The Baltic Language Family The Baltic anguage family forms a major branch of the Indo-European languages. The Indo-European family includes many of the most widely spoken languages in Europe and parts of Asia. For an accessible introduction to this larger language group, see:The Indo-European Language Family – Overview: https://englishmadessimple.org/the-indo-european-language-family/ The Balto-Slavic language family forms a […]
The Breton language
Breton (Language) — Family, History, Structure, and Comparative Profile Overview Breton (brezhoneg) is a Celtic language spoken in Brittany (Breizh), the western peninsula of modern-day France. It belongs to the Brythonic (or Brittonic) branch of the Insular Celtic subgroup within the wider Celtic family, itself a member of the Indo-European language family. Closest relatives are […]
The Cornish language
Cornish (Kernewek) Cornish (Kernewek) is a Celtic language originating in Cornwall, the far south-west of Great Britain. It belongs to the Brythonic (Brittonic) branch of the Insular Celtic languages within the Indo-European family. Its closest relatives are Welsh and Breton; more distantly it is related to the Goidelic branch (Irish, Scottish Gaelic, Manx). After a […]
The Welsh language
The Welsh Language Family Classification and Family Relations The language commonly known as Welsh is properly the language of the nation of Wales — the standard variety is commonly referred to as Welsh (in Welsh: Cymraeg). It belongs to the Brythonic branch of the Celtic family of Indo-European languages. Let us set out the hierarchy: […]
The Manx language
The Manx Language and its Linguistic Context The Manx language (Manx: Gaelg or Gailck) is a member of the Goidelic branch of the Celtic language family, which itself forms part of the large Indo-European language family. Although sometimes referred to as an individual language rather than a family, Manx exists within a clear genealogical network […]
The Scottish Gaelic language
Gaelic Scottish Language Family The Gaelic Scottish language family refers primarily to Scottish Gaelic (Gàidhlig), a member of the Goidelic or Gaelic branch of the Celtic languages, themselves part of the vast Indo-European language family. Within the Goidelic branch, Scottish Gaelic shares a close relationship with Irish (Gaeilge) and Manx (Gaelg). 1. Language Family Classification […]
The Brythonic language family
Brythonic (Brittonic) Celtic languages Overview The Brythonic (often spelled Brittonic) Celtic languages form one of the two main sub-branches of the Insular Celtic group, the other being the Goidelic (Gaelic) branch. They belong to the broader Celtic branch of the Indo-European language family. In modern times the principal living Brythonic languages are Welsh (Cymraeg), Cornish […]
The Goidelic language family
Goidelic Languages The Goidelic (or Gaelic) languages form one of the two principal branches of the Insular Celtic subgroup within the Celtic branch of the Indo-European family. Their sister branch is Brittonic (Welsh, Cornish, Breton). Goidelic comprises Irish (Gaeilge), Scottish Gaelic (Gàidhlig), and Manx (Gaelg/Gailck). The name “Goidelic” derives from Goídel, a medieval form referring […]
The Insular Celtic language family
Insular Celtic languages The Insular Celtic languages form one of the two principal divisions of the Celtic branch of the Indo-European language family. They are the Celtic languages that developed in and around the islands of Britain and Ireland, in contrast to Continental Celtic languages once spoken on the European mainland (e.g., Gaulish, Celtiberian, Lepontic, […]
The Continental Celtic language family
Continental Celtic Languages The term Continental Celtic refers to a group of Celtic languages historically spoken across mainland Europe, particularly before and during the early centuries of the first millennium CE. They form one half of the broader Celtic language family, the other being the Insular Celtic languages spoken in the British Isles. Like all […]