Bibliography

Russell, Paul, “Distinctions, foundations and steps: the metaphors of the grades of comparison in medieval Latin, Irish and Welsh grammatical texts”, Language & History 63 (2020): 47–72.

  • journal article
Citation details
Contributors
Article
“Distinctions, foundations and steps: the metaphors of the grades of comparison in medieval Latin, Irish and Welsh grammatical texts”
Periodical
Volume
63
Pages
47–72
Description
Abstract (cited)
While the ‘grades’ of comparison is a familiar term, it is argued in this paper that a more thorough-going appreciation of a metaphor which originally had to do with steps allows us better to understand the development of the terminology of the grades of comparison as it moved from the Latin grammarians, especially Donatus and the commentators on his original work, into the medieval vernacular Irish and Welsh grammars. The architectural basis of the terminology, then, once identified, may help to clarify the use of such terms as Old Irish etargaire and how in Welsh grwndwal (lit.) ‘ground-wall’ came to be used of the positive form of the adjective.
Subjects and topics
Headings
Middle Welsh Old Irish Old English
Sources
Texts
History, society and culture
Agents
ÆlfricÆlfric
Entry reserved for but not yet available from the subject index.

See more
DonatusDonatus
Entry reserved for but not yet available from the subject index.

See more
Muiredach of Auxerre and MetzMuiredach of Auxerre and Metz
(fl. 9th century)
also known from Latin sources as Murethach or Muridac; Irish grammarian and author of a commentary on Donatus’s Ars maior.
See more
Sedulius ScottusSedulius Scottus
(fl. 9th century)
Irish scriptural scholar, teacher, grammarian and poet who made a career in Francia and became a leading intellectual figure at the court of Charles the Bald.
See more
TatwineTatwine
Entry reserved for but not yet available from the subject index.

See more
Keywords
comparative Donatus equative foundations grades of comparison metaphors positive steps superlative
Contributors
Dennis Groenewegen
Page created
May 2020, last updated: February 2021