The verb in the Book of Aneirin

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The thirteenth-century manuscript collection of Welsh praise-poetry presents a unique linguistic landscape, showcasing features interpreted as archaisms that suggest its great antiquity. However, claims regarding these 'archaisms' have not been thoroughly examined within the broader grammatical structure of the text. This study delves into various grammatical aspects, utilizing a comprehensive edition of the finite verbal clauses. The syntactic analysis focuses on the verb's relationship with its arguments, addressing two main issues: the type and status of basic word order and the interplay between the semantics of predication and the pragmatics of information communication. It is concluded that the basic word order is VSO, as expected for a Welsh text, but there is no evidence of earlier, different basic orders. Instead, word-order variation is analyzed through a functional syntax model that considers both the pragmatics and semantics involved. These findings prompt a reevaluation of arguments regarding historical syntax and reconstruction, both within Celtic studies and in a broader cross-linguistic context. The edition of the finite clauses is accompanied by notes that explore historical and synchronic aspects, with a focus on morphology and etymology.