Reconstruction:Proto-Brythonic/-ɨnn

This Proto-Brythonic entry contains reconstructed terms and roots. As such, the term(s) in this entry are not directly attested, but are hypothesized to have existed based on comparative evidence.

Proto-Brythonic

Etymology

From Proto-Celtic *-inyos. Cognate with Old Irish -(i)ne.

Pronunciation

IPA^(key): /ɨnː/

Suffix

*-ɨnn m (feminine *-enn)

Forms singulatives of collective nouns.
‎*grọn (“grain”) + ‎*-ɨnn → ‎*grọnɨnn (“a grain”)
Forms abstract derivatives of certain nouns and adjectives.
‎*tanaw (“thin”) + ‎*-ɨnn → ‎*tenewɨnn (“side, flank”)

Descendants

Middle Welsh: -yn
- Welsh: -yn

Reconstruction notes

In Breton, the merger of the reflexes of *ɨ and *e led to the collapse of the masculine-feminine distinction with *-enn, and in that language only the feminine suffix continues to be productive. In Middle Cornish -yn is attested, but it is unclear if this reflects inheritance from *-ɨnn or a secondary development from *-enn.

References

^ Schrijver, Peter C. H. (1995) Studies in British Celtic historical phonology (Leiden studies in Indo-European; 5), Amsterdam, Atlanta: Rodopi, page 260
^ Irslinger, Britta (2010) “Les dérivés gallois, cornique -yn/-en, breton -enn et irlandais -ne: fonction et sémantique”, in La Bretagne Linguistique‎, page 58
^ R. J. Thomas, G. A. Bevan, P. J. Donovan, A. Hawke et al., editors (1950–present), “-yn”, in Geiriadur Prifysgol Cymru Online (in Welsh), University of Wales Centre for Advanced Welsh & Celtic Studies
^ Schrijver, Peter (2011) “Old British”, in Brythonic Celtic-Britannisches Keltisch: From Medieval British to Modern Breton, page 43
^ Irslinger, Britta (2014) “The gender of abstract noun suffixes in the Brittonic languages”, in Studies on the Collective and Feminine in Indo-European from a Diachronic and Typological Perspective, page 105

[1] Schrijver, Peter C. H. (1995) Studies in British Celtic historical phonology (Leiden studies in Indo-European; 5), Amsterdam, Atlanta: Rodopi, page 260

[2] Irslinger, Britta (2010) “Les dérivés gallois, cornique -yn/-en, breton -enn et irlandais -ne: fonction et sémantique”, in La Bretagne Linguistique‎, page 58

[3] R. J. Thomas, G. A. Bevan, P. J. Donovan, A. Hawke et al., editors (1950–present), “-yn”, in Geiriadur Prifysgol Cymru Online (in Welsh), University of Wales Centre for Advanced Welsh & Celtic Studies

[4] Schrijver, Peter (2011) “Old British”, in Brythonic Celtic-Britannisches Keltisch: From Medieval British to Modern Breton, page 43

[5] Irslinger, Britta (2014) “The gender of abstract noun suffixes in the Brittonic languages”, in Studies on the Collective and Feminine in Indo-European from a Diachronic and Typological Perspective, page 105