Fernaig manuscript
Encyclopedia
The Fernaig manuscript is a document containing approximately 4,200 lines of verse consisting largely of political and religious themes. The manuscript was composed between 1688 and 1693 by Donnchadh MacRath
in Wester Ross
and is notable for the author's unique orthography
which is, like the more famous Book of the Dean of Lismore
, based upon English, rather than Classical Gaelic
, phonetics
. Although the manuscript has been studied, "translated" in accordance with correct Gaelic orthography and republished - for the first time in 1923 by Calum MacPhàrlainn - it has been said that it has yet to be reliably interpreted.
In addition to the unusual spelling system used the manuscript is notable for several other reasons. It is the only record of Scottish verse
which is similar in form and nature to that practiced by the Munster
poets at the start of the 17th century. It also contains religious poems which predate the composition of the manuscript by several centuries and have been described as the only extant examples of religious verse from that period as equivalent examples recorded following Culloden
are very sparse. All other remaining records of 17th century Gaelic verse
were committed to paper only after surviving for a hundred years or more as part of the oral tradition. The manuscript contains 59 pieces with 10 being of unknown authorship, 12 attributed to MacRath
himself with a further 17 authors named as responsible for the rest.
Excerpt from the poem "Gillimichells ansr to ye ford lyns" (Gille-Mhicheal's Answer to the Foresaid Lines):
The manuscript, in the form of two books, is currently held by the University of Glasgow
library. Prior to the university gaining possession the manuscript was held by a Matheson of Fernaig, and was thus named the Fernaig manuscript. It then passed through the hands of Dr Mackintosh-Mackay, Dr W.F. Skene and the Reverend John Kennedy of Arran
who finally bequeathed it to Glasgow
. The dialect used in the text varies and seems to vary between the formal, literary style and that of the local vernacular. While it is possible that MacRath had some knowledge of Gaelic (both Scottish and Irish) manuscripts written in the literary form, the almost total lack of eclipses
present in the text – which are a feature of Irish Gaelic and the main distinction between Scottish and Irish
dialects – suggest that the author did not commit anything to paper dictated by an Irish
speaker. However the anthology does include pieces by two Irish poets who lived generations before the time of the author and this does point to some degree of familiarity by MacRath with that class of literature. The two books of the manuscript can basically be divided by the general theme of the verse found within them. The first contains mostly religious works of a literary style while the second is more political and colloquial in nature. A considerable number of the words used throughout cannot be found in modern Scottish Gaelic dictionaries but many can be found in Irish Gaelic dictionaries and Shaw’s “pan-Gaelic” dictionary.
Donnchadh MacRath
Donnchadh MacRath, also known as Duncan MacRae of Inverinate and Donnchadh nam Pìos, was a Scottish Gaelic poet and the compiler of the Fernaig manuscript which he committed to paper using an English-influenced system of orthography.-Origins:...
in Wester Ross
Wester Ross
is a western area of Ross and Cromarty in Scotland, notably containing the villages on the west coast such as:* Lochcarron* Applecross* Shieldaig* Torridon* Kinlochewe * * * Aultbea* Laide* Ullapool* Achiltibuie...
and is notable for the author's unique orthography
Orthography
The orthography of a language specifies a standardized way of using a specific writing system to write the language. Where more than one writing system is used for a language, for example Kurdish, Uyghur, Serbian or Inuktitut, there can be more than one orthography...
which is, like the more famous Book of the Dean of Lismore
Book of the Dean of Lismore
The Book of the Dean of Lismore is a famous Scottish manuscript, compiled in eastern Perthshire in the first half of the 16th century. The chief compiler, after whom it is named, was James MacGregor , vicar of Fortingall and titular Dean of Lismore Cathedral, although there are other probable...
, based upon English, rather than Classical Gaelic
Classical Gaelic
Classical Gaelic is the term used in Scotland for the shared literary form that was in use in Scotland and Ireland 13th to the 18th century. The language is that of Early Modern Irish...
, phonetics
Phonetics
Phonetics is a branch of linguistics that comprises the study of the sounds of human speech, or—in the case of sign languages—the equivalent aspects of sign. It is concerned with the physical properties of speech sounds or signs : their physiological production, acoustic properties, auditory...
. Although the manuscript has been studied, "translated" in accordance with correct Gaelic orthography and republished - for the first time in 1923 by Calum MacPhàrlainn - it has been said that it has yet to be reliably interpreted.
