Here's a breakdown:
Diversity:
* Many Branches: The Celtic languages were divided into two main branches: Insular Celtic (including Irish, Scottish Gaelic, Manx, Welsh, Cornish, and Breton) and Continental Celtic (extinct languages like Gaulish and Celtiberian).
* Regional Variations: Within each branch, there were significant regional variations and dialects.
General Characteristics:
* Indo-European Origin: Celtic languages are part of the Indo-European language family, related to languages like English, French, German, and Hindi.
* Vowel Harmony: Some Celtic languages, like Irish and Welsh, had vowel harmony, where the vowels in a word had to match in certain ways.
* Complex Verb Systems: Many Celtic languages had complex verb conjugations with intricate systems of tenses and moods.
* Inflection: Celtic languages heavily relied on inflections, changes to the endings of words to indicate grammatical relationships.
* Mutations: Several Celtic languages have sound changes called mutations, where the initial consonant of a word changes depending on its grammatical function or neighboring words.
Examples:
* Irish: "Aon duine amháin" ("one person")
* Welsh: "Un person" ("one person")
* Gaulish: "Aedui" (a Gallic tribe)
* Old Irish: "Rig" (king)
Influence on Other Languages:
* Latin: Celtic languages influenced the development of Latin, particularly in the areas of vocabulary and syntax.
* English: English borrowed numerous words from Celtic languages, especially from Irish, Welsh, and Scottish Gaelic.
Revival Efforts:
* Several Celtic languages, like Irish, Welsh, and Scottish Gaelic, are undergoing efforts to revive them, often with success.
Remember: The Celtic languages are incredibly diverse and have a rich history. While they share some common characteristics, they are distinct languages with their own unique features.