YLM vol iii pp565/9 - Lhuyd's Archaeologia, G.W Wood

[From Yn Lioar Manninagh Vol 3 pp565/569

LHUYD'S "ARCHAEOLOGIA" AND THE MANX LANGUAGE.

Edward Lhuyd, the learned Welsh antiquary and keeper of the Ashmolean Museum in Oxford, published in 1707 his "Archaeologia Britannica, an account of the Languages, Histories and Customs of the Original Inhabitants of Great Britain." This work is referred to in Johnson's Guide to the Isle of Man by J. B. Laughton, B. A., published first in 1842 (vide p. 73). In his remarks on the Manks Language, the author says, "the student of antiquity will find a copious account of the language in Lhuyd's " Archaeologia" an invaluable work which, it is much to be regretted, is seldom found except in public libraries."

Harrison also includes it in his "Bibliotheca Monensis," published by the Manx Society in 1876, and he states that it contains an " Account of the Manx language." How these statements came to be made I cannot imagine ; I certainly find no account of the Manx language, much less a copious one. I do find, however, as an Appendix to an " Essay towards a British Etymologicon" (p. 200, et seq.) a long list of Latin words arranged in alphabetical order with their synonyms in English, Welsh, Cornish, Armoric, Irish, Scotch, Greek, French, German, Manx, etc. I presume this must be taken to represent the "account" referred to. The author of the essay was not, however, Lhuyd, but his friend David Parry, A.B., underkeeper of the Ashmolean Museum, and the Appendix is probably by him also. Although disappointing as an " account" of the Manx language, the vocabulary is nevertheless interesting as being by far the earliest application of the language to philological purposes, and as showing its orthography in those early days as well as its affinity to the other branches of the Celtic tongue. We have of course — thanks to the energy of Mr. A. W. Moore and the skill of Professor Rhys— access to a still earlier orthography, viz., that of the Phillips' Prayer Book (1625-30), and I am not unmindful of the fact that Bishop Wilson's Church Catechism was published in Manx and English the same year as the " Archaeologia."

Considerable use is made of Lhuyd's great work by the Rev. R. Williams in his "Lexicon Cornu-Britannicum," published in 1865, which gives the synonyms in the Celtic dialects including Manx.

It will be seen from a perusal of the vocabulary in the "Archaeologia" that the orthography of 1707 differs considerably from that of modern Manx, which it will be remembered was fixed by the Bible translation of 1771-5

As regards the old Manx of the " Archaeologia," the principal points of interest to be noted appear to be as follows :-

Words which now begin with C were almost invariably spelt with k, in common with the other branches of the Celtic, e.g., Korran for Corran (a sickle), Korp for Corp (body), &c.

The Greek letter X (Chi) was used to represent the sound of gh (guttural) in finals or middles of words, e.g., Klox for Clagh (a stone). 'Tch was used to represent Ch in initials of words, e.g., 'Tchangia for Chengey (a tongue). This approaches the usual Gaelic form of spelling, e.g., Irish Teanga.

Note also the use of w instead of on in Dw for Doo (black), &c. The accompanying Table is arranged from the "Archaeologia," and contains all words for which the old Manx form is given, and shows their synonyms (where supplied in the "Archaeologia") in all the six branches of the Celtic language.

The Table shows at a glance the resemblance of Manx words to their synonyms in Irish and Scotch, and, when allowance is made for the non-pronounciation of the mute consonants which abound in those languages, the resemblance is even greater. In some cases the resemblance runs through the entire Celtic series, indicating derivation from a common origin, often Latin, e.g., Taurus (a bull); Welsh, Taru; Cornish and Armoric, Taro; Irish, Taro; old Manx, Tarw ; modern Manx, Tarroo.

I have added a column giving the modern Manx spelling for the purpose of comparison.

