# Forfeda > Mediated Wiki article. Canonical URL: https://mediated.wiki/source/Forfeda > Markdown URL: https://mediated.wiki/source/Forfeda.md > Source: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Forfeda > Source revision: 1330519823 > License: Creative Commons Attribution-ShareAlike 4.0 International (https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-sa/4.0/) {{Short description|Additional letters of the Ogham alphabet}} {{Use dmy dates|date=April 2022}} {{Contains special characters|Ogham}} {{Table Oghamletters}} The '''{{lang|sga|forfeda}}''' (sing. {{lang|sga|forfid}}) are the "additional" letters of the [Ogham](/source/Ogham) alphabet, beyond the basic inventory of twenty signs. Their name derives from {{lang|sga|fid}} ("wood", a term also used for Ogham letters) and the prefix {{lang|sga|for-}} ("additional").{{Cite web|url=http://www.dil.ie/23611|title=eDIL - Irish Language Dictionary|website=www.dil.ie}}{{Cite web|url=http://www.dil.ie/21999|title=eDIL - Irish Language Dictionary|website=www.dil.ie}}{{Cite web|url=http://www.dil.ie/23272|title=eDIL - Irish Language Dictionary|website=www.dil.ie}} The most important of these are five {{lang|sga|forfeda}} which were arranged in their own {{lang|sga|aicme}} or class, and were invented in the [Old Irish](/source/Old_Irish) period, several centuries after the peak of Ogham usage. They appear to have represented sounds felt to be missing from the original alphabet, maybe ''é(o)'', ''ó(i)'', ''ú(i)'', ''p'' and ''ch''.{{clarify|date=March 2012}} ==The "aicme" forfeda== The five "{{lang|sga|aicme}}" {{lang|sga|forfeda}} are glossed in the manuscripts ''[Auraicept na n-Éces](/source/Auraicept_na_n-%C3%89ces)'' ('The Scholars' Primer), ''[De dúilib feda](/source/De_d%C3%BAilib_feda)'' ('Elements of the Letters') and ''[In Lebor Ogaim](/source/In_Lebor_Ogaim)'' ('The Book of Ogam'), by several {{lang|sga|[Bríatharogaim](/source/Br%C3%ADatharogam)}} ("word oghams"), or two word [kenning](/source/kenning)s, which explain the meanings of the names of the letters of the [Ogham](/source/Ogham) alphabet. The ''forfeda'' letter names and their kennings, as edited (in normalized Old Irish) and translated by McManus (1988), are as follows: :{| class="wikitable" |- style="background:#efefef;" |align=center colspan="3"| Letter |align=center| Meaning |align=center| ''Bríatharogam
Morainn mac Moín'' |align=center| ''Bríatharogam
Maic ind Óc'' |align=center| ''Bríatharogam
Con Culainn'' |- align=left |align=center| {{big| ᚕ }} |align=center| ea | {{lang|ga|Éabhadh}} | Unknown | {{lang|sga|snámchaín feda}}
{{gloss|fair-swimming letter}} | {{lang|sga|cosc lobair}}
{{gloss|[admonishing?] of an infirm person}} | {{lang|sga|caínem éco}}
{{gloss|fairest fish}} |- align=left |align=center| {{big| ᚖ }} |align=center| oi | {{lang|ga|Óir}} | {{gloss|Gold}} | {{lang|sga|sruithem aicde}}
{{gloss|most venerable substance}} | {{lang|sga|lí crotha}}
{{gloss|splendour of form}} | |- align=left |align=center| {{big| ᚗ }} |align=center| ui | {{lang|ga|Uilleann}} | {{gloss|Elbow}} | {{lang|ga|túthmar fid}}
{{gloss|fragrant tree}} | {{lang|sga|cubat oll}}
{{gloss|great elbow/cubit}} | |- align=left |align=center| {{big| ᚘ }} |align=center| p,
{{nobr|''later'' io}} | {{lang|ga|[Ifín](/source/If%C3%ADn)}}, earlier {{lang|sga|Pín}} | {{gloss|Spine/thorn}}? | {{lang|sga|milsem fedo}}
