Q WHY is Welsh classed as a Celtic language when it is about as akin to Gaelic as chalk is to cheese? - A Jones, Bridlington.

A GAELIC and Welsh are noticeably different because they belong to two distinct branches of a group of languages known as Celtic.

The confusion arises because Celtic is sometimes thought to be a language in itself. It is, in fact, a group of languages. Similarly, Germanic is also the name given to a group of languages, as is Romance - a group that includes French, Italian, Spanish, Romanian and Portuguese.

It might help to compare Celtic languages to Germanic languages. Germanic languages include Norwegian, Danish, Icelandic, German, Flemish, Dutch and English. The Germanic languages are also often as different as 'chalk and cheese', but some are very closely related. For example, Norwegian, Danish, Swedish and Icelandic are often mutually intelligible. This is because they developed in a specific geographical area.

Celtic languages were once spoken across the whole of Europe as far to the east as Turkey, where a tribe known as the Galatians spoke a Celtic tongue. Other ancient Celtic languages included Celtiberian in Spain and Gaulish in France. The only Celtic languages to survive today are in the British Isles and Brittany. Welsh belongs to the British or Brythonic group of languages, along with the Breton language of Brittany and the ancient Cornish language of Cornwall.

In ancient times most of what is now England spoke a Brythonic language similar to Welsh. The Gaelic language spoken in Scotland and Ireland, along with the ancient Manx language of the Isle of Man, belonged to the Gaelic or Goidelic branch.

The Celtic people originated in the upper river Danube basin of Austria during the Bronze Age and Early Iron Age and their language and influence spread from there. In central Europe, Germanic and Romantic languages eventually replaced the Celtic language but some Celtic languages survived in Britain and France.

Many waves of settlers arrived in Ireland and Britain during the ancient times and some of these people may be described as Celts and may have brought the Celtic language with them. The Celtic language and Celtic people are not necessarily the same thing.

If you have a Burning Question, or can improve on any of the answers above, please write to Burning Questions, The Northern Echo, Priestgate, Darlington, DL1 1NF or e-mail david.simpson@nne.co.uk

Published: 14/10/2002