Bilingual Picts There is ample evidence that countless Picts were bilingual or even multilingual. I hope to make further posts on this issue in the future. Pictland was by no means a closed society but was in intense contact with other ethnic groups throughout its history. Some Picts would have spoken Old Welsh, Irish, Old English, Norse and Biblical Latin. In early (pre-Pictish periods) there would have been bilingualism with spoken Latin and early Celtic. Various individuals from other kingdoms would also have spoken Pictish. One interesting anecdotal piece of evidence occurs in the Life of Findan. He was a 9th-century Irish saint, from Leinster. His life recounts that he was taken in captivity by Norsemen to the Orkneys. Here he escapes his captors and is taken to the local bishop, who is conversant in Irish, having acquired his religious training there. Findan is therefore able to converse with this ‘Pict’ in Irish, his native tongue. The Life is a fascinating read and has many interesting details about the period. Pictures are just the result of a Google search. Make of them what you wish. ucc.ie/celt/published/T201041.html https://facebook/groups/290615827793369/?ref=ts&fref=ts
Posted on: Mon, 26 Jan 2015 09:16:34 +0000