Re: Aint got no Arthur?

From: John W. Kennedy (jwkenne_at_attglobal.net)
Date: 12/15/04 

Date: Tue, 14 Dec 2004 22:12:15 -0500

Daniel Mac an Toisich wrote:
> It is charcteristic of Indo-european languages that many words with gn
> or 'g (something) n' or 'g (something) r' are related in their
> meanings deriving from some common meaning related to knowledge and/as
> creation - examples being gnosis, knowledge (the g has changed to k)
> genesis , genetic, generation, and so on. In Gaelic there also exists
> the practice where words beginning gn are pronounced gr (as its easier
> to say - and this probably explains the link between the above gn
> words sometimes applying to gr sounds too)
>
> Thats the theory here is the denouement: In gaelic a word meaning
> system or order (such as a system of laws and so on) is gneitheil -
> pronounced 'grail'. With reference to the above mentioned etymology
> group - gnosis in particular - any views?

But how was it pronounced in the 12th century? And how were its cognates
(if they existed) pronounced in 12th-century Welsh and Breton? 

-- 
John W. Kennedy
"Give up vows and dogmas, and fixed things, and you may grow like That. 
...you may come to think a blow bad, because it hurts, and not because 
it humiliates.  You may come to think murder wrong, because it is 
violent, and not because it is unjust."
   -- G. K. Chesterton.  "The Ball and the Cross"

Relevant Pages

  • Re: Aint got no Arthur?
    ... "Daniel Mac an Toisich" wrote in message ... > It is charcteristic of Indo-european languages that many words with gn ... > meanings deriving from some common meaning related to knowledge and/as ...
    (sci.lang)
  • Aint got no Arthur?
    ... meanings deriving from some common meaning related to knowledge and/as ... creation - examples being gnosis, knowledge ... Thats the theory here is the denouement: In gaelic a word meaning ...
    (sci.lang)