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{{Short description|Additional letters of the Ogham alphabet}}
{{Use dmy dates|date=April 2022}}
{{Contains special characters|Ogham}}
{{Table Oghamletters}}
The '''{{lang|sga|forfeda}}''' (sing. {{lang|sga|forfid}}) are the "additional" letters of the [[Ogham]] alphabet, beyond the basic inventory of twenty signs. Their name derives from {{lang|sga|fid}} ("wood", a term also used for Ogham letters) and the prefix {{lang|sga|for-}} ("additional").<ref>{{Cite web|url=http://www.dil.ie/23611|title=eDIL - Irish Language Dictionary|website=www.dil.ie}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web|url=http://www.dil.ie/21999|title=eDIL - Irish Language Dictionary|website=www.dil.ie}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web|url=http://www.dil.ie/23272|title=eDIL - Irish Language Dictionary|website=www.dil.ie}}</ref> The most important of these are five {{lang|sga|forfeda}} which were arranged in their own {{lang|sga|aicme}} or class, and were invented in the [[Old Irish]] period, several centuries after the peak of Ogham usage. They appear to have represented sounds felt to be missing from the original alphabet, maybe ''é(o)'', ''ó(i)'', ''ú(i)'', ''p'' and ''ch''.{{clarify|date=March 2012}}

==The "aicme" forfeda==
The five "{{lang|sga|aicme}}" {{lang|sga|forfeda}} are glossed in the manuscripts ''[[Auraicept na n-Éces]]'' ('The Scholars' Primer), ''[[De dúilib feda]]'' ('Elements of the Letters') and ''[[In Lebor Ogaim]]'' ('The Book of Ogam'), by several {{lang|sga|[[Bríatharogam|Bríatharogaim]]}} ("word oghams"), or two word [[kenning]]s, which explain the meanings of the names of the letters of the [[Ogham]] alphabet.
The ''forfeda'' letter names and their kennings, as edited (in normalized Old Irish) and translated by McManus (1988), are as follows:

{| class="wikitable"
|- style="background:#efefef;"
| align=center colspan="3" | Letter
| align=center | Meaning
| align=center | ''Bríatharogam Morainn mac Moín''
| align=center | ''Bríatharogam Maic ind Óc''
| align=center | ''Bríatharogam Con Culainn''
|- align=left
| ᚕ
| EA
| {{lang|ga|Éabhadh}}
| Unknown
| {{lang|sga|snámchaín feda}} <br /> {{gloss|fair-swimming letter}}
| {{lang|sga|cosc lobair}} <br /> {{gloss|[admonishing?] of an infirm person}}
| {{lang|sga|caínem éco}} <br /> {{gloss|fairest fish}}
|- align=left
| ᚖ
| OI
| {{lang|ga|Óir}}
| {{gloss|Gold}}
| {{lang|sga|sruithem aicde}} <br /> {{gloss|most venerable substance}}
| {{lang|sga|lí crotha}} <br /> {{gloss|splendour of form}}
|
|- align=left
| ᚗ
| UI
| {{lang|ga|Uilleann}}
| {{gloss|Elbow}}
| {{lang|ga|túthmar fid}} <br /> {{gloss|fragrant tree}}
| {{lang|sga|cubat oll}} <br /> {{gloss|great elbow/cubit}}
|
|- align=left
| ᚘ
| P, later IO
| {{lang|ga|[[Ifín]]}}, earlier {{lang|sga|Pín}}
| {{gloss|Spine/thorn}}?
| {{lang|sga|milsem fedo}} <br /> {{gloss|sweetest tree}}
| {{lang|sga|amram mlais}} <br /> {{gloss|most wonderful taste}}
|
|-
| ᚙ
| CH or X, later AE
| {{lang|ga|Eamhancholl}}
| {{gloss|Twin-of-[[Coll (letter)|coll]]}}
| {{lang|sga|lúad sáethaig}} <br /> {{gloss|groan of a sick person}}
| {{lang|sga|mol galraig}} <br /> {{gloss|groan of a sick person}}
|
|}

Four of these names are glossed in the Auraicept with tree names, {{lang|sga|ebad}} as {{lang|sga|crithach}} "[[aspen]]", {{lang|sga|oir}} as {{lang|sga|feorus no edind}} "[[spindle-tree]] or [[ivy]]", {{lang|sga|uilleand}} as {{lang|sga|edleand}} "[[honeysuckle]]", and {{lang|sga|iphin}} as {{lang|sga|spinan no ispin}} "[[gooseberry]] or [[Thorns, spines, and prickles|thorn]]".

