I agree with Guto's response, Martin.
Richard
-----Original Message-----
From: The English Place-Name List [mailto:[log in to unmask]] On Behalf Of Martin Counihan
Sent: 17 June 2017 21:04
To: [log in to unmask]
Subject: Re: [EPNL] Ver and Verulamium
Richard,
The original form was "alb-". In Brittonic, the "b" was softened to a "w" (e.g. the Welsh river Alwen) and eventually disappeared altogether (there are a number of Welsh rivers "alun"). Also in Irish, the "b" softened (e.g. the river Delvin) and in many cases disappeared (e.g. the Hill of Allen). In France, however, there are examples where the "l" disappeared, as in the river Aube. It all gets a bit complicated. In Latin, the Celtic "b" in this instance developed into a "p", hence the Alps. In Greek, there was the sacred river Alph which ran through Xanadu.
Martin
> Sent: Friday, June 16, 2017 at 1:16 PM
> From: "Richard Coates" <[log in to unmask]>
> To: [log in to unmask]
> Subject: Re: Ver and Verulamium
>
> And is there any evidence of a process that inserts "b" after /l/ in Brittonic or English? Or removes it if "Alban-" was the original form?
>
> Richard
>
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