Insular Celtic languages are those Celtic languages that originated in the British Isles, in contrast to the Continental Celtic languages of mainland Europe and Anatolia. All surviving Celtic languages are from the Insular Celtic group; the Continental Celtic languages are extinct. The six Insular Celtic languages of modern times can be divided into:
- the Goidelic languages: Irish, Manx, and Scottish Gaelic
- the Brythonic languages: Breton, Cornish, and Welsh (another language or dialect, Cumbric, is extinct.)
Read more about Insular Celtic Languages: Insular Celtic Hypothesis, Insular Celtic As A Language Area, Absolute and Dependent Verb, Possible Afro-Asiatic Substratum
Famous quotes containing the words insular, celtic and/or languages:
“They are a curious mixture of Spanish tradition, American imitation, and insular limitation. This explains why they never catch on to themselves.”
—Helen Lawrenson (1904–1982)
“Coming to Rome, much labour and little profit! The King whom you seek here, unless you bring Him with you you will not find Him.”
—Anonymous 9th century, Irish. “Epigram,” no. 121, A Celtic Miscellany (1951, revised 1971)
“It is time for dead languages to be quiet.”
—Natalie Clifford Barney (1876–1972)