Scientific milestone: Celtic language dictionary being developed by Welsh linguists

Researchers at a Welsh university have embarked on the creation of the world’s first dictionary of ancient Celtic languages. The project aims to collect and systematically organise linguistic relics preserved in Ireland and Great Britain, offering extraordinary insights into the history of early medieval Europe.

The origins of the ancient Celtic languages have long been shrouded in mystery, presenting a significant challenge for scholars seeking to uncover the story of this enigmatic language family. The main difficulty lies in the scarcity of written records, which are often fragmentary.

However, researchers at Aberystwyth University have launched a historically significant endeavour: to compile the world’s first dictionary of ancient Celtic languages. The project’s goal is not only to gather surviving linguistic artefacts but also to explore the history, development, and interrelationships of these languages, according to IFLScience.

Celtic languages still exist today

Celtic languages continue to form a living language family in Europe. This includes Irish, Scottish Gaelic, and Welsh, spoken in parts of Great Britain and Ireland, as well as Breton, which survives in Brittany, north-western France.

Additionally, Cornish and Manx once became extinct but have been revived thanks to language revival movements. All of these languages ultimately descend from the ancient Proto-Celtic group, which was once widespread across Europe.

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Roman-era evidence also vital to the research

Dr Simon Rodway, the lead of this ambitious project, points out that the exact emergence of the Celtic languages remains unknown. One of the study’s key aims is to collect and systematise evidence of the ancient languages spoken across the British Isles and Ireland.