Edited from MS NLI G 50 (25 qq.) with reconstructed text, translation and notes. Ascribed in MS heading to Dallán [Forgaill] but ascribed to Becan mac Luighdech in a gloss. Beg. Fo réir Choluimb céin ad-fías. Includes discussion of metre (MS laoidh imrinn), which is described as ‘transitional’, as it displays both alliteration and regular end-rime.
Identifies hand of LB (MS RIA 23 P 16) (with that of YBL (MS TCD H 2. 16)) cols 281-344 and parts of Book of Lecan (MS RIA 23 P 2)) as Murchadh (Riabhach) Ó Cuindlis. Also contains two appendices: Appendix I: Times and places of writing mentioned in marginalia from the scribe’s hand; Appendix II: A note on the scribe of the Book of Lecan (Gilla Ísa Mac Fir Bhisigh, Murchadh Ó Cuindlis, Adam Ó Cuirnín).
[1.] The evidence reconsidered; A. Nominativus pendens; B. The transferred subject in Irish; C. Initial subject with non-relative verb; D. Noun-initial as mark of explanation or response; E. Noun-initial as a stylistic, quasi-rhetorical feature; F. Miscellaneous instances of noun-initial sentences; [2.] Verb-initial the primary construction in British?; [3.] Breton and Cornish word-order; [4.] The spread of noun-initial order in Southern British.
*e(p)i- in é(i)thech (with same base as díthech and fre(i)tech); *eti- in e(i)tech; óL < *au and *apo > *ao; OIr. ind-, imbL, íar(m-), ol, sech, coh, doL, ro (idiosyncratic) related to L pro-sum.
Discusses the semantics and etymology of iomna, tiomna, udhacht; iomna, tiomna = ‘injunction, decreee’ > ‘mandatory will; udhacht = ‘declaration, statement of fact or desire’ > ‘will’ in general sense of ‘dying statement’.
Édouard Bachellery, in ÉtC 14 (1974-1975), pp. 667-671.