{{gloss|sweetest tree}} | {{lang|sga|amram mlais}}
{{gloss|most wonderful taste}} | |- |align=center| {{big| ᚙ }} |align=center| {{nobr|ch ''or'' x,}}
{{nobr|''later'' ae}} | {{lang|ga|Eamhancholl}} | {{gloss|Twin-of-[coll](/source/Coll_(letter))}} | {{lang|sga|lúad sáethaig}}
{{gloss|groan of a sick person}} | {{lang|sga|mol galraig}}
{{gloss|groan of a sick person}} | |} Four of these names are glossed in the Auraicept with tree names, {{lang|sga|ebad}} as {{lang|sga|crithach}} "[aspen](/source/aspen)", {{lang|sga|oir}} as {{lang|sga|feorus no edind}} "[spindle-tree](/source/spindle-tree) or [ivy](/source/ivy)", {{lang|sga|uilleand}} as {{lang|sga|edleand}} "[honeysuckle](/source/honeysuckle)", and {{lang|sga|iphin}} as {{lang|sga|spinan no ispin}} "[gooseberry](/source/gooseberry) or [thorn](/source/Thorns%2C_spines%2C_and_prickles)". The kennings for {{lang|ga|Éabhadh}} point to the sound ''éo'' or ''é'', which is also the word for "[salmon](/source/salmon)". The name appears modelled after ''[Eadhadh](/source/Eadhadh)'' and ''[Iodhadh](/source/Iodhadh)''. The kennings for {{lang|ga|Ór}} point to the word {{lang|ga|ór}} "[gold](/source/gold)" (cognate to Latin {{lang|la|aurum}}). The kenning of {{lang|ga|Uilleann}}, "great elbow", refers to the letter name. Since the Ogham alphabet dates to the [Primitive Irish](/source/Primitive_Irish) period, it had no sign for {{IPA|[p]}} in its original form and the letter {{lang|sga|Pín}} was added as a letter to express it. McManus states that the name {{lang|sga|Pín}} was probably influenced by Latin ''[pinus](/source/pinus)'' ('pine'), but a more likely explanation is that it derives from Latin {{lang|la|spina}} ('thorn'), as the kennings indicate a tree or shrub with sweet tasting fruit (therefore not a pine). According to Kelly (1976) the name {{lang|sga|spín}} (deriving from the Latin) appears in the Old Irish tree lists as meaning either gooseberry or thorn, so the medieval glosses may be correct on this occasion. The name {{lang|ga|Eamhancholl}} means "twinned {{lang|ga|coll}}", referring to the shape of the letter (ᚙ resembling two ᚉ), and also perhaps referring to its sound being similar to that of {{lang|ga|coll}} ({{IPAblink|x}} being a [fricative](/source/Fricative_consonant) variant of {{IPAblink|k}}). The Bríatharogam kenning "groan of a sick person" refers to a value ''ch'' {{IPA|[x]}}, predating the decision that all five {{lang|sga|forfeda}} should represent vowels. Apart from the first letter, the {{lang|sga|forfeda}} were little used in inscriptions, and this led later oghamists to rearrange them as a series of vowel diphthongs, necessitating a complete change to the sounds of {{lang|sga|Pín}} and {{lang|ga|Eamhancholl}} (the name {{lang|sga|Pín}} also had to be changed to {{lang|sga|Iphín}}). This arrangement is how they appear in most manuscripts: * ᚕ (U+1695) ''Éabhadh'': ''ea'', ''éo'' ''ea''; * ᚖ (U+1696) ''Ór'': ''oi'' ''óe'', ''oi''; * ᚗ (U+1697) ''Uilleann'': ''ui'', ''úa'', ''ui''; * ᚘ (U+1698) ''Ifín'': ''io'', ''ía'', ''ia''; * ᚙ (U+1699) ''Eamhancholl'': ''ae''. This arrangement meant that once again the ogham alphabet was without a letter for the {{IPA|[p]}} sound, making necessary the creation of {{lang|ga|Peith}} (see below). ===Inscriptions=== Apart from the first letter {{lang|ga|Éabhadh}}, the {{lang|sga|forfeda}} do not appear often in orthodox [ogham inscriptions](/source/ogham_inscriptions). {{lang|ga|Éabhadh}} was in fact frequently used as part of the formula word {{Transliteration|pgl|KOI}} {{lang|pgl-ogam|ᚕᚑᚔ}}, but with the value {{IPA|/k/}} or {{IPA|/x/}}. KOI means something like 'here' and is the ogham equivalent of the Latin {{lang|la|hic iacet}} (McManus §5.3, 1991); it is etymologically linked with the Latin {{lang|la|cis}} ("on this side"). It also appears with its vocalic value in later orthodox inscriptions however. Of the other {{lang|sga|forfeda}} the next three appear only a few times, and the last letter {{lang|ga|Eamhancholl}} does not appear at all. So rare are the other {{lang|sga|forfeda}} in inscriptions that it is worthwhile detailing the individual examples (numbering as given by Macalister): * '''Óir''' appears twice: :* In an inscription in Killogrone in County Kerry (235), which reads: {{fs interlinear |lang=pgl |glossing2=no |indent=5 | ᚛ᚐᚅᚋ   ᚋᚖᚂᚓᚌᚖᚋᚏᚔᚇ   ᚋᚐᚉᚔ   ᚍᚓᚉᚒᚋᚓᚅ᚜ | ANM M'''Ó'''LEG'''Ó'''MRID MACI VECUMEN |}} :* In a late inscription on a cross slab at Formaston in Aberdeenshire, which reads: {{fs interlinear |lang=pgl |glossing2=no |indent=5 | ᚛ᚋᚐᚊᚊᚖ   ᚈᚐᚂᚂᚒᚑᚏᚏᚆ   ᚅᚓᚆᚆᚈᚍ   ᚏᚑᚁᚁᚐᚉ   ᚉᚓᚅᚅᚓᚃᚃ᚜ | MAQQ'''Ó''' TALLUORRH NÉHHTV ROBBAC CÉNNEFF |}} * '''Uilleann''' appears only once, in an inscription in Teeromoyle, again in County Kerry (240). The inscription reads: {{fs interlinear |lang=pgl |glossing2=no |indent=4 | ᚛ᚋᚑᚉᚒᚏᚏᚓᚈᚔ   ᚋᚐᚊᚔ   ᚍᚂᚔᚄᚐᚉᚓᚄᚗᚉᚋᚔᚏ᚜ | MOCURRETI MAQI VLISACES'''UI'''CMIR |}} * '''Pín''' appears in two, or possibly three, inscriptions. :* In Cool East on Valencia Island in County Kerry (231), which reads: {{fs interlinear |lang=pgl |glossing2=no |indent=5 | ᚛ᚂᚑᚌᚔᚈᚈᚔ   ᚋᚐᚊᚔ   ᚓᚏᚘᚓᚅ᚜ | LOGITTI MAQI ER'''P'''ENN |}} :: The letter {{IPA|[p]}} appears as an X shape instead of the 'double X' shape of the letter, presumably because the correct letter shape is quite hard to carve. :* In Crickowel in Breconshire in Wales (327) which reads: {{fs interlinear |lang=pgl |glossing2=no |indent=5 | ᚛ᚈᚒᚏᚘᚔᚂᚔ   ᚋᚑᚄᚐᚉ   ᚈᚏᚐᚂᚂᚑᚅᚔ᚜ | TUR'''P'''ILI MOSAC TRALLONI |}} :: Again an X shape is used. :* In Margam in Glamorganshire in Wales (409) which reads: {{fs interlinear |lang=pgl |glossing2=no|indent=5 | ᚛ᚘᚐᚋᚘᚓᚄ᚜ | '''P'''AM'''P'''ES |}} :: However, much of the inscription is broken off and what remains looks like a squat arrowhead. It almost certainly stands for {{IPA|[p]}} however, as the ogham inscription is accompanied by one in Latin which confirms the sound. ==Other forfeda== Beyond the five {{lang|sga|forfeda}} discussed above, which doubtlessly date to [Old Irish](/source/Old_Irish) times, there is a large number of letter variants and symbols, partly found in manuscripts, and partly in "scholastic" (post 6th century) inscriptions collectively termed {{lang|sga|forfeda}}. They may date to [Old Irish](/source/Old_Irish), [Middle Irish](/source/Middle_Irish) or even early modern times. ===Peith=== Due to the "schematicism of later Ogamists" (McManus 1988:167), who insisted on treating the five primary forfeda as vowels, {{IPA|[p]}} had again to be expressed as a modification of {{IPA|[b]}}, called {{lang|ga|peithe}}, after ''[beithe](/source/beithe)'', also called {{lang|ga|beithe bog}} "soft ''beithe''" or, tautologically, ''peithbog'' (ᚚ {{lang|ga|Peith}}, Unicode allocation U+169A). ===Manuscript tradition=== {{further|Scholastic Ogham}} [[Image:Forfeda.png|thumb|350px|The ''forfeda'' of the Ogham scales in the [Book of Ballymote](/source/Book_of_Ballymote) (scale nrs. 79, 80, 81 {{Cite web|url=http://www.equinox-project.com/v22125.htm|title=Ogam Scales of the Book of Ballymote by Barry Fell|website=www.equinox-project.com}}{{Cite web|url=http://www.equinox-project.com/v22126.htm|title=Ogam Scales of the Book of Ballymote by Barry Fell|website=www.equinox-project.com}}{{Cite web|url=http://www.equinox-project.com/v22127.htm|title=Ogam Scales of the Book of Ballymote by Barry Fell|website=www.equinox-project.com}})]] The 7th-12th century ''[Auraicept na n-Éces](/source/Auraicept_na_n-%C3%89ces)'' among the 92 "variants" of the Ogham script gives more letters identified as ''forfeda'' (variant nrs. 79, 80 and 81). ===Inscriptions=== The Bressay stone in [Shetland](/source/Shetland) ([CISP](/source/Celtic_Inscribed_Stones_Project) BREAY/1) contains five forfeda, three of them paralleled on other Scottish monuments and also in Irish manuscripts, and two unique to Bressay. One of the latter is possibly a correction of an error in carving and not intended as a forfid. One is "rabbit-eared", interpreted as some kind of modified D, presumably the voiced spirant. Another is an "angled vowel", presumably a modified A. One unique character consists of five undulating strokes sloping backwards across the stem, possibly a modified I. The fourth is a four-stroke cross-hatching, also appearing in the late eighth or ninth-century Bern ogham alphabet and syllabary under a label which has previously been read as RR, but another suggestions is SS. It appears in the [Book of Ballymote](/source/Book_of_Ballymote), scale no. 64.[http://www.ucl.ac.uk/archaeology/cisp/database/stone/breay_1.html CISP - BREAY/1] {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20131023020131/http://www.ucl.ac.uk/archaeology/cisp/database/stone/breay_1.html |date=23 October 2013 }} ==References== {{Reflist}} *Kelly, Fergus 'The Old Irish Tree-list' ''Celtica'' 11 (1976) pp122–3 *Macalister, Robert A.S. ''Corpus inscriptionum insularum celticarum''. First edition. Dublin: Stationery Office, 1945–1949. OCLC 71392234 *McManus, Damian. ''Ogam: Archaizing, Orthography and the Authenticity of the Manuscript Key to the Alphabet'', Ériu 37, 1988, 1-31. Dublin: Royal Irish Academy. OCLC 56088345 *McManus, Damian ''Irish letter-names and their kennings'', Ériu 39 (1988), 127–168. *McManus, Damian. ''A Guide to Ogam'', Maynooth 1991. {{ISBN|1-870684-17-6}} OCLC 24181838 *Sims-Williams, P ''The additional letters of the Ogam Alphabet'', Cambridge Medieval Celtic Studies, 23: 29-75 (1992). ==External links== *[http://www.equinox-project.com/ogamscales.htm The Ogam Scales from the Book of Ballymote] by B. Fell Category:Ogham letters --- Adapted from the Wikipedia article [Forfeda](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Forfeda) by Wikipedia contributors ([contributor history](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Forfeda?action=history)). Available under [Creative Commons Attribution-ShareAlike 4.0 International](https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-sa/4.0/). Changes may have been made.