Celtic Influence on the English Language

About 1,000 years before Christ a collection of people emerged in central Europe who were known asthe Celts.  The word Celt comes from the Greek word, keltoi, which meansbarbarians and is properly pronounced as "Kelt“. The earliest Celtic settlement thus far discovered by archaeologists is a site atHallstatt in Austria.  As they spread to other parts of Europe they exhibited one.

The Celts in EnglandWhile Anglo-Saxon culture and language spread swiftly across east and central Britain during the 6th and the 7th centuries, corners of the isle retained the language of the previous dominant culture, the Celtic peoples who are believed to have begun arriving around 600 Bc. The Celtic peoples who inhabited Britain are believed to have integrated with the people who previously inhabited the island, absorbing elements of the language spoken by this group.

Celtic words en OE come from three identifiable sources: -From the continent: usually words associated with conflict and battle.-Loans taken over after settlement: usually places names and words from Ireland associated with the Christianisation of Britain.-The Celtic language group has been categorised as part of the Indo-European group of language.

The Anglo-Saxon terrorised rather than integrated with the Celts, so their language became isolated in corners of the isle. The pockets of lands that remained dominantly Celtic are divided linguistically into two branches: GOIDELIC (Gaelic) which consist of Irish, Highland Scottish and Manx.BRYTHONIC (British) which is made up of Welsh, Cornish and Breton.

Celtic Influence

First Element that entered the language :These were words the English received directly from the

ancient Britons.Binn – Basket Bratt – Cloak Brocc – Brock or Badger

Crag – Lake Cume – Valley Torr – Pick or RockCeltic Christianity: Ancor – Hermit Dry – Magician

Second elements: Celtic words brought by the Normans from Gaul: Bargain-Button-Gown-Basin-Bonnet-Bold-Car-

Cart-Brogue-Ribbon-Bag. Third Elements: these are words that came from the

Highlands of Scotland, Ireland and Wales through literature:From Scotland: Clan-Gillie-Glen-Galloway(a pony)-

Claymore(a award)-Whisky-Slogan.From Ireland: Bard(a poet)-Log-Gap-Tory-Fun-Shamrock.

From Wales: Lad-Dog-Kick-Cut-Flannel-Knell.

Celtic Roots

Car – A Castle : Carnavon – Cardigan – Cardiff.

Llan – Sacred place ( a Church) : Llandovery – Llandille – Llanelly.

Combe – A Valley : Wycombe – Templecombe – Holcombe.

Torr – High Pick or Rock: Torr – Torrhill – Torrcross.

Strath – Broad Valley: Strathmore – Strathelyde – Strathavon.

Ben – A Mountain: Ben-Nevis.

Celtic Place Names

Devonshire Cumberland ( a land of the cymri)London Winchester Cornwall ( Cornubian Welsh)Worchester Exeter Gloucester Worcester.

Celtic Rivers

Avon Wye Dever Exe Esk Thames Ouse Usk

Celtic language were viewed as inferior, and words that have survived are usually words with geographical significance, and place names. Adopted words include bucket, car, crockery, noggin, gob, slogan and flannel, truant and gaol. The survival of the Celtic languages has been a matter of pride, and they have survived mainly where large enough to enable it’s survival trough everyday usage, as well as having their importance emphasized through the establishment of a body of literary work.