Glossing with Runes: The Old Northumbrian Gloss to the Lindisfarne Gospels

Abstract

The purpose of this contribution is to offer a thorough examination of the use of the m and D runes in the Old English gloss to the Lindisfarne Gospels in the context of the studies of Anglo-Saxon Runica Manuscripta. The book known as the Lindisfarne Gospels is a religious and artistic world treasure and thus has received considerable attention for centuries. In this sense, it is highly regarded by palaeographers, art historians, linguists and collectors alike. From a philological point of view, research within diachronic variation studies has centred on the Old English gloss, and in particular on the analysis of the distinctive dialectal features. Other lines of research have focused on the English dependence of the Old English gloss on the Latin text. However, the glossator's use of runes has never been subjected to exhaustive scholarly study. In this sense, this article constitutes the first in-depth study to examine the runic material in the gloss to the Latin text.