Nouvelles orientations de recherche dans l’étude des gloses celtiques (et en particulier brittoniques)

Abstract

As with many other Western European vernaculars, it is glosses that constitute the oldest documents for the insular Celtic languages. This antiquity of the glosses might give them a special prestige, but those attracted by the mere antiquity of the glosses, and lacking the necessary preparation, are in any case likely to be disappointed by their content, which is literally poor and limited. My purpose today is to enumerate the main problems that currently arise in the study of Celtic glosses. I would like to show that Celtic glosses must be studied in a multidisciplinary way: if linguistic training is essential, knowledge as a Latinist, palaeographer and historian is also necessary.

Keywords

• history
• glosses
• Celtic studies
• Latin (language)
• Brittonic
• palaeography