a desk, takes out her text and begins to read. The story is plenty absorbing until the geneaologies start to remind her of the Nietzscheans.
Her eyes darken with hate. Too bad Cammie's not here now.
Instead, she scrawls a note that reads:
"Read your frelling story. Blessing of the hair? Please. I thought you said the Celts weren't shaggy golden blonds. Sounds like the same Christianizing wash the Greeks put over Yeshua Ben Josef. Not that I care, but it's still crap. Don't ever make me read anything with lineages like that again. Ever."
There was no signature. None was needed. He'd know who'd written it.
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