Here's why:
* Anglo-Saxon conquest: The Angles, Saxons, and Jutes who invaded Britain in the 5th century AD spoke Germanic languages, which became the basis for Old English. They largely displaced the existing Celtic speakers, pushing them to the fringes of the island.
* Language replacement: The Germanic languages replaced most of the Celtic languages in England, except for the remnants in Cornwall, Wales, and Scotland.
* Limited contact: Even in areas where Celtic languages survived, contact with the English language was limited, leading to a smaller exchange of words.
However, some indirect contributions exist:
* Place names: Many place names in England, particularly in the west and north, are of Celtic origin (e.g., Avon, Kent, Dover, London). These names often indicate geographic features, rivers, or settlements.
* Loanwords: A small number of words directly borrowed from Celtic languages entered Old English, such as "bannock" (a type of bread) and "crag" (a rocky outcrop).
* Influence on pronunciation: Celtic languages may have influenced the pronunciation of certain English words, although this is difficult to prove definitively.
Overall, while the direct impact of Celtic languages on English is limited, their influence on the English landscape and its culture remains significant.