The kennings for {{lang|ga|Éabhadh}} point to the sound ''éo'' or ''é'', which is also the word for "[[salmon]]". The name appears modelled after ''[[Eadhadh]]'' and ''[[Iodhadh]]''. The kennings for {{lang|ga|Ór}} point to the word {{lang|ga|ór}} "[[gold]]" (cognate to Latin {{lang|la|aurum}}). The kenning of {{lang|ga|Uilleann}}, "great elbow", refers to the letter name. Since the Ogham alphabet dates to the [[Primitive Irish]] period, it had no sign for {{IPA|[p]}} in its original form and the letter {{lang|sga|Pín}} was added as a letter to express it. McManus states that the name {{lang|sga|Pín}} was probably influenced by Latin ''[[pinus]]'' ('pine'), but a more likely explanation is that it derives from Latin {{lang|la|spina}} ('thorn'), as the kennings indicate a tree or shrub with sweet tasting fruit (therefore not a pine). According to Kelly (1976) the name {{lang|sga|spín}} (deriving from the Latin) appears in the Old Irish tree lists as meaning either gooseberry or thorn, so the medieval glosses may be correct on this occasion. The name {{lang|ga|Eamhancholl}} means "twinned {{lang|ga|coll}}", referring to the shape of the letter (ᚙ resembling two ᚉ), and also perhaps referring to its sound being similar to that of {{lang|ga|coll}} ({{IPAblink|x}} being a [[Fricative consonant|fricative]] variant of {{IPAblink|k}}). The Bríatharogam kenning "groan of a sick person" refers to a value ''ch'' {{IPA|[x]}}, predating the decision that all five {{lang|sga|forfeda}} represent vowels.

Apart from the first letter, the {{lang|sga|forfeda}} were little used in inscriptions, and this led later oghamists to rearrange them as a series of vowel diphthongs, necessitating a complete change to the sounds of {{lang|sga|Pín}} and {{lang|ga|Eamhancholl}} (the name {{lang|sga|Pín}} also had to be changed to {{lang|sga|Iphín}}). This arrangement is how they appear in most manuscripts:
*<span style="font-size:125%;">ᚕ</span> (U+1695) ''Éabhadh'': ''ea'', ''éo'' ''ea'';
*<span style="font-size:125%;">ᚖ</span> (U+1696) ''Ór'': ''oi'' ''óe'', ''oi'';
*<span style="font-size:125%;">ᚗ</span> (U+1697) ''Uilleann'': ''ui'', ''úa'', ''ui'';
*<span style="font-size:125%;">ᚘ</span> (U+1698) ''Ifín'': ''io'', ''ía'', ''ia'';
*<span style="font-size:125%;">ᚙ</span> (U+1699) ''Eamhancholl'': ''ae''.

This arrangement meant that once again the ogham alphabet was without a letter for the {{IPA|[p]}} sound, making necessary the creation of {{lang|ga|Peith}} (see below).

===Inscriptions===
Apart from the first letter {{lang|ga|Éabhadh}}, the {{lang|sga|forfeda}} do not appear often in orthodox [[ogham inscriptions]]. {{lang|ga|Éabhadh}} was in fact frequently used as part of the formula word {{Transliteration|pgl|KOI}} {{lang|pgl-ogam|ᚕᚑᚔ}}, but with the value {{IPA|/k/}} or {{IPA|/x/}}. KOI means something like 'here' and is the ogham equivalent of the Latin {{lang|la|hic iacet}} (McManus §5.3, 1991); it is etymologically linked with the Latin {{lang|la|cis}} ("on this side"). It also appears with its vocalic value in later orthodox inscriptions however. Of the other {{lang|sga|forfeda}} the next three appear only a few times, and the last letter {{lang|ga|Eamhancholl}} does not appear at all. So rare are the other {{lang|sga|forfeda}} in inscriptions that it is worthwhile detailing the individual examples (numbering as given by Macalister):

* '''Óir''' appears twice:
:* In an inscription in Killogrone in County Kerry (235), which reads:
{{fs interlinear |lang=pgl |glossing2=no |indent=5
| ᚛ᚐᚅᚋ   ᚋᚖᚂᚓᚌᚖᚋᚏᚔᚇ   ᚋᚐᚉᚔ   ᚍᚓᚉᚒᚋᚓᚅ᚜
| ANM M'''Ó'''LEG'''Ó'''MRID MACI VECUMEN |}}
:* In a late inscription on a cross slab at Formaston in Aberdeenshire, which reads:
{{fs interlinear |lang=pgl |glossing2=no |indent=5
| ᚛ᚋᚐᚊᚊᚖ   ᚈᚐᚂᚂᚒᚑᚏᚏᚆ   ᚅᚓᚆᚆᚈᚍ   ᚏᚑᚁᚁᚐᚉ   ᚉᚓᚅᚅᚓᚃᚃ᚜
| MAQQ'''Ó''' TALLUORRH NÉHHTV ROBBAC CÉNNEFF |}}
* '''Uilleann''' appears only once, in an inscription in Teeromoyle, again in County Kerry (240). The inscription reads:
{{fs interlinear |lang=pgl |glossing2=no |indent=4
| ᚛ᚋᚑᚉᚒᚏᚏᚓᚈᚔ   ᚋᚐᚊᚔ   ᚍᚂᚔᚄᚐᚉᚓᚄᚗᚉᚋᚔᚏ᚜
| MOCURRETI MAQI VLISACES'''UI'''CMIR |}}
* '''Pín''' appears in two, or possibly three, inscriptions.
:* In Cool East on Valencia Island in County Kerry (231), which reads:
{{fs interlinear |lang=pgl |glossing2=no |indent=5
| ᚛ᚂᚑᚌᚔᚈᚈᚔ   ᚋᚐᚊᚔ   ᚓᚏᚘᚓᚅ᚜
| LOGITTI MAQI ER'''P'''ENN |}}
:: The letter {{IPA|[p]}} appears as an X shape instead of the 'double X' shape of the letter, presumably because the correct letter shape is quite hard to carve.
:* In Crickowel in Breconshire in Wales (327) which reads:
{{fs interlinear |lang=pgl |glossing2=no |indent=5
| ᚛ᚈᚒᚏᚘᚔᚂᚔ   ᚋᚑᚄᚐᚉ   ᚈᚏᚐᚂᚂᚑᚅᚔ᚜
| TUR'''P'''ILI MOSAC TRALLONI |}}
:: Again an X shape is used.
:* In Margam in Glamorganshire in Wales (409) which reads:
{{fs interlinear |lang=pgl |glossing2=no|indent=5
| ᚛ᚘᚐᚋᚘᚓᚄ᚜
| '''P'''AM'''P'''ES |}}
:: However, much of the inscription is broken off and what remains looks like a squat arrowhead. It almost certainly stands for {{IPA|[p]}} however, as the ogham inscription is accompanied by one in Latin which confirms the sound.

