Re: Breathanach page

[Padraic Brown <pbrown@polaris.umuc.edu>]

On Fri, 7 Aug 1998, Geoff Eddy wrote:

> Padraic Brown wrote:
> 
> > I like the look and sound of it very much.  There's a fair amount in there
> > that is reminiscent of Kernu: in particular the continued use of
> > inflection (more than Brithenig, anyway!), the numerous preposition +
> > article forms,
> 
> Where can I find out about Kernu? Do you have a webpage?

Alas, no.  I am working on revising the Grammar book, though.  If you'd
like that, I can send it along when finished.  It's mostly done, but there
are still sections I'm not entirely pleased with; but it is progressing.

> 
> On a similar matter, has anybody thought about putting together a page
> of links to the "Celtic Romance" conlangs? We've got Brithenig, Kernu
> and Breathanach so far, along with (I think) Brzhoneg and others I may
> have forgotten.

As far as I know, only Brithenig and Breathanach have been put into the
web.  Kernu is paper only; I don't know about Brzhoneg's status.  There
are Yscaws and a couple of various southern Brithenig dialects (Paesan is
one, I forget the name of the other), but not much has come of them,
either. 

> 
> > and the division into Common versus Elevated speech.  Is
> > this division in any way legal/official or simply a matter of convention?
> 
> I was thinking along the lines of Literary vs Everyday Welsh, in which
> the more archaic language is preserved for formal situations while the
> spoken language continues to evolve. I suppose it's more convention than
> officially enforced; official, religious and legal speeches *could* be
> held in LF, but this would be regarded as inappropriate, like talking to
> one's bank manager as if he/she were one's best friend.

Ah.  That's the difference: in Kernow, legal speeches and the like _must_
be done up in Latin (not quite the Latin we all know and love from Caesar
et al., but similar).  If it isn't done properly, it's thrown out of
court.

> 
> > I look forward to future additions, and in particular the LN version of
> > the Babel Text.
> 
> I've added the names of the letters, which are mostly tree-names. I had

I really like that idea!  If I'm not mistaken, Irish does it that way,
yes?  I thought it would be a neat idea for Brithenig, but alas it already
had letter names.  Kernu doesn't have letter names, yet.

> a hard time with D E H N O and had to cheat a bit - you wouldn't believe
> the trouble I had finding a proper tree whose Latin name began with
> these letters. I've also fixed the contradictory sentence which John

You _could_ use a Celtic name.  There's no reason why Celtic words can't
survive into Breathanach.  Both Brithenig and Kernu have a good share: and
certainly tree names would be a likely area for survival.

> pointed out - it was a relic from an older version of the language,
> before there were long vowels. The other Babel text should follow
> soon...

Hooray!  I actually could understand the LF pretty well.  Makes Kernu seem
a stroll in the park! ;-)

> 
> I'm looking forward to discovering other Celtic-influenced conlangs,
> once I know where to find them :-) I've always thought that Celtic
> inparticular was a good source of inspiration for conlangers, and it's
> interesting to see which bits other people borrow.
> 
> Thanks again for your interest!

And the same to you.  Do let me know if you'd be interested in a Kernu
grammar.  I'll add you to the list.

Padrig.

> 
> Geoff
> -- 
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