In addition to the unusual spelling system used the manuscript is notable for several other reasons. It is the only record of Scottish verse
Scottish literature
Scottish literature is literature written in Scotland or by Scottish writers. It includes literature written in English, Scottish Gaelic, Scots, Brythonic, French, Latin and any other language in which a piece of literature was ever written within the boundaries of modern Scotland.The earliest...
which is similar in form and nature to that practiced by the Munster
Munster
Munster is one of the Provinces of Ireland situated in the south of Ireland. In Ancient Ireland, it was one of the fifths ruled by a "king of over-kings" . Following the Norman invasion of Ireland, the ancient kingdoms were shired into a number of counties for administrative and judicial purposes...
poets at the start of the 17th century. It also contains religious poems which predate the composition of the manuscript by several centuries and have been described as the only extant examples of religious verse from that period as equivalent examples recorded following Culloden
Battle of Culloden
The Battle of Culloden was the final confrontation of the 1745 Jacobite Rising. Taking place on 16 April 1746, the battle pitted the Jacobite forces of Charles Edward Stuart against an army commanded by William Augustus, Duke of Cumberland, loyal to the British government...
are very sparse. All other remaining records of 17th century Gaelic verse
Scottish literature
Scottish literature is literature written in Scotland or by Scottish writers. It includes literature written in English, Scottish Gaelic, Scots, Brythonic, French, Latin and any other language in which a piece of literature was ever written within the boundaries of modern Scotland.The earliest...
were committed to paper only after surviving for a hundred years or more as part of the oral tradition. The manuscript contains 59 pieces with 10 being of unknown authorship, 12 attributed to MacRath
Donnchadh MacRath
Donnchadh MacRath, also known as Duncan MacRae of Inverinate and Donnchadh nam Pìos, was a Scottish Gaelic poet and the compiler of the Fernaig manuscript which he committed to paper using an English-influenced system of orthography.-Origins:...
himself with a further 17 authors named as responsible for the rest.
Excerpt from the poem "Gillimichells ansr to ye ford lyns" (Gille-Mhicheal's Answer to the Foresaid Lines):
| Original | MacPhàrlainn's interpretation | English |
|---|---|---|
is trouh i cheile veg Ri Vlliam Reine mūnnin and si toirse Hreig i vi ri dūinoilis is leish i būrris vi ri boist No faickig eads cūndoirt ea Snach burrine ea si toire Seads loūyh chuirrig mulloid er No Tih nach vūn da void |
Rinn muinghinn anns an t-seòrs, A thréig a bhi ri duinealas, Is leis am b'fhuras bhi ri bòsd; Na'm faiceadh iad-s' an cunnart e, S nach b'urrainn e 'san tòir, S iad 's luaithe chuireadh mulad air Na 'n tì nach d'bhuain d'an bhòid. |
to find confidence of the kind that abandons manliness and leads to leisurely boasting If they could see the danger in him and if he could not pursue how quickly they would cause grief in that being who honours no oath |
The manuscript, in the form of two books, is currently held by the University of Glasgow
University of Glasgow
The University of Glasgow is the fourth-oldest university in the English-speaking world and one of Scotland's four ancient universities. Located in Glasgow, the university was founded in 1451 and is presently one of seventeen British higher education institutions ranked amongst the top 100 of the...
library. Prior to the university gaining possession the manuscript was held by a Matheson of Fernaig, and was thus named the Fernaig manuscript. It then passed through the hands of Dr Mackintosh-Mackay, Dr W.F. Skene and the Reverend John Kennedy of Arran
Isle of Arran
Arran or the Isle of Arran is the largest island in the Firth of Clyde, Scotland, and with an area of is the seventh largest Scottish island. It is in the unitary council area of North Ayrshire and the 2001 census had a resident population of 5,058...
who finally bequeathed it to Glasgow
University of Glasgow
The University of Glasgow is the fourth-oldest university in the English-speaking world and one of Scotland's four ancient universities. Located in Glasgow, the university was founded in 1451 and is presently one of seventeen British higher education institutions ranked amongst the top 100 of the...
. The dialect used in the text varies and seems to vary between the formal, literary style and that of the local vernacular. While it is possible that MacRath had some knowledge of Gaelic (both Scottish and Irish) manuscripts written in the literary form, the almost total lack of eclipses
Elliptical construction
In linguistics, ellipsis or elliptical construction refers to the omission from a clause of one or more words that would otherwise be required by the remaining elements.-Overview:...
present in the text – which are a feature of Irish Gaelic and the main distinction between Scottish and Irish
Differences between Scottish Gaelic and Irish
Scottish Gaelic is closely related to Irish. Most dialects are not immediately mutually comprehensible, though many individual words and phrases are, and speakers of the two languages can rapidly develop mutual intelligibility....
dialects – suggest that the author did not commit anything to paper dictated by an Irish
Irish language
Irish , also known as Irish Gaelic, is a Goidelic language of the Indo-European language family, originating in Ireland and historically spoken by the Irish people. Irish is now spoken as a first language by a minority of Irish people, as well as being a second language of a larger proportion of...
speaker. However the anthology does include pieces by two Irish poets who lived generations before the time of the author and this does point to some degree of familiarity by MacRath with that class of literature. The two books of the manuscript can basically be divided by the general theme of the verse found within them. The first contains mostly religious works of a literary style while the second is more political and colloquial in nature. A considerable number of the words used throughout cannot be found in modern Scottish Gaelic dictionaries but many can be found in Irish Gaelic dictionaries and Shaw’s “pan-Gaelic” dictionary.