Latin.	English.	Welsh.	Cornish.	Armoric.	Irish.	Scotch.		Manx.
						West	North.	Old.	Modern.
Acus	Needle	Noduydh	Nadzheth	Nados	Snathod	Snâd.		Snèd	Snaid
Albus	White	Guyn	Guydn	Guen	Ban			Ben	Bane
Amnis	River	Avon	Auan	Ryivier	Avan		Avin	Aon	Awin
Annus	Year	Bluydhyn	Bledhan	Bloaz	Bliadhain			Blien	Blein
Aqua	Water	Dûr	Dour	Dur	Uisge		Uishg	Wystèe	Ushtey
Aratrum	Plough	Aradr	Ardar	Arar	Sheifreak	Hesheri		'Tzeirach	Keeaght
Arbor	Tree	Guydhen	Guedhan	Guezan	Bile	Meglan	Kryv	Bille	Billey
Argenturn	Silver	Argan	Argan	Arguant	Airghid			Arget	Argid
Asinus	Ass	Asyn	Asen	Azen	Asal			Assyl	Assyl
Avena	Oats	Keirk	Kerh	Kerk	Koirke	Koirk	Kork	Koirkie	Corkey
Avis	Bird	Adenyn	Hedhen	Eyn	Ean			Ien, niin	Eean
Auris	Ear	Klyst	Skevarn	Skûarn	Klûas			Klyss	Cleaysh
Aurum	Gold	Ayr	Our	Aur	Or			Eèr	Airh
Bos	Ox	Yk	Udzheon	Ezhion	Dav			Dow	Dow
Taurus	Bull	Taru	Taro	Taro	Tarv			Tarw	Tarroo
Vacca	Cow	Byuk	Byuh	Bujk	Bo	Gavin	Mart	Bua	Booa
Vitulus	Calf	Lho	Leauh	Lue	Loegh	Lyv		Leigh	Lheiy
Brachium	Arm	Braik	Brèh	Brek	Raigh			Ri	Roih
Coeruleus	Blue	Glas	Blou, glas	Pers	Glas			Gorm	Gorrym
Calceus	Shoe	Esgid	Esgiz	Boles	Brog			Breg	Braag
Canis	Dog	Ki	Kei	Ki	Madadh	Sizi,ku		Mawda	Moddey
Cannabis	Hemp	Kyuark	Kuêr	Kanab	Kannaib			Kadip	Kennip
Caprinun-
Hircus	Buck	Buk gavr	Byk	Buk	Pok gavair	Buk goir		Gavwr	Bock goayr
Capra	Goat	Gavr	Guvur	Gauvr	Gavar	Gour		Gaawrverin	Goayr
Caput	Head	Pen	Pedn	Pen	Keann			'Tchynn	Kione
Caro	Flesh	Kêg	Kig	Kig	Feol			Phil	Feill
Calus	Cat	Kâth	Kâth	Kas	Kat			Chat	Kayt
Cervus	Hart, Stag	Karu	Karo	Karu	Fiadh-fire anm	Dav fie		Fieigh	Feeaih-yrryn
Cibus	Meat	Buyd	Bûyd	Boet	Biadh			Bi	Bee
Cor	Heart	Kalon	Kolan	Kâlm	Kroidhe	Krî		Krî	Cree
Cornu	Horn	Korn	Korn	Korn	Adhark	Yrk		Erk	Eairk
Corpus	Body	Korf	Korf	Korf	Korp			Korp	Corp
Dens	Tooth	Dant	Danz	Dant	Fiakail			Phegil	Feeackle
Digitus	Finger	Bys	Bei	Bes	Mear			Mer	Mair
Dorsum	Back	Kevn	Kein	Kein	Druim	Drûm		Drym	Dreeym
Equus	Horse	Keffyl, mark	Marh	Mark	Eak, mark			Kabyl	Cabbyl
Equa	Mare	Kassig	Kazak	Kassey	Laer, kappal	Kappul	Laer	Lèr	Laair
Facies	Face	Uyneb	Enap	Fas	Eadan	Ydyn	Ygi	Adyn	Eddin
Falx	Sickle	Krymman	Voulz	Faux, fals	Korrán			Korran	Corran
Ferrum	Iron	Haiarn	Hoarn	Uarn	Iarann			Iaàrn	Yiarn
Filia	Daughter	Merk	Merh	Merk	Ingean	Niyn		Ennien	Inneen
Filius	Son	Mab	Mab	Map	Mak	Makg		Mack	Mac
Frater	Brother	Braud	Bredar	Breur	Brathair			Breyr	Braar
Gramen	Grass	Glasuellt	Guelz		Glasfeur			Pher	Faiyr
Hortus	Garden	Gardh	Dzharn	Zardin	Gairdha			Gàre	Garey
Infans	Infant	Maban		Kruadyr	Nyidhean			Neinfan	Oikan
