Celtic Lenition in English Nicknames

Abstract

IN ANARTICLEwritten a number of years ago,l I demonstrated that certain English nicknames and proper names, and even some words otherwise unexplainable were to be accounted for by the apparently once widespread substitution of initial h for initial r in the names Richard (giving Hick), Robert (Hob), and Roger (Hodge). I believe I established that this occurred in northern English dialects, specifically Northumbrian, because of the uvular r once prevalent in those dialects; and I showed that this fact had widespread implications. In the course of that investigation I also became intrigued with nicknames which substitute initial p for initial m: Peg for Meg, Polly for Molly, and at least one other. The h for r alternation is, of course, no help with these. Can an explanation be found? I think so, but I have for some time been looking in vain for conclusive evidence. I believe the time has come to present what I have found out as a theory for discussion, out of which something concrete may be established. I am substantially convinced that we must look for our answer to the mutations found in Celtic languages. If it be asked why we should look to Celtic languages for the explanation of forms in English, I would answer that Welsh was (and still is) widely spoken in a large part of Britain; Ireland was predominantly Irish-speaking (though with much bilingualism, of course) until the Famine; and Gaelic was once the predominant language north of the Highland Line. There is some evidence, also, that in the area of northwest England known as 8trathclyde Celtic was once spoken.2 In other words, opportunities for influence on English by Celtic languages were plentiful during most of the history of English. Welsh initial mutation is, it seems to me, the only process that can explain howMeg (fromMargaret) can become Peg. In the Welsh language, the initial consonant of a word can be altered by the word which precedes