Abstract
The distinction in the Insular Celtic languages between absolute and conjunct flexion arose out of the same syntactic and morphological patterns as underlie the grammars of all Indo-European languages. The Proto-Indo-European verb could be in marked, sentence-initial position, for 'emphasis' (focus, foregrounding, vel sim.), in which case it was accented, or in unmarked, sentence-medial or final position, in which case, in main clauses, it was unaccented. In some phase of prehistoric Celtic, an apocope rule affected inherited short final *-e and *-i in unaccented words. Non-initial verbs, being unaccented, underwent this apocope, giving rise to Insular Celtic conjunct forms. Initial verbs, being accented, did not undergo this apocope, giving rise to absolute forms.
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