Linguistical fun: Figura Etymologica

Hi guys!

Today I have another linguistical topic for you. This isn't specifically Celtic, but it is found regularly in the medieval texts. It is called 'figura etymologica', and it is quite simple but very weird to translate if it's new to you.

In Celtic languages there is a thing called 'verbal noun', which is exactly as you would think, the noun of a verb. So 'to regulate' --> 'the act of regulating' (first verb that came to mind.. mm.) Got that? It's not as difficult as it may sound.

Now in the 'figura etymologica', the verbal noun is the subject of that exact same verb. So literally something like 'the act of regulating regulates'. Now that sounds incredibly silly to us, but in the medieval period people thought is was beautifully said.

A painting of Branwen

In the Welsh tale 'Branwen uerch Lyr' Branwen is married to the Irish king, but because her brother molested the king's horses (it's not a pretty text to read..) Branwen is put in the kitchen where she receives a blow every day. This is expressed by 'the blow that blows' etc.

In other languages the figura etymologica is used as well but not particularly in this sense. 'He drank a drink' is a figura etymologica as well. Now that doesn't sound so weird to our ears, it's just those Celts again that make everything weird ^^

Until next time!
Lian

Photography
en.wikipedia.org