The Celtic Languages: A Linguistic Introduction

CELTIC 221 Subject & Catalog Number

Description

Celtic languages are today spoken primarily in western Britain, Brittany, Ireland and Scotland, but originally they were spoken across the whole of western Europe before the spread of the Roman Empire. This course explores the sources for the Celtic languages,  their Indo-European origins, and their historical development from the earliest evidence through to the modern languages. After a survey of the different types of evidence available to us and an overview of their development, we consider the phonology, morphology, and syntax of the different languages with a focus on the historical development of the languages. The course will be of interest both to Celticists and to those interested in historical linguistics, especially the development of the Indo-European languages. The course will be accessible to those who have not yet learnt a Celtic language, but Welsh 225a, Medieval Welsh Language and Literature, can provide a useful starting point.