==Other forfeda==
Beyond the five {{lang|sga|forfeda}} discussed above, which doubtlessly date to [[Old Irish]] times, there is a large number of letter variants and symbols, partly found in manuscripts, and partly in "scholastic" (post 6th century) inscriptions collectively termed {{lang|sga|forfeda}}. They may date to [[Old Irish]], [[Middle Irish]] or even early modern times.

===Peith===
Due to the "schematicism of later Ogamists" (McManus 1988:167), who insisted on treating the five primary forfeda as vowels, {{IPA|[p]}} had again to be expressed as a modification of {{IPA|[b]}}, called {{lang|ga|peithe}}, after ''[[beithe]]'', also called {{lang|ga|beithe bog}} "soft ''beithe''" or, tautologically, ''peithbog'' (<span style="font-size:125%;">ᚚ</span> {{lang|ga|Peith}}, Unicode allocation U+169A).

===Manuscript tradition===
{{further|Scholastic Ogham}}
[[Image:Forfeda.png|thumb|350px|The ''forfeda'' of the Ogham scales in the [[Book of Ballymote]] (scale nrs. 79, 80, 81 <ref>{{Cite web|url=http://www.equinox-project.com/v22125.htm|title=Ogam Scales of the Book of Ballymote by Barry Fell|website=www.equinox-project.com}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web|url=http://www.equinox-project.com/v22126.htm|title=Ogam Scales of the Book of Ballymote by Barry Fell|website=www.equinox-project.com}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web|url=http://www.equinox-project.com/v22127.htm|title=Ogam Scales of the Book of Ballymote by Barry Fell|website=www.equinox-project.com}}</ref>)]]
The 7th-12th century ''[[Auraicept na n-Éces]]'' among the 92 "variants" of the Ogham script gives more letters identified as ''forfeda'' (variant nrs. 79, 80 and 81).

===Inscriptions===
The Bressay stone in [[Shetland]] ([[Celtic Inscribed Stones Project|CISP]] BREAY/1) contains five forfeda, three of them paralleled on other Scottish monuments and also in Irish manuscripts, and two unique to Bressay. One of the latter is possibly a correction of an error in carving and not intended as a forfid. One is "rabbit-eared", interpreted as some kind of modified D, presumably the voiced spirant. Another is an "angled vowel", presumably a modified A. One unique character consists of five undulating strokes sloping backwards across the stem, possibly a modified I. The fourth is a four-stroke cross-hatching, also appearing in the late eighth or ninth-century Bern ogham alphabet and syllabary under a label which has previously been read as RR, but another suggestions is SS. It appears in the [[Book of Ballymote]], scale no. 64.[http://www.ucl.ac.uk/archaeology/cisp/database/stone/breay_1.html CISP - BREAY/1]

==References==
{{Reflist}}

*Kelly, Fergus 'The Old Irish Tree-list' ''Celtica'' 11 (1976) pp122–3
*Macalister, Robert A.S. ''Corpus inscriptionum insularum celticarum''. First edition. Dublin: Stationery Office, 1945–1949. OCLC 71392234
*McManus, Damian. ''Ogam: Archaizing, Orthography and the Authenticity of the Manuscript Key to the Alphabet'', Ériu 37, 1988, 1-31. Dublin: Royal Irish Academy. OCLC 56088345
*McManus, Damian ''Irish letter-names and their kennings'', Ériu 39 (1988), 127–168.
*McManus, Damian. ''A Guide to Ogam'', Maynooth 1991. {{ISBN|1-870684-17-6}} OCLC 24181838
*Sims-Williams, P ''The additional letters of the Ogam Alphabet'', Cambridge Medieval Celtic Studies, 23: 29-75 (1992).

==External links==
*[http://www.equinox-project.com/ogamscales.htm The Ogam Scales from the Book of Ballymote] by B. Fell

[[Category:Ogham letters]]