Brittonic Languages
The Brittonic languages, also known as Brythonic languages, form one of the two primary branches of the Insular Celtic languages, the other being the Goidelic languages. These languages have their roots in the ancient Celtic Britons of Great Britain. The Brittonic branch includes living languages such as Breton, Cornish, and Welsh.
Historical Context
The term "Brythonic" itself is derived from a Welsh form of the word "Briton." Historically, these languages evolved from Common Brittonic, which was spoken by the Celtic Britons. This common language was prevalent across much of what is now Great Britain before the advent of the Anglo-Saxon influence.
Common Brittonic
Common Brittonic was the linguistic ancestor of the current Brittonic languages. It developed into separate languages after the Roman withdrawal from Britain and the subsequent Germanic invasions. This language has left a wealth of Latin loanwords that persist within the modern Brittonic languages.
Modern Brittonic Languages
Welsh
Welsh is perhaps the most widely spoken of the Brittonic languages today. It is predominantly spoken in Wales, where it has official status and is taught in schools. Welsh has a rich literary tradition, with texts dating back to the early medieval period.
Breton
Breton is spoken in Brittany, a region in France. Although spoken in continental Europe, Breton shares a strong connection with the other Brittonic languages. It has managed to endure despite centuries of French influence and is an important cultural marker of the Breton people.
Cornish
Cornish had declined to near extinction by the late 18th century but has seen a revival in recent decades. It is native to Cornwall, a county in southwestern England, and is recognized as a minority language. Cornish is taught in some schools and used in cultural events and media.
Linguistic Features
Brittonic languages share several linguistic features, including:
- A system of initial consonant mutations, where the initial consonant of a word changes based on grammatical context.
- Use of the verb-subject-object (VSO) word order in some contexts.
- A rich vocabulary with a significant number of loanwords from Latin, due to the influence of the Roman occupation.
Relation to Other Celtic Languages
The Brittonic languages are distinct from the Goidelic languages—such as Irish, Scottish Gaelic, and Manx—which form the other branch of Insular Celtic. Despite their differences, all these languages share a common heritage tracing back to the Proto-Celtic language.