What is the correct pronunciation of the word Celtic?

Though the original pronunciation of ‘Celtic’ was with an ‘s’ sound, the ‘k’ (kell-tik) pronunciation came about in the 18th century and has flourished since. Now, the ‘k’ sound is the standard pronunciation of ‘Celtic.’

What is the meaning of Celtic language?

Definition of Celtic (Entry 2 of 2) : a group of Indo-European languages usually subdivided into Brythonic and Goidelic and now largely confined to Brittany, Wales, Ireland, and the Scottish Highlands — see Indo-European Languages Table First Known Use of Celtic

When did people start pronunciating \\K\\ as the default for Irish?

By the mid-20th century, \\k\\ became the norm, which is fitting since the pronunciation is in line with that of the Celtic family of languages that include Irish, Scottish Gaelic, Welsh, Breton, and the now-extinct (or, depending on who you talk to, nearly extinct) languages Manx and Cornish. Apparently, people appreciated the ethnic pronunciation.

What is the etymology of the noun Celt?

The etymology of the noun Celt —from which the adjective Celtic is derived—is straightforward. It’s a 16th-century borrowing of the French word Celte, which itself is from Latin Celta, the singular of Celtae, which is the name for a member of an early Indo-European people from antiquity who spread…

What is the definition of Celtic?

Definition of Celtic (Entry 1 of 2) : of, relating to, or characteristic of the Celts or their languages Celtic music Celtic folklore

What is the origin of the Celtic language?

Definition of Celtic (Entry 2 of 2) : a group of Indo-European languages usually subdivided into Brythonic and Goidelic and now largely confined to Brittany, Wales, Ireland, and the Scottish Highlands — see Indo-European Languages Table.

Is it “Celtic” or “Keltic?

I prefer “keltic” as the Celtic pronunciation to refer to the Celtic languages and cultures, and so all of the English-speaking Medievalists and Celticists (that’s “kelticists”) I know.

Did the Celts ever refer to themselves as “Celts?

This is a spurious argument since the ancient Celts did not refer to themselves as “Celts.” The word Celt is derived from Keltoi, the name the Greeks gave the “barbarian” tribes along the Danube and Rhone rivers. The Romans borrowed the Greek name, but spelled it Celtae,…