Goidelic languages: Difference between revisions

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Goidelic Languages

The Goidelic languages, also known as Gaelic languages, form one of the two branches of the Insular Celtic languages, the other being the Brythonic languages. The Goidelic languages are primarily spoken in Ireland, Scotland, and the Isle of Man. This article provides an in-depth exploration of the history, characteristics, and current status of the Goidelic languages.

History[edit]

The Goidelic languages are believed to have evolved from the Proto-Celtic language, which was spoken by the Celtic peoples who migrated to the British Isles. The earliest form of Goidelic is known as Primitive Irish, which is attested in Ogham inscriptions dating from the 4th to the 6th centuries CE.

Old Irish[edit]

Old Irish, the next stage in the development of the Goidelic languages, was spoken from approximately the 6th to the 10th centuries. It is the earliest form of the language for which extensive written texts are available, including glosses in Latin manuscripts and early Irish literature.

Middle Irish[edit]

Middle Irish, spoken from the 10th to the 12th centuries, represents a transitional phase between Old Irish and the modern Goidelic languages. During this period, the language underwent significant phonological and grammatical changes.

Modern Goidelic Languages[edit]

The modern Goidelic languages include Irish, Scottish Gaelic, and Manx. Each of these languages has developed distinct characteristics and dialects over time.

Irish[edit]

Irish, or Gaeilge, is the national and first official language of the Republic of Ireland. It is also recognized as a minority language in Northern Ireland. Irish has a rich literary tradition and is taught in schools throughout Ireland.

Scottish Gaelic[edit]

Scottish Gaelic, or Gàidhlig, is spoken primarily in the Highlands and the Western Isles of Scotland. It has a vibrant cultural presence, particularly in music and literature, and is supported by various language revitalization efforts.

Manx[edit]

Manx, or Gaelg, is the Goidelic language of the Isle of Man. Although it experienced a decline in the 20th century, Manx has seen a revival in recent years, with efforts to teach the language in schools and promote its use in the community.

Characteristics[edit]

The Goidelic languages share several linguistic features, including:

Vowel Mutation: Known as "lenition," this process affects the initial consonants of words in certain grammatical contexts.
Verb-Subject-Object (VSO) Order: The typical sentence structure in Goidelic languages places the verb before the subject and object.
Inflection: Nouns, verbs, and adjectives are inflected for case, number, and gender.

Current Status[edit]

The Goidelic languages face challenges due to the dominance of English in their respective regions. However, there are ongoing efforts to preserve and promote these languages through education, media, and cultural initiatives.

Also see[edit]

