Re: Changes in Old Irish and Christianity

From: CG
Message: 31872
Date: 2004-04-12

Mate wrote:
> I have been reading Dixon's The Rise and Fall of Languages and
> among many interesting things I found there a claim that the rapid
> language change in Old Irish in the period between 400 and 600 AD
> is directly connected with the introduction of Christianity into
> Ireland. Dixon assumes there was a breakdown of communication
> between generations (or classes) as younger people adopted the new
> religion and older ones rejected it.
> Any thoughts?

I don't think that this is very likely - and there is no evidence
for the adoption of Christianity falling along generational lines,
AFAIK.

- Chris Gwinn