If you speak one then can you understand the other?
2007-10-06 08:50:55 · 4 answers · asked by Fredrik IV 3 in Society & Culture ➔ Languages
They are both Celtic languages. Although they are both Celtic, they are very different and they are not mutually understadable. The two languages can be compared to German and English. They are Germanic languages, but other than having an ancient common ancestor, the two languages are not mutually understadable.
Both languages will have "cognates" - words that sound and mean about the same thing, but you cannot communicate with cognates alone.
2007-10-06 08:55:54 · answer #1 · answered by WhatAmI? 7 · 3⤊ 0⤋
Welsh is completely different to Scottish Gaelic. But Scottish Gaelic is pretty similar to Irish Gaelic. If you speak one, you can understand a fair bit of the other. Kind of like Spanish and Portuguese I think.
2007-10-06 08:54:22 · answer #2 · answered by Emma :) 4 · 1⤊ 0⤋
The Bretton language spoken in Brittany, a region of France has many words similar to Welsh, and is also a Celtic language but the Gaelic languages are totally different to Welsh.
2007-10-08 08:36:53 · answer #3 · answered by Anonymous · 0⤊ 0⤋
Wales don't have a Gaelic language. I think you should rephrase your question to "How different are the Welsh & Scottish CELTIC languages".
Answer is they are from completely different branches of Celtic languages, though some words are similar:
Can (Scottish Gaelic) = Head
Pen (Welsh) = Head
The two branches are called P & Q or Goidelic & Brythonic if you prefer.
Scots/Irish/Manx are generally held to be the oldest of the Celtic languages still existing in these islands.
2007-10-08 19:59:40 · answer #4 · answered by Jock 6 · 0⤊ 1⤋