Key Difference – Celtic vs Gaelic
Celtic and Gaelic are two language groups that are mostly used in the North Western Europe. Celtic language is a part of the Indo-European language family and is categorized into two main divisions known as Gaelic and Brittonic.Therefore,Gaelic language is a subdivision of Celtic.This is thekey difference between Celtic and Gaelic.
What is Celtic Language?
Celtic languages are a division of the Indo-European language family. Celtic languages can be further classified into two divisions known as Gaelic and Brittonic languages. Gaelic consists ofScottish Gaelic and Irishand Brittonic consists of Welsh and Breton.
Modern Celtic languages are spoken today in the North Western Europe, particularly in Ireland, Scotland, Cornwall, Wales, Brittany, and the Isle of Man. Celtic languages are mostly used today by minorities, and most of them are labeled as ‘endangered’ by UNESCO.
Although there are many differences between individual Celtic languages, they also share some similarities such as VSO word order, the absence of infinitives, bifurcated demonstrative structure, etc.
What is Gaelic Language?
Gaelic is a division of Celtic languages and is also known asGoidelic. Gaelic consists of Scottish Gaelic language and the Irish language. Manx, which is also a Gaelic language, died out in the 20th century. These languages have evolved from Middle Irish. There are some similarities in the Irish and Scottish Gaelic to the extent that an Irish speaker may be able to understand some Scottish Gaelic.
Given below are some words and phrases in several Celtic languages. You can observe the differences and similarities between Gaelic languages.
English |
Welsh |
Cornish |
Breton |
Irish |
Scottish Gaelic |
Manx |
Today |
heddiw |
hedhyw |
hiziv |
inniu |
an-diugh |
jiu |
Night |
nos |
nos |
noz |
oíche |
oidhche |
oie |
House |
tŷ |
chi |
ti |
tigh |
taigh |
thie |
Cheese |
caws |
keus |
keuz |
cáis |
càis(e) |
caashey |
School |
ysgol |
skol |
skol |
scoil |
sgoil |
scoill |
Full |
llawn |
leun |
leun |
lán |
làn |
lane |
to whistle |
chwibanu |
hwibana |
c’hwibanat |
feadáil |
fead |
fed |
What is the difference between Celtic and Gaelic?
Origins:
Celticis a division of the Indo-European language family.
Gaelicis a division of Celtic languages.
Locations:
Celticis mainly spoken in Ireland, Scotland, Cornwall, Wales, Brittany, and the Isle of Man.
Gaelicis mainly spoken in Ireland and Scotland.
Divisions:
Celticis divided into Gaelic and Brittonic languages.
Gaelicconsists of Irish, Scottish Gaelic and Manx.
Image Courtesy:
“Pater Noster gaelic” By Elke Wetzig (Elya) – Own work(CC BY-SA 3.0)viaCommons Wikimedia
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