MacNeill — Notes on Irish Oijluim Inscri'ptions. 



387 



unrelated languages. In their characteristic features, each system stands 

 entirely uninfluenced by the other. The two systems represent two 

 quite independent attempts to express the s<:>unds of the Irish language. 

 This is an historical fact of the greatest importance for the study of early 

 Irish literature and civilization. The following are the chief distinguishing 

 features of the two orthographies : — 



Ogham Irish. 



1. There are special syml^ols for 

 the sounds V and NG. 



2. The values of consonant sym- 

 bols are not varied by their position. 



8. A stop-consonant (mute) and 

 the corresponding aspirate are repre- 

 sented by the same symbol. 



4. Doubling of consonants is fre- 

 quent, but has no phonetic signifi- 

 cance. 



5. The strong and weak values of 

 the liquids L, N, K, are not distin- 

 guished. 



6. There is no distinction of long 

 and short vowels. 



7. Palatalization of consonants is 

 never expressed. 



Ms. Irish. 

 There are no special symliols for 

 V and NG. 



Consonant symbols vaiy in value 

 according as they are initial or other- 

 wise. 



Aspirates and stop-consonants are 

 distinguished in writing. 



Doubled consonants are used only 

 to express distinct phonetic values. 



The strong values of the liquids 

 are expressed by doubling the sym- 

 bols. 



A sign of quantity is placed over 

 long; vowels. 



Palatalization is expressed regu- 

 larly in the case of final consonants, 

 otherwise casually. 



The orthographical system of early MS. Irish is undoubtedly, so far as 

 Ireland is concerned, of later origin than the system of the Ogham inscriptions. 

 The origin of Ogham writing was not in historical memory. The in^•ention 

 of the art was ascribed to the eponymous god Ogme (Ogma), whose name is 

 identical with that of Ogmios, described by Lucian in the second century as 

 the god of eloquence among the continental Celts. The oldest Irish 

 traditions (e.g. in Tain Bo Cuailnge) ascribe the use of Ogham writino- to 

 remote pagan times. There is no historical evidence that j\is. writing was 

 used by the Irish before they adopted Christianity. Unlike the Ogham 

 system, the MS. system shows familiarity with the devices introduced into 

 Latin writing for the expression of the Greek symbols, 0, ^, y, ^h, i?/^, cli • 

 also with /, li, l\ p, X, y, z. 



R.I. A. PEOC, VOL. XXVII., SECT. C. [501 



