1. Place Names: One of the most obvious Celtic influences is in place names. Many towns, rivers, and geographical features in Britain have Celtic origins:
* Rivers: Avon (meaning "river"), Thames (meaning "dark river"), Severn (meaning "the swift one"), etc.
* Towns: London (from *Londinium*, a Roman name derived from a Celtic root), York (from *Eboracum*, a Roman name from the Celtic *Eburacum*), Dover (from *Dubris* meaning "deep water").
2. Vocabulary: The English language borrowed a small number of words directly from Celtic languages, particularly from Welsh and Gaelic. These words are primarily related to nature, animals, and geography:
* Nature: Druid, glen, crag, bard, tor, etc.
* Animals: Bannock (a type of flatbread), corgi, plaid, etc.
* Geography: Bog, dun, loch, etc.
3. Pre-Roman British Influence: Before the Romans arrived in Britain, the indigenous Celts spoke Brittonic languages. While these languages are not directly related to English, they likely influenced the Celtic vocabulary and grammatical structures that the Romans encountered in Britain. This influence is reflected in some place names and loanwords that entered English indirectly through Latin.
4. The Language of the Conquered: When the Angles, Saxons, and Jutes invaded Britain, they encountered the Celts who already occupied the land. This means the invading tribes were exposed to Celtic languages, which may have influenced their own language development. However, this influence is less direct and harder to trace.
Overall, the Celtic influence on the English language is relatively limited but nonetheless significant. It primarily manifests in place names and a small but notable collection of vocabulary words.
It's important to note: The impact of Celtic languages on English should be viewed within the context of other, larger influences, such as Latin and Old Norse. English's development is a complex tapestry woven from various historical and cultural threads.