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-[[File:Map_Gaels_Brythons_Picts.png|thumb|Map_Gaels_Brythons_Picts]] [[file:Irish_speakers_in_2011.png|right|thumb|Irish_speakers_in_2011]] [[file:WIKITONGUES-_Rosemary_speaking_Scottish_Gaelic.webm|right|thumb|WIKITONGUES-_Rosemary_speaking_Scottish_Gaelic.webm]] [[file:Scots_lang-en.svg|thumb|Scots_lang-en]] [[file:WIKITONGUES-_Owen_speaking_Manx.webm|thumb|WIKITONGUES-_Owen_speaking_Manx.webm]] [[file:Portmahomack_Water-Feature_-_geograph.org.uk_-_549028.jpg|thumb|Portmahomack_Water-Feature_-_geograph.org.uk_-_549028]] {{Short description|Group of Celtic languages}}
+[[File:Map Gaels Brythons Picts.png|thumb]] [[File:Irish speakers in 2011.png|thumb]] [[File:WIKITONGUES- Rosemary speaking Scottish Gaelic.webm|thumb]] [[File:Scots lang-en.svg|thumb]] Goidelic Languages
-{{Infobox language family
-| name    = Goidelic languages
-| altname   = Gaelic languages
-| region   = [[Ireland]], [[Scotland]], [[Isle of Man]]
-| familycolor = Indo-European
-| fam2    = [[Celtic languages|Celtic]]
-| fam3    = [[Insular Celtic languages|Insular Celtic]]
-| fam4    = [[Q-Celtic]]
-| child1   = [[Irish language|Irish]]
-| child2   = [[Scottish Gaelic]]
-| child3   = [[Manx language|Manx]]
-| map     = Celtic nations.svg
-| mapcaption = Areas where Goidelic languages are spoken
-| mapalt   =
-| map2    =
-| mapcaption2 =
-| mapalt2   =
-| iso2    =
-| iso5    =
-| glotto   = goid1240
-| glottorefname = Goidelic
-}}
-The '''Goidelic languages''', also known as the '''Gaelic languages''', are one of the two major groups of [[Insular Celtic languages]]. They are spoken natively in [[Ireland]], [[Scotland]], and the [[Isle of Man]]. The Goidelic languages include [[Irish language|Irish]] (Gaeilge), [[Scottish Gaelic]] (Gàidhlig), and [[Manx language|Manx]] (Gaelg).
+The Goidelic languages, also known as Gaelic languages, form one of the two branches of the Insular Celtic languages, the other being the Brythonic languages. The Goidelic languages are primarily spoken in Ireland, Scotland, and the Isle of Man. This article provides an in-depth exploration of the history, characteristics, and current status of the Goidelic languages.
 ==History==
-The Goidelic languages are part of the [[Celtic languages|Celtic]] branch of the [[Indo-European languages|Indo-European language family]]. They are derived from the [[Old Irish]] language, which was spoken in Ireland from the 6th to the 10th centuries. The Goidelic languages are also referred to as Q-Celtic languages, distinguishing them from the [[Brythonic languages|Brythonic]] or P-Celtic languages.
+The Goidelic languages are believed to have evolved from the Proto-Celtic language, which was spoken by the Celtic peoples who migrated to the British Isles. The earliest form of Goidelic is known as Primitive Irish, which is attested in Ogham inscriptions dating from the 4th to the 6th centuries CE.
-==Classification==
+===Old Irish===
-The Goidelic languages are classified as follows:
+Old Irish, the next stage in the development of the Goidelic languages, was spoken from approximately the 6th to the 10th centuries. It is the earliest form of the language for which extensive written texts are available, including glosses in Latin manuscripts and early Irish literature.
-* [[Irish language|Irish]] (Gaeilge)
-* [[Scottish Gaelic]] (Gàidhlig)
-* [[Manx language|Manx]] (Gaelg)
-==Geographic Distribution==
+===Middle Irish===
-The Goidelic languages are primarily spoken in:
+Middle Irish, spoken from the 10th to the 12th centuries, represents a transitional phase between Old Irish and the modern Goidelic languages. During this period, the language underwent significant phonological and grammatical changes.
-* [[Ireland]]: Irish is spoken mainly in the [[Gaeltacht]] regions.
-* [[Scotland]]: Scottish Gaelic is spoken mainly in the [[Scottish Highlands]] and the [[Hebrides]].
-* [[Isle of Man]]: Manx is spoken by a small number of people, with efforts underway to revive the language.
-==Linguistic Features==
+===Modern Goidelic Languages===
+The modern Goidelic languages include Irish, Scottish Gaelic, and Manx. Each of these languages has developed distinct characteristics and dialects over time.
+====Irish====
+Irish, or Gaeilge, is the national and first official language of the Republic of Ireland. It is also recognized as a minority language in Northern Ireland. Irish has a rich literary tradition and is taught in schools throughout Ireland.
+====Scottish Gaelic====
+Scottish Gaelic, or Gàidhlig, is spoken primarily in the Highlands and the Western Isles of Scotland. It has a vibrant cultural presence, particularly in music and literature, and is supported by various language revitalization efforts.
+====Manx====
+Manx, or Gaelg, is the Goidelic language of the Isle of Man. Although it experienced a decline in the 20th century, Manx has seen a revival in recent years, with efforts to teach the language in schools and promote its use in the community.
+==Characteristics==
 The Goidelic languages share several linguistic features, including:
-* [[Initial consonant mutation]]
-* [[VSO word order]]
-* Use of [[inflected prepositions]]
-* A rich system of [[verbal noun]]s
-==Revitalization Efforts==
+* '''Vowel Mutation:''' Known as "lenition," this process affects the initial consonants of words in certain grammatical contexts.
-There have been various efforts to revitalize the Goidelic languages, particularly in education and media. In Ireland, the language is taught in schools and used in some television and radio broadcasts. In Scotland, there are Gaelic-medium schools and a dedicated Gaelic television channel, [[BBC Alba]]. On the Isle of Man, there are initiatives to teach Manx in schools and promote its use in the community.
+* '''Verb-Subject-Object (VSO) Order:''' The typical sentence structure in Goidelic languages places the verb before the subject and object.
+* '''Inflection:''' Nouns, verbs, and adjectives are inflected for case, number, and gender.
-==Related Pages==
+==Current Status==
+The Goidelic languages face challenges due to the dominance of English in their respective regions. However, there are ongoing efforts to preserve and promote these languages through education, media, and cultural initiatives.
+==Also see==
+* [[Brythonic languages]]
 * [[Celtic languages]]
-* [[Insular Celtic languages]]
+* [[Irish language]]
-* [[Brythonic languages]]
+* [[Scottish Gaelic]]
-* [[Old Irish]]
+* [[Manx language]]
-* [[Gaeltacht]]
-* [[Scottish Highlands]]
-* [[Hebrides]]
-* [[BBC Alba]]
-==See Also==
+{{Celtic languages}}
-* [[Q-Celtic]]
-* [[P-Celtic]]
-* [[Indo-European languages]]
+[[Category:Goidelic languages]]
 [[Category:Celtic languages]]
-[[Category:Indo-European languages]]
 [[Category:Languages of Ireland]]
 [[Category:Languages of Scotland]]
 [[Category:Languages of the Isle of Man]]
-[[Category:Goidelic languages]]
-{{Celtic languages}}
-{{Indo-European languages}}
-{{language-stub}}