Here's a breakdown of why:
* Common Ancestry: Both languages descend from Brittonic, an ancient Celtic language spoken in parts of what is now Britain and France. This is why they share many similarities in vocabulary, grammar, and pronunciation.
* Geographic Proximity: While separated by the English Channel, Brittany (where Breton is spoken) and Wales were historically connected, with cultural and linguistic exchange happening frequently.
* Isolation: Both languages have been relatively isolated from other Celtic languages for centuries. While this has led to their own unique developments, it also means they have retained many of their shared features from Brittonic.
Examples of similarities:
* Vocabulary: Many words are recognizable between Breton and Welsh, such as "brezhoneg" (Breton) and "brehon" (Welsh), both meaning "judge."
* Grammar: Both languages have similar grammatical structures, such as using prefixes and suffixes to modify verbs and nouns.
* Pronunciation: The sounds of the languages are quite similar, with both having sounds not commonly found in other European languages.
However, there are also differences:
* Influence of French: Breton has been heavily influenced by French, leading to a more pronounced nasalization and a wider range of vowel sounds than Welsh.
* Modernization: Welsh has undergone more recent modernization, with a standardized orthography and a greater emphasis on preserving the language in modern contexts.
In summary, the similarities between Breton and Welsh are a result of their shared ancestry and geographic proximity. While they have evolved independently, they remain closely related languages.