Insula	Isle	Ynys	Ennis	Enezen	Innshe, elan	Insh, i		Alyn	Ellan
Lacus	Lake	Lhyn, grelyn	Grelin	Len	Lok		Linne	Lwch	Logh
Lana	Wool	Gulàn	Gluan	Gloan	Olann			Ylan	Ollan
Lapis	Stone	Maen	Mean	Men	Klok			Klok	Clagh
Lepus	Hare	Ysgyvarnog	Skouarnak	Gat	Mil moighe	Mâx		Muyak	Mwaagh
Lingua	Tongue	Tavod	Tavag	Teant	Teanga	Teanka	Teyngi	'Tchania	Chengey
Linum	Flax	Lhin	Lin		Lin			Lin	Lieen
Luna	Moon	Lhoar	Lûr	Laor	Re, luan	Yallok		Nest	Eayst
Luteus	Yellow	Melyn	Milin	Melen	Boidhe	Bui		Bwyi	Buigh
Manus	Hand	Lhau	Lau		Lav			Law	Laue
Mare	Sea	Môr	Môr	Môr	Muir	Bok		Kean	Keayn,muir
Mater	Mother	Mam	Mani	Main	Mathair			Mynrmog	Moir,mummig
Mons	Mountain	Mynydh	Moneth	Avlenedh	Sliav			Sliew	Slieau
Mulier	Woman	Benyn	Banen	Manes	Bean	Ben		Ban	Ben
Murus	Wall	Myr	Foz	Moguer	Mur, balla			Vawl	Boalley
Nasus	Nose	Truyn	Trein	Fri	Sron			Stroan	Stroin
Niger	Black	Dy	Diu	Diu	Duv	Duh		Dw	Doo
Oculus	Eye	Lhygad	Lagaz	Lagat	Suil			Swil	Sooill
Os, oris	Mouth	Genoe	Ganau	Genu	Bel	Beyl		Buel	Beeal
Os, ossis	Bone	Asgurn	Asgarn	Askorn	Knav	Kraiv	Krai	Kreyv	Craue
Ovis	Sheep	Davad	Davas	Danvat	Kaora			Kyrri	Keyrrey
Vervex	Wether	Mõlht	Molz	Maut	Molt			Molt	Mohlt
Aries	Ram	Hurdh	Hor	Urdh	Reithe		Re	Ri	Rea
Agnus	Lamb	Oen	Oan	Oan	Uan			Yyn	Eayn
Ovum	Egg	Uy	Oi	Ui	Ugh	U		Ov	Ooh
Pater	Father	Tad	Tag	Tat	Athair			Disëg	Ayr, jyssig
Pes	Foot	Troed	Trug	Troat	Kes, troidh			Skass	Cass
Pileus	Cap, bonnet	Kap	Kap	Kabell	Boined	Baret		Barn	Bonnod,bayrn
Plumbum	Lead	Plumm	Plobm	Plum	Luaidhe			Lur	Leoaie
Potus	Drink	Diod, lhynn	Diot	Beurish	Deok			Joch	Jough
Pratuin	Meadow	Guoergeodh	Bidhen	Foennek	Leana			Leena	Lheannee
Radix	Root	Gureidhyn	Guredhan	Gridhien	Freav			Rwt	Frauë
Rota	Wheel	Rhõd	Roz	Rõt	Roth		Ròh	Quilyn	Queeyl
Ruber	Red	Rhydh	Rydh	Ryudh	Dearg	Diaryg		Jerg	Jiarg
Rupes	Rock	Kraig	Karak	Karrek	Karraig			Khulg	Creg
Sanguis	Blood	Guaed	Gûyd	Guat	Fuil			Phul	Fuill
Sol	Sun	Hayl	Heul	Heol	Grian			Gryen	Grian
Soror	Sister	Chuaer	Huyr	Chûar	Dearvshuir	Puir		Sywr	Shuyr
Stella	Star	Seren	Sterran	Sterren	Realt	Feylyg	Roanak	Rylag	Rollage
Sus	Sow	Hûch	Hôh	Gues	Krân		Myk	Niyck werin	Muc-woirryn
Asper	Boar	Baedh	Baidh	Hûch gues	Kylloch		Tyrk kyllagh	Kallach	Collagh-muc
Sylva	A wood	Koed	Kuz	Koat	Koill fiodh	Keliy		Magin	Keyll
Terra	Land	Daiar	Dor	Duar	Talav			Talu	Thalloo
Triticum	Wheat	Guenith	Guanath	Giunith	Kruithneachd			Kornacht	Curnaght
Venter	Belly	Bol	Tor	Kof	Bolg			Bolg	Bolg
Ventus	Wind	Guynt	Guenz	Avel	Gyth			Geiach, gèe	Geay
Vir	Man	Dyn	Dean	Dën	Dune	Dune		Dyny	Dooinney




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