How the CELTS Changed The ENGLISH LANGUAGE

The video script begins with an introduction to the topic of how the Celtic peoples influenced the English language. It humorously clarifies the pronunciation of 'Celtic' and sets the stage for a historical exploration. The narrator discusses the concept of native Britons, the history of Britain's habitation, and the various invasions that have shaped its linguistic landscape. The script mentions the importance of recent DNA evidence and linguistic research in understanding the subject better. It also references the book 'Our Magnificent Bastard Tongue' by John McWhorter as a primary source and promises a fascinating journey through the history of Britain's linguistic evolution.

This paragraph delves into the early history of Britain, discussing the first human inhabitants dating back to 40,000 years ago and the connection to the European continent via Doggerland. It outlines the transition from hunter-gatherers to agricultural societies with the arrival of Neolithic people from Anatolia. The script also touches on the physical characteristics of these early settlers and their impact on the landscape, including the construction of Stonehenge. The paragraph then moves to the arrival of the Bell Beaker people around 2800 B.C., who brought the Bronze Age and potentially spoke a language ancestral to both Italian and Celtic language groups, although this remains speculative.

The script continues by discussing the arrival of the Celts in Britain around the 7th century B.C. and their gradual integration with the existing Bell Beaker populations. It challenges the traditional view of a violent conquest and suggests a more peaceful assimilation. The paragraph also covers the division of Celtic languages into Britannic and Goidelic branches. The narrative then shifts to the Roman invasion in 43 A.D., the subsequent spread of British Latin, and the enduring impact of Latin on other European languages, in contrast to its limited influence on English post the Roman departure.

This section examines the impact of the Anglo-Saxons and later the Vikings on the English language. It presents the debate over whether English is primarily derived from Anglo-Saxon or Scandinavian languages and acknowledges the limited Latin influence that persisted in English. The script notes the traditional view of the Anglo-Saxons' violent displacement of the Celts and the subsequent marginalization of Celtic languages. However, it hints at a more complex and gradual process of assimilation and cultural integration.

The script highlights the prevalence of Celtic-derived place names across Britain and discusses the surprisingly significant impact of the Celts on English grammar. It challenges the notion that the Celts had little influence on English beyond a few words and place names. The paragraph suggests that the grammatical structures of Celtic languages, particularly their use of a 'meaningless do' in questions and negatives, significantly influenced English syntax, a point emphasized by linguist John McWhorter.

This paragraph explores the peculiar use of the 'meaningless do' in English, a grammatical feature not commonly found in other languages. It provides examples of how this usage is present in questions and negatives and suggests that it originated from the Celtic languages, specifically Welsh and Cornish. The script also discusses the historical timeline of this grammatical feature's emergence in English, noting its absence in Old English and its first appearances in Middle English, becoming commonplace by the 16th century.

The final paragraph discusses the unique requirement in English to use the present continuous tense for actions happening at the moment, a feature not as strictly necessary in other languages. It draws a parallel to the Celtic languages, suggesting that this aspect of English grammar may also have Celtic origins. The script wraps up by acknowledging the significant, albeit subtle, contributions of the Celts to the English language and teases upcoming videos on the history of English.

In the concluding part of the script, the narrator expresses gratitude to Bill Hicks for his insights into the Welsh language and for providing recordings used in the video. It also informs viewers about forthcoming videos that will continue to explore the history of the English language, encouraging them to stay tuned for more informative content.